Chapter 4
CHAPTERS 7 AND 8 OF I CORINTHIANS. THIS IS A LIBRAVOX RECORDING. ALL LIBRAVOX RECORDINGS ARE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE VISIT LIBRAVOX.ORG.
RECORDING BY SIMON WANERIGHT THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. KING JAMES VERSION CHAPTER 7 Now, concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other,
except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontency. But I speak this by permission and not of commandment.
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide,
even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married I command,
Yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband. But, and if she depart,
let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. But, to the rest speak I,
not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
And, the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For, the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified
by the husband. Else were your children unclean. But now are they holy.
But, if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother, or a sister,
is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou,
O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man,
whether thou shalt save thy wife? But, as God hath distributed to every man,
as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk, and so ordain I in all churches.
Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any
called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision
is nothing. But, the keeping of the commandments of God,
let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Art thou called being a servant? Care not for it, but if thou mayest be made free,
use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lord's free man.
Likewise also, he that is called being free is Christ's servant. Ye are bought
with a price. Be not ye the servants of men. brethren, let every man
wherein he is called therein abide with God. Now, concerning
versions, I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my
judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
I suppose, therefore, that this is good for the present distress.
I say that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound
unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
But, and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry,
she hath not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you.
But, this I say, brethren, the time is short, it remaineth,
that both they that have wives be as though they had none, and they that weep
as though they wept not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, and they that buy as though they possessed not,
and they that use this world as not abusing it for the fashion of this world passeth away. But,
I would have you without carefulness, he that is unmarried careth for the things
that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord, but he that is married careth for the things
that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between
a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things
of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But,
she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you,
but for that which is comely and that ye may attend upon
the Lord without distraction. But, if any man think
that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin,
if she pass the flower of her age and need so require,
let him do what he will, he sinneth not, let them marry. Nevertheless,
he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power
over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart, that he will
keep his version, doeth well. So then, he that giveth her in marriage
doeth well, but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth.
But, if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married
to whom she will only in the Lord. But, she is happier if she so abide
after my judgment, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. Chapter 8
Now, as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all
have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And,
if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing,
yet as he ought to know. But, if any man love God,
the same is known of him, as concerning, therefore, the eating
of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that
an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
For though there be that are called gods,
whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many, and lords
many, but to us there is but one God, the Father
of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge, for some
with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing
offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak
is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God,
for neither if we eat are we the better, neither
if we eat not are we the worse. But
take heed, lest by any means this liberty
of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
For if any man see thee which hath knowledge
sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience
of him which is weak be emboldened to eat
those things which are offered to idols? and through
thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish
for whom Christ died. But when ye
sin so against the brethren and wound
their weak conscience ye sin against
Christ, wherefore if meat make my brother
to offend, I will eat no
flesh while the world standeth, lest
I make my brother to offend.
End of chapter 8 Reading
by Simon Wainwright
