< Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 7 >

1 Περί δε των όσων μοι εγράψατε, καλόν είναι εις τον άνθρωπον να μη εγγίση εις γυναίκα·
Now [I will reply to] the things that you wrote to me about. It is good for people not to get married.
2 διά τας πορνείας όμως ας έχη έκαστος την εαυτού γυναίκα, και εκάστη ας έχη τον εαυτής άνδρα.
But because many people are committing sexual immorality, [which God detests], every man should have his own wife [with whom he can have sexual relations], and every woman should have her own husband [with whom she can have sexual relations].
3 Ο ανήρ ας αποδίδη εις την γυναίκα την οφειλομένην εύνοιαν· ομοίως δε και η γυνή εις τον άνδρα.
Every man must continue having sexual relations [EUP] with his wife, and every woman must continue having sexual relations with her husband.
4 Η γυνή δεν εξουσιάζει το εαυτής σώμα, αλλ' ο ανήρ· ομοίως δε και ο ανήρ δεν εξουσιάζει το εαυτού σώμα, αλλ' η γυνή.
A man’s wife does not have the right over her own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with her husband]. Instead, her husband also has a right [to decide about that]. Similarly, a woman’s husband does not have the right over his own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with his wife]. Instead, his wife also has a right [to decide about that].
5 Μη αποστερείτε αλλήλους, εκτός εάν ήναι τι εκ συμφώνου προς καιρόν, διά να καταγίνησθε εις την νηστείαν και εις την προσευχήν· και πάλιν συνέρχεσθε επί το αυτό, διά να μη σας πειράζη ο Σατανάς διά την ακράτειάν σας.
You may refuse [to have sexual relations with] each other [EUP] only if you both first agree to do that for a short time, in order that you may both have more time to pray. Then after that, begin having sexual relations again [EUP] in order that Satan will not be able to persuade you [to have sex with someone else] because you are unable to control your sexual desires.
6 Λέγω δε τούτο κατά συγγνώμην, ουχί κατά προσταγήν.
I am telling you these things to say that [God] allows [you to get married, but he] does not say that you must [get married].
7 Διότι θέλω πάντας τους ανθρώπους να ήναι καθώς και εμαυτόν· αλλ' έκαστος έχει ιδιαίτερον χάρισμα εκ Θεού, άλλος μεν ούτως, άλλος δε ούτως.
I myself wish that all people would stay [unmarried/single], as I am. But God has enabled each person to live in ways that seem right for them. He has enabled some people to [live without getting married], and he has enabled other people to [get married].
8 Λέγω δε προς τους αγάμους και προς τας χήρας, καλόν είναι εις αυτούς εάν μείνωσι καθώς και εγώ.
Now I want to say this to you unmarried people and to you whose spouses have died: It would be good for you to remain [unmarried] as I am.
9 Αλλ' εάν δεν εγκρατεύωνται, ας νυμφευθώσι· διότι καλήτερον είναι να νυμφευθώσι παρά να εξάπτωνται.
But if you cannot control your [sexual desires] [EUP], you should get married. It is better to be married [so that you can satisfy your sexual desires with your spouse] than to constantly have a strong desire [EUP] [for sexual relations].
10 Εις δε τους νενυμφευμένους παραγγέλλω, ουχί εγώ αλλ' ο Κύριος, να μη χωρισθή η γυνή από του ανδρός αυτής·
And now I will give a command for [believers who are] married. This is not a command from me alone; it also comes from the Lord Jesus. You married women must not (separate from/divorce) your husbands!
11 αλλ' εάν και χωρισθή, ας μένη άγαμος ή ας συνδιαλλαγή με τον άνδρα· και ο ανήρ να μη αφίνη την εαυτού γυναίκα.
But if any of you do that, you must remain unmarried, or else you should be reconciled with your husband [and live with him again]. Similarly, men must not (separate from/divorce) their wives.
12 Προς δε τους λοιπούς εγώ λέγω, ουχί ο Κύριος· Εάν τις αδελφός έχη γυναίκα άπιστον, και αυτή συγκατανεύη να συνοική μετ' αυτού, ας μη αφίνη αυτήν·
Now I say this to the rest of you, [to those who became believers after they were married. This is what] I [am saying], not what the Lord [has commanded]. If someone has a wife who is not a believer, if she is willing to keep living with him, he must not divorce her.
13 και γυνή ήτις έχει άνδρα άπιστον, και αυτός συγκατανεύει να συνοική μετ' αυτής, ας μη αφίνη αυτόν.
Similarly, if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, if he is willing to keep living with her, she must not divorce him.
14 Διότι ο ανήρ ο άπιστος ηγιάσθη διά της γυναικός, και η γυνή η άπιστος ηγιάσθη διά του ανδρός· επειδή άλλως τα τέκνα σας ήθελον είσθαι ακάθαρτα, αλλά τώρα είναι άγια.
[I say that] because God has set apart every woman’s unbelieving husband [for himself] because of his wife [being a believer], and God has set apart every man’s unbelieving wife [for himself] because of her husband [being a believer]. If that were not true, [God would consider] their children unacceptable. But, the fact is that [God does consider] them acceptable to him.
