Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 7

1 περι δε ων εγραψατε καλον ανθρωπω γυναικος μη απτεσθαι

Now concerning the question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,

2 δια δε τας πορνειας εκαστος την εαυτου γυναικα εχετω και εκαστη τον ιδιον ανδρα εχετω

but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women have her own husband.

3 τη γυναικι ο ανηρ την οφειλην αποδιδοτω ομοιως δε και η γυνη τω ανδρι

Let the husband give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

4 η γυνη του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλα ο ανηρ ομοιως δε και ο ανηρ του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλα η γυνη

but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

5 μη αποστερειτε αλληλους ει μητι {VAR1: [αν] } {VAR2: αν } εκ συμφωνου προς καιρον ινα σχολασητε τη προσευχη και παλιν επι το αυτο ητε ινα μη πειραζη υμας ο σατανας δια την ακρασιαν {VAR1: [υμων] } {VAR2: υμων }

Do not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

6 τουτο δε λεγω κατα συγγνωμην ου κατ επιταγην

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.

7 θελω δε παντας ανθρωπους ειναι ως και εμαυτον αλλα εκαστος ιδιον εχει χαρισμα εκ θεου ο μεν ουτως ο δε ουτως

I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

8 λεγω δε τοις αγαμοις και ταις χηραις καλον αυτοις εαν μεινωσιν ως καγω

But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.

9 ει δε ουκ εγκρατευονται γαμησατωσαν κρειττον γαρ εστιν {VAR1: γαμειν } {VAR2: γαμησαι } η πυρουσθαι

If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

10 τοις δε γεγαμηκοσιν παραγγελλω ουκ εγω αλλα ο κυριος γυναικα απο ανδρος μη χωρισθηναι

But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave her husband;

11 εαν δε και χωρισθη μενετω αγαμος η τω ανδρι καταλλαγητω και ανδρα γυναικα μη αφιεναι

(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to put away his wife.

12 τοις δε λοιποις λεγω εγω ουχ ο κυριος ει τις αδελφος γυναικα εχει απιστον και αυτη συνευδοκει οικειν μετ αυτου μη αφιετω αυτην

To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send her away.

13 και γυνη {VAR1: ητις } {VAR2: ει τις } εχει ανδρα απιστον και ουτος συνευδοκει οικειν μετ αυτης μη αφιετω τον ανδρα

And a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from him.

14 ηγιασται γαρ ο ανηρ ο απιστος εν τη γυναικι και ηγιασται η γυνη η απιστος εν τω αδελφω επει αρα τα τεκνα υμων ακαθαρτα εστιν νυν δε αγια εστιν

For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

15 ει δε ο απιστος χωριζεται χωριζεσθω ου δεδουλωται ο αδελφος η η αδελφη εν τοις τοιουτοις εν δε ειρηνη κεκληκεν υμας ο θεος

But if the unbelieving partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.

16 τι γαρ οιδας γυναι ει τον ανδρα σωσεις η τι οιδας ανερ ει την γυναικα σωσεις

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 ει μη εκαστω ως {VAR1: μεμερικεν } {VAR2: εμερισεν } ο κυριος εκαστον ως κεκληκεν ο θεος ουτως περιπατειτω και ουτως εν ταις εκκλησιαις πασαις διατασσομαι

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all the churches.

18 περιτετμημενος τις εκληθη μη επισπασθω εν ακροβυστια κεκληται τις μη περιτεμνεσθω

So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

19 η περιτομη ουδεν εστιν και η ακροβυστια ουδεν εστιν αλλα τηρησις εντολων θεου

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

20 εκαστος εν τη κλησει η εκληθη εν ταυτη μενετω

Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

21 δουλος εκληθης μη σοι μελετω αλλ ει και δυνασαι ελευθερος γενεσθαι μαλλον χρησαι

Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.

22 ο γαρ εν κυριω κληθεις δουλος απελευθερος κυριου εστιν ομοιως ο ελευθερος κληθεις δουλος εστιν χριστου

For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

23 τιμης ηγορασθητε μη γινεσθε δουλοι ανθρωπων

You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

24 εκαστος εν ω εκληθη αδελφοι εν τουτω μενετω παρα θεω

Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to God.

25 περι δε των παρθενων επιταγην κυριου ουκ εχω γνωμην δε διδωμι ως ηλεημενος υπο κυριου πιστος ειναι

I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

26 νομιζω ουν τουτο καλον υπαρχειν δια την ενεστωσαν αναγκην οτι καλον ανθρωπω το ουτως ειναι

I think then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best for a man to remain as he is.

27 δεδεσαι γυναικι μη ζητει λυσιν λελυσαι απο γυναικος μη ζητει γυναικα

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.

28 εαν δε και γαμησης ουχ ημαρτες και εαν γημη {VAR1: [η] } {VAR2: η } παρθενος ουχ ημαρτεν θλιψιν δε τη σαρκι εξουσιν οι τοιουτοι εγω δε υμων φειδομαι

Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to spare you.

29 τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι ο καιρος συνεσταλμενος εστιν το λοιπον ινα και οι εχοντες γυναικας ως μη εχοντες ωσιν

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,

30 και οι κλαιοντες ως μη κλαιοντες και οι χαιροντες ως μη χαιροντες και οι αγοραζοντες ως μη κατεχοντες

let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

31 και οι χρωμενοι τον κοσμον ως μη καταχρωμενοι παραγει γαρ το σχημα του κοσμου τουτου

and those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing away.

32 θελω δε υμας αμεριμνους ειναι ο αγαμος μεριμνα τα του κυριου πως αρεση τω κυριω

So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, how he may please the Lord;

33 ο δε γαμησας μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεση τη γυναικι

but a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

34 και μεμερισται και η γυνη η αγαμος και η παρθενος μεριμνα τα του κυριου ινα η αγια {VAR1: [και] } {VAR2: και } τω σωματι και τω πνευματι η δε γαμησασα μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεση τω ανδρι

Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how she may please her husband.

35 τουτο δε προς το υμων αυτων συμφορον λεγω ουχ ινα βροχον υμιν επιβαλω αλλα προς το ευσχημον και ευπαρεδρον τω κυριω απερισπαστως

It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

36 ει δε τις ασχημονειν επι την παρθενον αυτου νομιζει εαν η υπερακμος και ουτως οφειλει γινεσθαι ο θελει ποιειτω ουχ αμαρτανει γαμειτωσαν

If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

37 ος δε εστηκεν εν τη καρδια αυτου εδραιος μη εχων αναγκην εξουσιαν δε εχει περι του ιδιου θεληματος και τουτο κεκρικεν εν τη ιδια καρδια τηρειν την εαυτου παρθενον καλως ποιησει

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.

38 ωστε και ο γαμιζων την εαυτου παρθενον καλως ποιει και ο μη γαμιζων κρεισσον ποιησει

So he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing better.

39 γυνη δεδεται εφ οσον χρονον ζη ο ανηρ αυτης εαν δε κοιμηθη ο ανηρ ελευθερα εστιν ω θελει γαμηθηναι μονον εν κυριω

A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be in the Lord.

40 μακαριωτερα δε εστιν εαν ουτως μεινη κατα την εμην γνωμην δοκω {VAR1: γαρ } {VAR2: δε } καγω πνευμα θεου εχειν

But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.