Page [unnumbered]
The .vii. Chapter.
1 The apostle aunswereth to certayne questions which the Corinthians desired to know, 2 as of single lyfe, 3 of the duetie of mariage. 11 of discordes and discention in mariage 13 of mariage betweene the faythfull and vnfaythfull, 18 of vncircumcising the circumci∣sed, 21 of seruitude. 25 of virginitie, 39 and seconde mariage.
[unspec A] 1 NOwe as concernyng the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me, ☞it is (a) 1.1good for a man not to touche a woman.
2 Neuerthelesse, to a∣uoyde fornication, let euery man haue his owne wyfe, and let euery woman haue her owne husband.
3 Let the husbande geue vnto the wyfe due beneuolence: Lykewyse also the wyfe vnto the husbande.
4 The wyfe hath not the power of her owne body, but the husbande: And like∣wyse also the husbande hath not the po∣wer of his owne body, but the wife.
5 * 1.2Defraude you not the one the other, except [it be] with both your consentes for a time, that ye may geue your selues to fasting and prayer: and afterward come together againe, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinencie.
6 This I say of fauour, & (b) 1.3 not of com∣maundement.
7 For I woulde that all men were as I my selfe [am:] but euery man hath his proper gift of God, one after this maner, another after that.
8 I say therefore vnto them that be vn∣maryed and wyddowes, it is good for them if they abyde euen as I.
9 But * 1.4 if they can not abstayne, let them marrie: For it is better to marrie then to burne.
10 Vnto the maryed commaunde, not I, but the Lord, * 1.5 Let not the wyfe depart from the husbande:
11 But and if she depart, let her remayne vnmarried, or be reconciled vnto her husbande [againe:] And let not the hus∣bande put away his wyfe.
12 But to the remnaunt speake I, not the Lorde: If any brother haue a wife that beleueth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath to her hus∣bande an infidell, and he consent to dwel with her, let her not put him away.
[unspec C] 14 For the vnbeleuing husbande is sanc∣tified by the wyfe, and the vnbeleuyng wyfe is sanctified by the husbande: els were your children vncleane, but nowe are they (c) 1.6 holy.
15 But if the vnbeleuing depart, let hym depart: A brother or a sister is not in sub∣iection in such thinges: But God hath called vs in peace.
16 For howe knowest thou O woman, whether thou shalt saue thy husbande? or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wyfe?
17 But as God hath distributed to euery man, * 1.7as the Lorde hath called euery one, so let hym walke, and so ordeyne I in all Churches.
18 Is any man called beyng circumcised? let him not adde vncircumcision: Is any called vncircumcised? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and vncircum∣cision is nothing, but the keping of the commaundementes of God.
20 ☞Let euery man abyde in the same calling, wherin he was called.
21 * 1.8Art thou called a seruaunt? care not for it: Neuerthelesse, if thou mayest be free, vse it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord [being] [unspec D] a seruaunt, is the Lordes free man: Lykewyse also he that is called [beyng] free, is Christes seruaunt.
23 Ye are dearely bought, be not ye the seruauntes of men.
24 Brethren, let euery man wherin he is called, therin abyde with (d) 1.9 God. ☜
25 Nowe concerning virgins I haue no commaundement of the Lord: yet geue I counsell, as one that hath obtayned mercy in the Lorde to be faythfull.
26 I suppose therfore that it is good for the present necessitie: for [I say] it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seke not to be loosed: Art thou loosed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe.
28 But and if thou marrie a wyfe, thou sinnest not, and if a virgin marrie, she hath not sinned: Neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble in their fleshe, but I beare with you.