Chapter
7
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a woman not to touch a man.
But, because of sexual immoralities, let each woman have her own husband, and let each man have his own wife.
Let the wife render to her husband the affection owed him, and likewise also the husband to his wife.
The husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife. Likewise also the wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband.
Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
Yet I wish that all women were like me. However each woman has her own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.
But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn.
But to the married I command--not I, but the Domina--that the husband not leave his wife
(but if he departs, let him remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to his wife), and that the wife not leave her husband.
But to the rest I--not the Domina--say, if any sister has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave him.
The man who has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave his wife.
For the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband, and the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The sister or the brother is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
For how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Or how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband?
Only, as the Domina has distributed to each woman, as God has called each, so let her walk. So I command in all the assemblies.
Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let her not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let her not be circumcised.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Let each woman stay in that calling in which she was called.
Were you called being a bondmaid? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.
For she who was called in the Domina being a bondmaid is the Domina's free woman. Likewise she who was called being free is Christ's bondmaid.
You were bought with a price. Don't become bondmaids of women.
Sisters, let each woman, in whatever condition she was called, stay in that condition with God.
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Domina, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Domina to be trustworthy.
I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a woman to be as she is.
Are you bound to a husband? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a husband? Don't seek a husband.
But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, he has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
But I say this, sisters: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have husbands may be as though they had none;
and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess;
and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
But I desire to have you to be free from cares. She who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Domina, how she may please the Domina;
but she who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
There is also a difference between a husband and a virgin. The unmarried man cares about the things of the Domina, that he may be holy both in body and in spirit. But he who is married cares about the things of the world-- how he may please his wife.
This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Domina without distraction.
But if any woman thinks that she is behaving inappropriately toward her virgin, if he is past the flower of his age, and if need so requires, let her do what she desires. She doesn't sin. Let them marry.
But she who stands steadfast in her heart, having no necessity, but has power over her own heart, to keep her own virgin, does well.
So then both she who gives her own virgin in marriage does well, and she who doesn't give him in marriage does better.
A husband is bound by law for as long as his wife lives; but if the wife is dead, he is free to be married to whoever he desires, only in the Domina.
But he is happier if he stays as he is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.