ⲚⲒⲔⲞⲢⲒⲚⲐⲒⲞⲤ Ⲁ ̅ 7
I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage.
But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.
Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his.
4 ⲇ̅ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲟ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ. ϩⲟⲙⲟⲓⲱⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲟ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲧⲉ.
A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϥⲉϭⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲣⲏⲩ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲉⲓ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲱⲛⲃ̅ ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲥⲣ̅ϥⲉ ⲉⲡⲉϣⲗⲏⲗ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲣⲏⲩ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲡⲥⲁⲧⲁⲛⲁⲥ ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲧⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ.
Do not refuse one another, unless perhaps it is just for a time and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and may then associate again; lest the Adversary begin to tempt you because of your deficiency in self-control.
Thus much in the way of concession, not of command.
7 ⲍ̅ ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁϩⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲟⲩⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥⲙⲁ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲉⲛ ϩⲓⲛⲁⲓ̈. ⲕⲉⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ.
Yet I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God--one in one direction and one in another.
But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am.
If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.
But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband;
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲥϣⲁⲛⲡⲱⲣϫ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥϭⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ. ⲏ̅ ⲛⲥ̅ϩⲱⲧⲡ̅ ⲉⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲣⲉϥⲕⲱ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱϥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ·
or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ϯϫⲱ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉϭⲱ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉϥⲗⲟ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ.
To the rest it is I who speak--not the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, let him not send her away.
And a woman who has an unbelieving husband--if he consents to live with her, let her not separate from him.
14 ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁϥⲧⲃ̅ⲃⲟ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲡϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥⲧⲃ̅ⲃⲟ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲟⲛ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ. ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ.
For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ⲉϣϫⲉⲡⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲡⲱⲣϫ̅. ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲡⲱⲣϫ̅. ⲉⲛϥ̅ⲟ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲏ̅ ⲧⲥⲱⲛⲉ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲉⲓϩⲱⲃ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ⲙⲓⲛⲉ. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲧⲁϩⲙⲛ̅ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ.
If, however, the unbeliever is determined to leave, let him or her do so. Under such circumstances the Christian man or woman is no slave; God has called us to live lives of peace.
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ⲟⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ. ⲙⲏ ⲧⲉⲛⲁϣⲧⲟⲩϫⲉⲡⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ̈. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲧⲕ̅ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲡϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲙⲏ ⲕⲛⲁϣⲧⲟⲩϫⲉⲧⲉⲕⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will save your wife?
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ⲉⲓⲙⲏ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲧⲉϣⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ. ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲧⲁϩⲙⲉϥ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉϯⲧⲱϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ.
Only, whatever be the condition in life which the Lord has assigned to each individual--and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him--in that let him continue.
This is what I command in all the Churches. Was any one already circumcised when called? Let him not have recourse to the surgeons. Was any one uncircumcised when called? Let him remain uncircumcised.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: obedience to God's commandments is everything.
Whatever be the condition in life in which a man was, when he was called, in that let him continue.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲙⲉⲕ ⲉⲕⲟ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ⲧⲣⲉϥⲣ̅ⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲛⲁⲕ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲕⲁⲛ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ ⲉⲣ̅ⲣⲙ̅ϩⲉ ⲭⲣⲱ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲩⲟ.
Were you a slave when God called you? Let not that weigh on your mind. And yet if you can get your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity.
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ⲡϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲙⲉϥ ϩⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲁⲡⲉⲗⲉⲩⲑⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉ. ϩⲟⲙⲟⲓⲱⲥ ⲡⲣⲙ̅ϩⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲙⲉϥ ⲡϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉ.
For a Christian, if he was a slave when called, is the Lord's freed man, and in the same way a free man, if called, becomes the slave of Christ.
You have all been redeemed at infinite cost: do not become slaves to men.
Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to God.
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲉϩⲥⲁϩⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. ϯϯ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲅⲛⲱⲙⲏ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲁⲩⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲣ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ.
Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence.
I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.
28 ⲕ̅ⲏ̅ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲡⲕ̅ⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲥϣⲁⲛϫⲓ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲧⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥ̅ⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ. ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲉⲡⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲩⲥⲁⲣⲝ̅. ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ϯϯⲥⲟ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̅·
Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you.
29 ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲟⲗⲕ̅ ⲡⲉ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ϭⲉ ⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲣ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩ.
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none,
those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away.
32 ⲗ̅ⲃ̅ ϯⲟⲩⲉϣⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁⲧⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ. ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲙ̅ⲛⲧϥ̅ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ϥϥⲓⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲉⲛⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲁⲣⲉⲥⲕⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛ̅ⲁϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲉ.
And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord;
but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall please his wife.
34 ⲗ̅ⲇ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲡⲏϣ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥ̅ϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ϥⲓⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲉⲛⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲥⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅. ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥϫⲓϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ϥⲓⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲉⲛⲁⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲁϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲉ ⲉⲥⲛⲁⲁⲣⲉⲥⲕⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈.
There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall please her husband.
35 ⲗ̅ⲉ̅ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲟϥⲣⲉ. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲗⲱ ⲉϩⲏⲧⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̅ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲣⲟⲥⲟⲩⲧⲥⲁⲛⲟ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧϭⲓⲛⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧⲕ̅ ⲉⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲁϫⲛ̅ⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ
Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction.
36 ⲗ̅ⲋ̅ ⲉϣϫⲉⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ϥϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲧⲉϥϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ. ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲥⲣ̅ⲛⲟϭ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧ(ϣ)ϣⲉ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ. ⲡⲉⲧϥ̅ⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲁⲁϥ ⲛϥ̅ⲣ̅ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲁⲛ. ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩϫⲓ.
If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry.
37 ⲗ̅ⲍ̅ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲁϩⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲣⲁⲧϥ̅ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲉϥⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ ⲉⲙⲛ̅ϩⲧⲟⲣ ⲉⲣⲟϥ. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅ⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲧⲉϥϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ϥⲛⲁⲁⲁⲥ.
But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well.
So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do better.
39 ⲗ̅ⲑ̅ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲙⲏⲣ ⲉⲡϩⲟⲥⲟⲛ ⲡⲉⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲛϩ̅. ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲟⲩ. ⲟⲩⲣⲙ̅ϩⲏ ⲧⲉ ⲉϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲉϩⲛⲁⲥ. ⲙⲟⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
A woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.
40 ⲙ̅ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲧⲥ̅ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲥϣⲁⲛϭⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲧⲁⲅⲛⲱⲙⲏ. ϯϫⲱ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲱ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ·
But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.