15 Εάν δε ο άπιστος χωρίζηται, ας χωρισθή. Ο αδελφός όμως ή αδελφή δεν είναι δεδουλωμένοι εις τα τοιαύτα· ο Θεός όμως προσεκάλεσεν ημάς εις ειρήνην.
However, if a woman’s husband who is not a believer or a man’s wife who is not a believer wants to leave, let [him or her] do so. The husband or wife who is a believer should not force the other one to stay. God has chosen us in order that we may live peacefully.
16 Διότι τι εξεύρεις, γύναι, αν μέλλης να σώσης τον άνδρα; ή τι εξεύρεις, άνερ, αν μέλλης να σώσης την γυναίκα;
[You women believers should allow your unbelieving spouses to leave you if they want to], because there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your husband if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your husband if you stay together.) Similarly, you men [who are believers], there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your wives if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your wives if you stay together.)
17 Αλλά καθώς ο Θεός εμοίρασεν εις έκαστον, και καθώς ο Κύριος προσεκάλεσεν έκαστον, ούτως ας περιπατή. Και ούτω διατάττω εις πάσας τας εκκλησίας.
However, each person should continue in the status that the Lord gave him, the status that he had when the Lord called him [to belong to him]. That is the rule that I tell people in all the congregations [where I speak].
18 Προσεκλήθη τις εις την πίστιν περιτετμημένος; Ας μη καλύπτη την περιτομήν. Προσεκλήθη τις απερίτμητος; Ας μη περιτέμνηται.
If a man had already been circumcised [RHQ] when he became a Christian, he should not [try to pretend that he is not] circumcised. If a man had not been circumcised [RHQ] before he became a Christian, he should not become circumcised.
19 Η περιτομή είναι ουδέν, και η ακροβυστία είναι ουδέν, αλλ' η τήρησις των εντολών του Θεού.
[You should not try to change your status that way], because it means nothing [to God] whether someone is circumcised or not. What is important is that we obey what God has commanded.
20 Έκαστος εν τη κλήσει, καθ' ην εκλήθη, εν ταύτη ας μένη.
[Generally], each person should remain in the status that he had when he became a Christian.
21 Εκλήθης δούλος; μη σε μέλη· αλλ' εάν δύνασαι να γείνης ελεύθερος, μεταχειρίσου τούτο καλήτερα.
If one of you was a slave when you [(sg)] became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do [what you need to do to become free].
22 Διότι όστις δούλος εκλήθη εις τον Κύριον, είναι απελεύθερος του Κυρίου· ομοίως και όστις ελεύθερος εκλήθη, δούλος είναι του Χριστού.
[Do not worry about your previously being a slave], because those who were slaves before they became Christians, the Lord has freed them [from Satan’s control]. Similarly, those who were not slaves before they became Christians, [it is as though] [MET] they are Christ’s slaves [because they must do what he tells them to do] [MET].
23 Διά τιμής ηγοράσθητε· μη γίνεσθε δούλοι ανθρώπων.
[Christ] paid a price to buy you [when he died for you]. So do not [act as if you are evil people’s] slaves [by doing the evil things that they tell you to do].
24 Έκαστος, αδελφοί, εις ό, τι εκλήθη, εν τούτω ας μένη παρά τω Θεώ.
My fellow believers, [I repeat that in general] each believer, being in fellowship with God, should continue in the status that he had before he became a Christian.
25 Περί δε των παρθένων προσταγήν του Κυρίου δεν έχω· αλλά γνώμην δίδω ως ηλεημένος υπό του Κυρίου να ήμαι πιστός.
Now [I will answer your question] about women who have never married. There is nothing that the Lord has commanded me [to write about them], but I am writing this to tell you what I think [is best], because the Lord [Jesus] has mercifully enabled me to [say] what is reliable.
26 Τούτο λοιπόν νομίζω ότι είναι καλόν διά την παρούσαν ανάγκην, ότι καλόν είναι εις τον άνθρωπον να ήναι ούτως.
There are a lot of distressing events [happening] now (OR, that will soon happen), so I think that it is better for people to remain in the marital status that they now have.
27 Είσαι δεδεμένος με γυναίκα; μη ζήτει λύσιν. Είσαι λελυμένος από γυναικός; μη ζήτει γυναίκα.
If any of you [men] are married [RHQ], do not try to divorce your wife. If any of you are unmarried [RHQ], do not seek a wife.
28 Πλην και εάν νυμφευθής, δεν ημάρτησας· και εάν η παρθένος νυμφευθή, δεν ημάρτησεν· αλλ' οι τοιούτοι θέλουσιν έχει θλίψιν εν τη σαρκί· εγώ δε σας φείδομαι.
But if [any of] you [men] get married, you have not committed a sin [by doing that]. Likewise, if an unmarried woman gets married, she has not committed a sin [by doing that]. However, those who get married will have many troubles, [so I am urging you to remain unmarried in order that] you may not experience [such troubles].
