1 Now as to the question you
writ to me about; “whether
it is best for a man not to
marry?”
2 I answer, with
regard to the licentious, it is
best for a man, to have his
wife; and for a woman to
have her husband.
3 let the
husband discharge his obligations
to his wife: and likewise
the wife to the husband.
4 the
wife has not the right of her
own person, but the husband:
and so likewise the husband
has not the right of his own
person, but the wife.
5 don't
desert one another, unless you
mutually consent to retire for
-- --
a time, to the solemnity of
prayer; and then come together
again, lest satan make
an attempt upon your continency.
6 but as for the rest, I
speak it by way of counsel, and
not of command.
7 for I wish
that all men were as I myself
am: but every man hath his
proper gift from God, some one
way, and some another.
8 As to the unmarried and
widows, I say, it is best for
them to continue so, as I do.
9 but if they have not the gift,
let them marry: for it is better
to marry than to be in
pain.
10 as to the married, I
enjoin this rule, not as from
my self, but from the Lord,
that a woman should not leave
her husband:
11 but if she has
separated herself, let her remain
unmarried, or be reconciled
to her husband: and
let not the husband put away
his wife.
12 But as to the other cases,
which were not decided by the
Lord; I say, if any brother
has a pagan wife, who likes
to live with him, let him not
put her away.
13 and if a woman
has a pagan husband,
who likes to live with her, let
her not leave him. note
14 for the
-- --
unbelieving husband is christianiz'd
by the believing wife,
and the unbelieving wife is
christianiz'd by the believing
husband: else were your children
heathens: whereas they
are christians.
15 but if the infidel
will separate, let him go:
a brother or a sister is not
inslaved in such cases. but
God has called us to peace;
for how do you know,
16 O wife,
but you may save your husband?
or how do you know,
O man, but you may save
your wife?
17 Whatever condition God
has allotted to any man, let
him go on in the same state
he was in when he became a
christian: this I give as a
standing rule to all churches.
18 does a Jew turn Christian?
let him not pretend to be uncircumcised:
does a Gentile
turn Christian? let him not
become circumcised.
19 circumcision
is nothing, and uncircumcision
is nothing, in comparison
of obeying the divine
commands.
20 let every man continue
in the same state he was
in when he turn'd christian.
21 were you called being a slave?
be not perplex'd about it;
but if you can obtain your
freedom, don't refuse it.
22 for
the slave that turns christian,
is the Lord's freedman: likewise,
the freeman that becomes
-- --
a convert is Christ's
servant.
23 have you been redeemed
from slavery? then,
don't turn slaves.
24 brethren,
let every man conscientiously
continue in the state he was
in when he was converted.
25 As to the case of celibacy, I
have no positive instructions:
yet my advice deserves to be
regarded, as coming from one
the divine favour has distinguished.
26 I think therefore it
is best, considering the present
distress, I say, it is best,
for a single person to continue
so still.
27 are you contracted
to a wife? seek not to be
disengag'd. are you disengag'd
from your wife? don't look
out for another;
28 not that it
is a sin for you to marry;
nor is it so if a virgin marry;
but they that do, will be troubled
for their relations, and
that I would prevent.
29 This I say, brethren, because
the time is coming, when
they who have wives will be
as those that have none;
30 and
they that weep, as those that
are unconcern'd; and they
that rejoice, as those that do
not; and they that buy, as
those that have no possessions;
31 and they that possess this
world, as those that can't
make an ill use of it. for the
scene of this world is continually
-- --
shifting. I would have
you free from anxiety.
32 the unmarried
is religiously concerned,
how he may please the
Lord:
33 he that is married is
worldly concern'd, how he
may please his wife.
34 there is
the same difference between a
married woman and a virgin:
the last is religiously
concern'd to be holy, both in
body and mind: but she that
is married is taken up with
worldly cares to please her
husband.
35 And this I say for your
particular advantage, not
to lay any constraint upon
you, but as that which is most
suitable to a state of uninterrupted
attendance upon religion.
36 if any man thinks it
would be a reflexion upon his
manhood to be a stale batchelor,
and so ought to marry;
let him follow his bent, he is
at liberty, let such marry.
37 but he that has been steady
in his purpose, and finds no
necessity to alter it; if he is
a master of his passion, and
is heartily determin'd to keep
his virginity, it is well.
38 so
that he who marries, does
well; but he who lives single,
may have less trouble.
-- --
39 The wife is bound as long
as her husband lives: but if
her husbnd be dead, she is
at liberty to be married, if
she pleases; provided it be
to a christian.
40 but she will be
happier, if she remain a widow,
in my opinion: and I
think the divine spirit suggests
the same.
Mace [1729], THE NEW TESTAMENT IN Greek and English. Containing the ORIGINAL TEXT Corrected from the Authority of the most Authentic Manuscripts: AND A NEW VERSION Form'd agreeably to the Illustrations of the most Learned Commentators and Critics: WITH NOTES and VARIOUS READINGS, AND A Copious Alphabetical Index (Printed for J. ROBERTS [etc.], LONDON) [word count] [B11200].