Principles for Marriage
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Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: a It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
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Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
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b Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
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The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
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c Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that d Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
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But I say this as a concession, e not as a commandment.
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For f I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
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But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: g It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
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but h if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
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Now to the married I command, yet not I but the i Lord: j A wife is not to depart from her husband.
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But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
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But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
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And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise k your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
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But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us l to peace.
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For how do you know, O wife, whether you will m save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:8
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am.
1 Corinthians 7:26
I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress - that it is good for a man to remain as he is:
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Cross References
Exodus 21:10
If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights.
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Cross References
Joel 2:16
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 8:8
I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
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Cross References
Acts 26:29
And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:26
I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress - that it is good for a man to remain as he is:
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Cross References
1 Timothy 5:14
Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
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Cross References
Mark 10:6 - 10
"But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'
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Cross References
Malachi 2:14
Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
Matthew 5:32
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
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Cross References
Ezra 9:2
"For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass."
Malachi 2:15
But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
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Cross References
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
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Cross References
Romans 11:14
If by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
1 Peter 3:1
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.