29 Λέγω δε τούτο, αδελφοί, ότι ο επίλοιπος καιρός είναι σύντομος, ώστε και οι έχοντες γυναίκας να ήναι ως μη έχοντες,
My fellow believers, this is what I mean: There is not much time left [before Christ returns]. So, from now on those men who are married should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not married.
30 και οι κλαίοντες ως μη κλαίοντες, και οι χαίροντες ως μη χαίροντες, και οι αγοράζοντες ως μη έχοντες κατοχήν,
Those who are sad should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not sad. Those who are rejoicing [should devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not joyful.
31 και οι μεταχειριζόμενοι τον κόσμον τούτον ως μηδόλως μεταχειριζόμενοι· διότι το σχήμα του κόσμου τούτου παρέρχεται.
Those who are buying things should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they did not possess those things. Because this world as it exists now will soon be gone, those who are actively involved in the affairs of this life [should not devote all their time] to be involved in those things.
32 Θέλω δε να ήσθε αμέριμνοι. Ο άγαμος μεριμνά τα του Κυρίου, πως να αρέση εις τον Κύριον·
[Another reason why] I [encourage you to remain unmarried is that] I desire that none of you be anxious [about the everyday affairs of this life]. Unmarried men are [able to be primarily] concerned about serving the Lord Jesus and trying to please him.
33 ο δε νενυμφευμένος μεριμνά τα του κόσμου, πως να αρέση εις την γυναίκα.
But married men are [often] greatly concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about pleasing their wives.
34 Διαφέρει η γυνή και η παρθένος. Η άγαμος μεριμνά τα του Κυρίου, διά να ήναι αγία και το σώμα και το πνεύμα· η δε νενυμφευμένη μεριμνά τα του κόσμου, πως να αρέση εις τον άνδρα.
So their thinking is divided. Unmarried women are [able to be] concerned about serving the Lord. They want to set apart their minds and their bodies for serving the Lord. But married women are [often] concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about how to please their husbands.
35 Λέγω δε τούτο διά το συμφέρον υμών αυτών, ουχί διά να βάλω εις εσάς παγίδα, αλλά διά το σεμνοπρεπές, και διά να ήσθε προσκεκολλημένοι εις τον Κύριον χωρίς περισπασμούς.
I am telling you this for your own good. I am not saying it in order to restrict you. Instead, I am saying it in order that you may do what is proper and be able to serve the Lord without being distracted {things distracting you}.
36 Αλλ' εάν τις νομίζη ότι ασχημονεί προς την παρθένον αυτού, αν παρήλθεν η ακμή αυτής, και πρέπη να γείνη ούτως, ας κάμη ό, τι θέλει· δεν αμαρτάνει· ας υπανδρεύωνται.
[Some of you men have asked about your unmarried daughters]. [I suggest that] if any man thinks that he may be treating his daughter unfairly [by keeping her from marrying], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he thinks that she ought to be married, he should do what he wants to do. He should let her get married. He will not be sinning [by doing that].
37 Όστις όμως στέκει στερεός εν τη καρδία, μη έχων ανάγκην, έχει όμως εξουσίαν περί του ιδίου αυτού θελήματος, και απεφάσισε τούτο εν τη καρδία αυτού, να φυλάττη την εαυτού παρθένον, πράττει καλώς.
But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better that his daughter not get married], and if nothing is forcing [her to get married], and if he is free to do what he decides to do on the matter, if he decides that his daughter should not get married, he is doing what is right in [keeping her from marrying].
38 Ώστε και όστις υπανδρεύει πράττει καλώς, αλλ' ο μη υπανδρεύων πράττει καλήτερα.
So any man who decides that his daughter should get married is doing what is good, but if he decides that she should not get married, he is doing something even better. (OR, [Some of you men have asked about the women to whom you are engaged to marry]. If any man thinks that he may be treating that woman unfairly [by not marrying her], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he wants to marry her very much, he should do what he wants to do. He should marry her. He will not be sinning [by doing that]. But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better] for him not to get married, and if nothing is forcing [them to get married], if he is free to make his own decision on the matter, if he decides not to get married, he is doing what is right. So any man who decides that he should get married to the woman he is engaged to is doing what is good, but if he decides that he should not get married, he is doing something even better.)
39 Η γυνή είναι δεδεμένη διά του νόμου εφ' όσον καιρόν ζη ο ανήρ αυτής· εάν δε ο ανήρ αυτής αποθάνη, είναι ελευθέρα να υπανδρευθή με όντινα θέλει, μόνον να γίνηται τούτο εν Κυρίω.
Women must remain married to their husbands while their husbands are still alive. But if a woman’s husband dies, she is free to marry any [unmarried] man whom she wants to marry, but he must belong to the Lord.
40 Μακαριωτέρα όμως είναι εάν μείνη ούτω, κατά την εμήν γνώμην· νομίζω δε ότι και εγώ έχω Πνεύμα Θεού.
However, I think that she will be happier if she does not marry again. And I believe that the Spirit of God is [directing] me [as I say that].

< Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 7 >