Part 40 (1/2)
VII.
NOW concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman; (2)but because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. (3)Let the husband render to the wife her due; and in like manner the wife also to the husband. (4)The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband also has not power over his own body, but the wife. (5)Defraud not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come again together, that Satan may not tempt you on account of your incontinency.
(6)But this I say by way of permission, not of command. (7)But I would that all men were as myself. But each one has his own gift from G.o.d, one after this manner, and another after that.
(8)And I say to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them if they remain as I also am. (9)But if they have not self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
(10)And the married not I command, but the Lord, that the wife depart not from the husband. (11)But if she have departed, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband; and let the husband not put away his wife.
(12)But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. (13)And a woman who has a husband that believes not, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
(14)For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband; else your children are unclean; but now they are holy.
(15)But if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases; but G.o.d has called us to peace. (16)For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (17)Only, as the Lord apportioned to each one, as G.o.d has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
(18)Was any one called being circ.u.mcised? Let him not become uncirc.u.mcised. Has any one been called in uncirc.u.mcision? Let him not be circ.u.mcised. (19)Circ.u.mcision is nothing, and uncirc.u.mcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of G.o.d.
(20)Let each one abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
(21)Wast thou called being a servant? Care not for it; but if thou canst become free, use it rather. (22)For he that was called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freedman; in like manner also the freeman, being called, is Christ's servant. (23)Ye were bought with a price; become not servants of men. (24)Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with G.o.d.
(25)Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. (26)I consider therefore that this is good on account of the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be. (27)Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife?
Seek not a wife. (28)But if also thou marry, thou sinnedst not; and if a virgin marry, she sinned not. But such shall have affliction in the flesh; but I spare you[7:28].
(29)But this I say, brethren, the time that remains is short; that both they who have wives may be as though they had none; (30)and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; (31)and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fas.h.i.+on of this world is pa.s.sing away.
(32)But I would have you without cares. He that is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord; (33)but he that is married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife. (34)There is a difference also between the wife and the virgin.
The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.
(35)And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. (36)But if any one thinks that he behaves himself unseemly toward his virgin, if she be past the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sins not; let them marry. (37)But he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has determined this in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. (38)So that both he that gives her in marriage does well, and he that gives her not in marriage does better.
(39)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (40)But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment; and I too think that I have the Spirit of G.o.d.
VIII.
NOW concerning the things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. (2)If any one thinks that he knows anything, he has known nothing yet as he ought to know.
(3)But if any one loves G.o.d, the same is known by him.
(4)As concerning then the eating of the things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other G.o.d but one. (5)For though there are G.o.ds so-called, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are G.o.ds many, and lords many), (6)yet to us there is but one G.o.d, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
(7)But there is not in all men this knowledge; for some, with a consciousness till now of the idol, eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. (8)But food commends us not to G.o.d; for neither, if we eat, are we the better; nor, if we eat not, are we the worse. (9)But take heed, lest haply this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. (10)For if any one sees thee, who hast knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat the things offered to idols? (11)And through thy knowledge he that is weak perishes, the brother for whom Christ died! (12)But when ye so sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (13)Wherefore, if food cause my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh for ever more, that I may not cause my brother to offend.
IX.
AM I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? (2)If I am not an apostle to others, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of my apostles.h.i.+p are ye in the Lord. (3)This is my answer to those who examine me. (4)Have we not power to eat and to drink? (5)Have we not power to lead about a sister as a wife, as well as the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? (6)Or have only I and Barnabas not power to forbear working? (7)Who ever goes to war at his own charges? Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? Or who tends a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock?
(8)Say I these things as a man? Or does not the law also say these things? (9)For it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain. Is it for the oxen that G.o.d cares? (10)Or does he say it altogether for our sakes? For, for our sakes it was written; that he who plows ought to plow in hope; and he who threshes, in hope of partaking. (11)If we sowed for you, the things that are spiritual, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (12)If others partake of this power over you, do not we still more? But we used not this power; but we bear all things, that we may not cause any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
(13)Do ye not know that they who minister about the holy things eat of the temple, and they who wait at the altar partake with the altar?