Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

1 Corinthians 7:2-16

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

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.

5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.

9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Cross References for 1 Corinthians 7:2-16

Malachi 2:15 - Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God s... Click to read the verse Malachi 2:15 Click to read the verse Malachi 2:15

1 Timothy 4:3 - They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to ... Click to read the verse 1 Timothy 4:3 Click to read the verse 1 Timothy 4:3

Proverbs 18:22 - He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Click to read the verse Proverbs 18:22 Click to read the verse Proverbs 18:22

Proverbs 19:14 - Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Click to read the verse Proverbs 19:14 Click to read the verse Proverbs 19:14

Acts 15:20 - Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexu... Click to read the verse Acts 15:20 Click to read the verse Acts 15:20

Ephesians 5:33 - However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect... Click to read the verse Ephesians 5:33 Click to read the verse Ephesians 5:33

Proverbs 5:18-19 - May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. Click to read the verse Proverbs 5:18-19 Click to read the verse Proverbs 5:18-19

Genesis 26:34 - When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basema... Click to read the verse Genesis 26:34 Click to read the verse Genesis 26:34

Malachi 2:14 - You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. Y... Click to read the verse Malachi 2:14 Click to read the verse Malachi 2:14

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 6:18 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 6:18

1 Corinthians 7:35 - I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way i... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 7:35 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 7:35

Revelation 2:14 - Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching o... Click to read the verse Revelation 2:14 Click to read the verse Revelation 2:14

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Matthew 19:5 - and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, an... Click to read the verse Matthew 19:5 Click to read the verse Matthew 19:5

Judges 21:14 - So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been ... Click to read the verse Judges 21:14 Click to read the verse Judges 21:14

Judges 21:22 - When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us a kindness by helpin... Click to read the verse Judges 21:22 Click to read the verse Judges 21:22

Ephesians 5:28 - In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife... Click to read the verse Ephesians 5:28 Click to read the verse Ephesians 5:28

Matthew 19:11 - Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. Click to read the verse Matthew 19:11 Click to read the verse Matthew 19:11

1 Thessalonians 4:4 - that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:4

1 Corinthians 7:9 - But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to bur... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 7:9 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 7:9