1 Corinthians 7
1 With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It would be well for a man to remain single.
Περὶ δὲ ὧν ⸀ἐγράψατε καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι·
2 But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband.
διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω, καὶ ἑκάστη τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα ἐχέτω.
3 A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband.
τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ⸀ὀφειλὴνἀποδιδότω, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.
4 It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body.
ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή.
5 Do not deprive each other of what is due — unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer till you again live as man and wife — lest Satan should take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you.
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους, εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρὸν ἵνα ⸀σχολάσητε⸀τῇπροσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ⸀ἦτε ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν.
6 I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command.
τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγήν.
7 I should wish every one to be just what I am myself. But every one has his own gift from God — one in one way, and one in another.
θέλω ⸀δὲπάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν· ἀλλὰ ἕκαστος ἴδιον ⸂ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ, ⸀ὁμὲν οὕτως, ⸁ὁδὲ οὕτως.
8 My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be well for them to remain as I am myself.
Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις, καλὸν ⸀αὐτοῖςἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ·
9 But, if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.
εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν, κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν ⸀γαμῆσαιἢ πυροῦσθαι.
10 To those who are married my direction is — yet it is not mine, but the Master’s — that a woman is not to leave her husband
Τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω, οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος, γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναι—
11 (If she has done so, let her remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife.
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω— καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
12 To all others I say — I, not the Master — If a Brother is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her;
Τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ⸂λέγω ἐγώ, οὐχ ὁ κύριος· εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον, καὶ αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν·
13 and a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband.
καὶ γυνὴ ⸂εἴ τις ἔχει ἄνδρα ἄπιστον, καὶ ⸀οὗτοςσυνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτῆς, μὴ ἀφιέτω ⸂τὸν ἄνδρα.
14 For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s People; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s People through our Brother whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be ‘defiled,’ but, as it is, they belong to Christ’s People.
ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ⸀ἀδελφῷ ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
15 However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let him be so. Under such circumstances neither the Brother nor the Sister is bound; God has called you to live in peace.
εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω· οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις, ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ⸀ἡμᾶςὁ θεός.
16 How can you tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband? and how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save your wife?
τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι, εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις; ἢ τί οἶδας, ἄνερ, εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις;
17 In any case, a man should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to him, and in which he was when God called him. This is the rule that I lay down in every Church.
Εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ⸀ἐμέρισενὁ ⸀κύριος ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ ⸀θεός οὕτως περιπατείτω· καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι.
18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised.
περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη; μὴ ἐπισπάσθω· ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ ⸂κέκληταί τις; μὴ περιτεμνέσθω.
19 Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything.
ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ.
20 Let every one remain in that condition of life in which he was when the Call came to him.
ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη ἐν ταύτῃ μενέτω.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best.
Δοῦλος ἐκλήθης; μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι, μᾶλλον χρῆσαι.
22 For the man who was a slave when he was called to the master’s service is the Master’s freed-man; so, too, the man who was free when called is Christ’s slave.
ὁ γὰρ ἐν κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος κυρίου ἐστίν· ⸀ὁμοίωςὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός ἐστιν Χριστοῦ.
23 You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to men.
τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε· μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων.
24 Brothers, let every one remain in the condition in which he was when he was called, in close communion with God.
ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ θεῷ.
25 With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and it is that of a man whom the Master in his mercy has made worthy to be trusted.
Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω, γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι.
26 I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best — that a man should remain as he is.
νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο καλὸν ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην, ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι.
27 Are you married to a wife? Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife? Then do not seek for a wife.
δέδεσαι γυναικί; μὴ ζήτει λύσιν· λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός; μὴ ζήτει γυναῖκα·
28 still, if you should marry, that is not wrong; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you.
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ⸀γαμήσῃς οὐχ ἥμαρτες. καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος, οὐχ ἥμαρτεν. θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι, ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν φείδομαι.
29 What I mean, Brothers, is this — the time is short. Meanwhile, let those who have wives live as if they had none,
τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ⸂ἐστίν· τὸ λοιπὸν⸃ ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσιν,
30 those who are weeping as if not weeping, those who are rejoicing as if not rejoicing, those who buy as if not possessing,
καὶ οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες, καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες, καὶ οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες,
31 and those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away.
καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι ⸂τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
32 I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master’s Cause, desiring to please him;
Θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι. ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῷ κυρίῳ·
33 while the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife;
ὁ δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῇ γυναικί,
34 and so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master’s Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.
⸀καὶμεμέρισται. καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ⸂ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ ⸀παρθένοςμεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ ⸀τῷσώματι καὶ ⸁τῷπνεύματι· ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῷ ἀνδρί.
35 I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.
τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ⸀σύμφορονλέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ ⸀εὐπάρεδροντῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
36 If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, let him act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong — let the marriage take place.
Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος, καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι, ὃ θέλει ποιείτω· οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· γαμείτωσαν.
37 On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right.
ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ⸂ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἑδραῖος μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην, ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος, καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ⸂ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ, ⸀τηρεῖντὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον, καλῶς ⸀ποιήσει
38 In short, the one who consents to his daughter’s marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better.
ὥστε καὶ ὁ ⸀γαμίζων⸂τὴν παρθένον ἑαυτοῦ καλῶς ποιεῖ, ⸂καὶ ὁ μὴ ⸁γαμίζωνκρεῖσσον ⸀ποιήσει
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry any one she wishes, provided he is a believer.
Γυνὴ ⸀δέδεταιἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς· ἐὰν ⸀δὲκοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι, μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ·
40 Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is — in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην, δοκῶ ⸀δὲκἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.
