²⁵Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that it is good for a man to be thus. ²⁷Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you. ²⁹But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives, ³⁰and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, ³¹and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

³²But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. ³³But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

³⁶But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime^e and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. ³⁷But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. ³⁸So then, the one who marries^f his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.

³⁹A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband dies^g, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.”^a Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

eOr “if his passions are strong” (it is not clear in context whether this term refers to the man or to the woman)
fOr perhaps “the one who gives in marriage”
gLiterally “falls asleep”
aConsidered by many interpreters to be a slogan used by the Corinthians to justify their behavior