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1 Corinthians 7:25-8:13
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 7:25-8:13
English Standard Version
The Unmarried and the Widowed
25 Now concerning[a] the betrothed,[b] (A)I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as (B)one who by the Lord's mercy is (C)trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present[c] distress (D)it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman[d] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: (E)the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy (F)as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For (G)the present form of this world is passing away.
32 I want you to be (H)free from anxieties. (I)The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, (J)not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,[e] if his[f] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed (K)does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39 (L)A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only (M)in the Lord. 40 Yet (N)in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think (O)that I too have the Spirit of God.
Food Offered to Idols
8 Now concerning[g] (P)food offered to idols: we know that (Q)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” (R)puffs up, (S)but love builds up. 2 (T)If anyone imagines that he knows something, (U)he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, (V)he is known by God.[h]
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (W)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (X)“there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be (Y)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet (Z)for us there is one God, the Father, (AA)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (AB)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (AC)through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, (AD)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and (AE)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 (AF)Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care (AG)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block (AH)to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[i] in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,[j] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is (AI)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[k] and (AJ)wounding their conscience when it is weak, (AK)you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (AL)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
- 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
- 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or her
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table
- 1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
- 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters
1 Corinthians 7:25-8:13
New International Version
1 Corinthians 7:25-8:13
New International Version
Concerning the Unmarried
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(A) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(B) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(C) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(D) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(E) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(F) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(G)
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(H)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(I) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(J) devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[a] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(K) They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(L) but he who does not marry her does better.[b]
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(M) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(N) 40 In my judgment,(O) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:(P) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”(Q) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something(R) do not yet know as they ought to know.(S) 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[c](T)
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:(U) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”(V) and that “There is no God but one.”(W) 5 For even if there are so-called gods,(X) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God,(Y) the Father,(Z) from whom all things came(AA) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,(AB) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came(AC) and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge.(AD) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,(AE) it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God;(AF) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block(AG) to the weak.(AH) 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?(AI) 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed(AJ) by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them(AK) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.(AL) 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.(AM)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves truly knows.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.