unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that ye may have leisure for prayer; and [be] together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 6 But I say this by permission, and not of commandment. 7 [But] I would that all men were even as I myself. But every one* hath his own* gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8 I say to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn. 10 And unto the married I command, not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband. 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest say* I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the wife which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not put away* [her husband]. 14 For the unbelieving husband is hallowed by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is hallowed* by the [brother]: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or what* knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 17 But as [the Lord] distributed* to every one*, as [God] hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the* churches. 18 Was* any one* called, being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. [Has any one* been called] in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Let every one* abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Wast thou called being a slave* ? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave*, is the Lord's freedman*: likewise also he that was called, being free, is Christ's slave*. 23 Ye were* bought with a price; become not the slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let every one*, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. Om. ["fasting and."] * 25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good on account of the present distress, that it is good for a man so to be. 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned: and if the* virgin marry, she hath not sinned. But such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: that henceforth* both they that have wives be as though they had none: 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that are of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife 34 [and is divided. Both the wife who is unmarried, and the virgin who is unmarried] careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly*, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 36 But if any man suppose that he behaveth himself unseemly* toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so judged in his heart that he will keep his own* virgin, shall do* well. 38 So then he that giveth [his own virgin] in marriage doeth well; [and] he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. 39 The wife is bound' as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be fallen asleep, she is free* to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I also think that I have the Spirit of God. 1 Om. [“ by the law."] (II.) THE QUESTION OF THE SACRIFICIAL FEASTS. (1.) General Warning. VIII. 1—13. VIII. 1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love* edifieth. 2 If any one* think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any one* love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that there is no idol in the world, and that there is no2 God but one. 2 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in all that knowledge; but some [by custom] of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is polluted*. 8 But food* [will not commend] us to God: 3 neither, if we eat [not], are we the better; neither, if we eat, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this power* of your's become a stumbling block to them that are weak. 10 For if any one see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be edified* to eat those things which are offered to idols?† 11 [For] through thy knowledge he that is weak [perishes], the brother* for whom Christ died.† 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if food make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh whilst the age* standeth, lest I make brother to offend. * * (2.) His own Example of Self-denial. IX. 1—x. 14. my IX. 1 [Am I not free ?]† am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus 5 our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 3 Mine answer to them that judge me by questioning is this †. 3 Om. [for.] 5 Om. [Christ.] 1 Om. [And.] Om. [not.] 2 Om. [other.] & Or "for ever." 6 Or 5 Have we not 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?1 who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Speak* I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, it was written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and he that thresheth in hope of partaking]. 11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we did not use this power; but bear* all things, lest we should be any hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister the* things of the temple* live of the temple?? They which wait at the altar are partakers with the altart. 14 Even so the Lord ordained that they which proclaim* the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither did Iwrite these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than [my boasting. None shall make it void*]. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel3 without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all, yet I made myself a slave* unto all, that I might gain the greater part*; 20 and unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, [not being myself under the law] that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them, that are without law; 22 to the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become* all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And [all this] I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker thereof with you. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run * 4 1 Om. [or]. * Om. [and.] 3 Om. [of Christ.] • Om. [the.] all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 Now every one that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight, not as one that beateth the air: 27 but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have been a herald* to others, I myself should become disapproved *. X. 1 [For], brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and did all eat the same spiritual food*; 4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them: and the* Rock was Christ. 5 But with the greater part of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted, 7 Neither become* ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written. "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt [the Lord], as some of them also tempted, and perished by serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and perished* by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make the way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my 2 beloved, flee from idolatry. * (3.) Evils of the Sacrificial Feasts. X. 14-XI. 1. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they which eat of 2 Om. "dearly." 1 Om. "I." |