1Cor.7.36

If a man has a woman friend to whom he is loyal but never intended to marry, having decided to serve God as a "single," and then changes his mind, deciding he should marry her, he should go ahead and marry. It's no sin; it's not even a "step down" from celibacy, as some say.

1Cor.7.36

If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.

1Cor.7.36

But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

1Cor.7.36

But if a man thinks he ought to marry his fiancee because he has trouble controlling his passions and time is passing, it is all right; it is not a sin. Let them marry.

1Cor.7.37

On the other hand, if a man is comfortable in his decision for a single life in service to God and it's entirely his own conviction and not imposed on him by others, he ought to stick with it.

1Cor.7.37

But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing.

1Cor.7.37

Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

1Cor.7.37

But 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.

1Cor.7.38

Marriage is spiritually and morally right and not inferior to singleness in any way, although as I indicated earlier, because of the times we live in, I do have pastoral reasons for encouraging singleness.

1Cor.7.38

So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.

1Cor.7.38

So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

1Cor.7.38

So the person who marries does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even better.

1Cor.7.39

A wife must stay with her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she chooses. She will, of course, want to marry a believer and have the blessing of the Master

1Cor.7.39

A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

1Cor.7.39

A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

1Cor.7.39

A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, but this must be a marriage acceptable to the Lord.

1Cor.7.40

. By now you know that I think she'll be better off staying single. The Master, in my opinion, thinks so, too.

1Cor.7.40

In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

1Cor.7.40

But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

1Cor.7.40

But in my opinion it will be better for her if she doesn't marry again, and I think I am giving you counsel from God's Spirit when I say this.

1Cor.8.1

The question keeps coming up regarding meat that has been offered up to an idol: Should you attend meals where such meat is served, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions--

1Cor.8.1

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1Cor.8.1

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1Cor.8.1

Now let's talk about food that has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up the church.

1Cor.8.2

but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds.

1Cor.8.2

The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

1Cor.8.2

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

1Cor.8.2

Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.

1Cor.8.3

We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.

1Cor.8.3

But the man who loves God is known by God.

1Cor.8.3

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

1Cor.8.3

But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.

1Cor.8.4

Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actual existence, that there's nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God,

1Cor.8.4

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

1Cor.8.4

Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

1Cor.8.4

So now, what about it? Should we eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God and no other.

1Cor.8.5

that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don't add up to anything but a tall story.

1Cor.8.5

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"),

1Cor.8.5

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

1Cor.8.5

According to some people, there are many so-called gods and many lords, both in heaven and on earth.

1Cor.8.6

They say--again, quite rightly--that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master--Jesus the Messiah--and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. It's true.

1Cor.8.6

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

1Cor.8.6

yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1Cor.8.6

But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.

1Cor.8.7

In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It's just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it--alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive. We need to be sensitive to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating "idol meat," and are sure that there's something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn't going to change overnight.

1Cor.8.7

But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

1Cor.8.7

However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

1Cor.8.7

However, not all Christians realize this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.

1Cor.8.8

But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it.

1Cor.8.8

But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1Cor.8.8

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

1Cor.8.8

It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't miss out on anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do.

1Cor.8.9

But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a Christian still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.

1Cor.8.9

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1Cor.8.9

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

1Cor.8.9

But you must be careful with this freedom of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble.

1Cor.8.10

For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused--maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.

1Cor.8.10

For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?

1Cor.8.10

For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

1Cor.8.10

You see, this is what can happen: Weak Christians who think it is wrong to eat this food will see you eating in the temple of an idol. You know there's nothing wrong with it, but they will be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been dedicated to the idol.

1Cor.8.11

Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him--because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin!

1Cor.8.11

So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

1Cor.8.11

And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1Cor.8.11

So because of your superior knowledge, a weak Christian, for whom Christ died, will be destroyed.

1Cor.8.12

When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "weak ones."

1Cor.8.12

When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

1Cor.8.12

But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

1Cor.8.12

And you are sinning against Christ when you sin against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong.

1Cor.8.13

So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters. [JC]

1Cor.8.13

Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

1Cor.8.13

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1Cor.8.13

If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live--for I don't want to make another Christian stumble.