1Cor.7.17

And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don't think I'm being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches.

1Cor.7.17

Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

1Cor.7.17

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

1Cor.7.17

You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

1Cor.7.18

Were you Jewish at the time God called you? Don't try to remove the evidence. Were you non-Jewish at the time of your call? Don't become a Jew.

1Cor.7.18

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.

1Cor.7.18

Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

1Cor.7.18

For 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.

1Cor.7.19

Being Jewish isn't the point. The really important thing is obeying God's call, following his commands.

1Cor.7.19

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.

1Cor.7.19

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

1Cor.7.19

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

1Cor.7.20

Stay where you were when God called your name.

1Cor.7.20

Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.

1Cor.7.20

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

1Cor.7.20

You should continue on as you were when God called you.

1Cor.7.21

Were you a slave? Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing. I don't mean you're stuck and can't leave. If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it.

1Cor.7.21

Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

1Cor.7.21

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

1Cor.7.21

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

1Cor.7.22

I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of. On the other hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful "enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of.

1Cor.7.22

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

1Cor.7.22

For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.

1Cor.7.22

And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, the Lord has now set you free from the awful power of sin. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

1Cor.7.23

All of you, slave and free both, were once held hostage in a sinful society. Then a huge sum was paid out for your ransom. So please don't, out of old habit, slip back into being or doing what everyone else tells you.

1Cor.7.23

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

1Cor.7.23

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

1Cor.7.23

God purchased you at a high price. Don't be enslaved by the world.

1Cor.7.24

Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there. Hold the high ground with him at your side.

1Cor.7.24

Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

1Cor.7.24

Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

1Cor.7.24

So, dear brothers and sisters, whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in your new relationship with God.

1Cor.7.25

The Master did not give explicit direction regarding virgins, but as one much experienced in the mercy of the Master and loyal to him all the way, you can trust my counsel.

1Cor.7.25

Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

1Cor.7.25

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

1Cor.7.25

Now, 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 kindness has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

1Cor.7.26

Because of the current pressures on us from all sides, I think it would probably be best to stay just as you are.

1Cor.7.26

Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.

1Cor.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:

1Cor.7.26

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

1Cor.7.27

Are you married? Stay married. Are you unmarried? Don't get married.

1Cor.7.27

Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.

1Cor.7.27

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

1Cor.7.27

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

1Cor.7.28

But there's certainly no sin in getting married, whether you're a virgin or not. All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible.

1Cor.7.28

But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

1Cor.7.28

But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

1Cor.7.28

But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, I am trying to spare you the extra problems that come with marriage.

1Cor.7.29

I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don't complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple--in marriage,

1Cor.7.29

What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

1Cor.7.29

But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

1Cor.7.29

Now let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not let marriage be their major concern.

1Cor.7.30

grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things--your daily routines of shopping, and so on.

1Cor.7.30

those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;

1Cor.7.30

those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

1Cor.7.30

Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God's work.

1Cor.7.31

Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.

1Cor.7.31

those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

1Cor.7.31

and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

1Cor.7.31

Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.

1Cor.7.32

I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master.

1Cor.7.32

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord.

1Cor.7.32

But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord.

1Cor.7.32

In everything you do, I 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.

1Cor.7.33

Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse,

1Cor.7.33

But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--

1Cor.7.33

But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife.

1Cor.7.33

But a married man can't do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

1Cor.7.34

leading to so many more demands on your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God.

1Cor.7.34

and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.

1Cor.7.34

There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.

1Cor.7.34

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

1Cor.7.35

I'm trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.

1Cor.7.35

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

1Cor.7.35

And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

1Cor.7.35

I 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.