New Living Translation

Greek Study Bible

1Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.

1Περὶ δὲ ὧν ἐγράψατε καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι

2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

2διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω καὶ ἑκάστη τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα ἐχέτω

3The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.

3Τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί

4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

4ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή

5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5Μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρὸν ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν

6I say this as a concession, not as a command.

6τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συνγνώμην οὐ κατ’ ἐπιταγήν

7But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

7θέλω δὲ πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν ἀλλὰ ἕκαστος ἴδιον ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ Θεοῦ ὁ μὲν οὕτως ὁ δὲ οὕτως

8So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.

8Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις καλὸν αὐτοῖς ἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ

9But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

9εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται γαμησάτωσαν κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι* ἢ πυροῦσθαι

10But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.

10Τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ Κύριος γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναι

11But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

11ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι

12Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.

12Τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς λέγω ἐγώ οὐχ ὁ Κύριος εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον καὶ αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ’ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν

13And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.

13καὶ γυνὴ ‹εἴ τις› ἔχει ἄνδρα ἄπιστον καὶ οὗτος συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ’ αὐτῆς μὴ ἀφιέτω τὸν ἄνδρα

14For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.

14ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν

15(But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)

15Εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται χωριζέσθω οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ὑμᾶς ὁ Θεός

16Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?

16τί γὰρ οἶδας γύναι εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις ἢ τί οἶδας ἄνερ εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις

17Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

17Εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν* ὁ Κύριος ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ Θεός οὕτως περιπατείτω καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι

18For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.

18περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη μὴ ἐπισπάσθω ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ κέκληταί τις μὴ περιτεμνέσθω

19For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

19ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ

20Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.

20Ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη ἐν ταύτῃ μενέτω

21Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.

21δοῦλος ἐκλήθης μή σοι μελέτω ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι μᾶλλον χρῆσαι

22And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

22ὁ γὰρ ἐν Κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος Κυρίου ἐστίν ὁμοίως ὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός ἐστιν Χριστοῦ

23God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

23Τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων

24Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

24ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη ἀδελφοί ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ Θεῷ

25Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

25Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν Κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι

26Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.

26Νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο καλὸν ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι

27If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married.

27δέδεσαι γυναικί μὴ ζήτει λύσιν λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός μὴ ζήτει γυναῖκα

28But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

28ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γαμήσῃς οὐχ ἥμαρτες καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος οὐχ ἥμαρτεν θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν φείδομαι

29But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

29Τοῦτο δέ φημι ἀδελφοί ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ἐστίν τὸ λοιπὸν ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσιν

30Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.

30καὶ οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες καὶ οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες

31Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

31καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου

32I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.

32Θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ Κυρίῳ

33But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

33ὁ δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῇ γυναικί

34His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

34καὶ μεμέρισται καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ παρθένος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ τῷ σώματι καὶ τῷ πνεύματι ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου πῶς ἀρέσῃ τῷ ἀνδρί

35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

35Τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σύμφορον λέγω οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως

36But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fianc�e improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin.

36Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι ὃ θέλει ποιείτω οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει γαμείτωσαν

37But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.

37ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἑδραῖος μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον καλῶς ποιήσει

38So the person who marries his fianc�e does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.

38Ὥστε καὶ ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον καλῶς ποιεῖ καὶ ὁ μὴ γαμίζων κρεῖσσον ποιήσει

39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.

39Γυνὴ δέδεται ἐφ’ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι μόνον ἐν Κυρίῳ

40But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

40μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.