« | 1 Corinthians 7 | » |
1 You asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married.
2 But because of being tempted to sex sins, each man should get married and have his own wife. Each woman should get married and have her own husband.
3 The husband should please his wife as a husband. The wife should please her husband as a wife.
4 The wife is not the boss of her own body. It belongs to the husband. And in the same way, the husband is not the boss of his own body. It belongs to the wife.
5 Do not keep from each other that which belongs to each other in marriage unless you agree for awhile so you can use your time to pray. Then come together again or the devil will tempt you to do that which you know you should not do.
6 This is what I think. I am not saying you must do it.
7 I wish everyone were as I am, but each has his own gift from God. One has one gift. Another has another gift.
8 This is what I say to those who are not married and to women whose husbands have died. It is good if you do not get married. I am not married.
9 But if you are not able to keep from doing that which you know is wrong, get married. It is better to get married than to have such strong sex desires.
10 I have this to say to those who are married. These words are from the Lord. A wife should not leave her husband,
11 but if she does leave him, she should not get married to another man. It would be better for her to go back to her husband. The husband should not divorce his wife.
12 I have this to say. These words are not from the Lord. If a Christian husband has a wife who is not a Christian, and she wants to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 If a Christian wife has a husband who is not a Christian, and he wants to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 The husband who is not a Christian is set apart from the sin of the world because of his Christian wife. The wife who is not a Christian is set apart from the sin of the world because of her Christian husband. In this way, the lives of the children are not unclean because of sin, they are clean.
15 If the one who is not a Christian wants to leave, let that one go. The Christian husband or wife should not try to make the other one stay. God wants you to live in peace.
16 Christian wife, how do you know you will not help your husband to become a Christian? Or Christian husband, how do you know you will not help your wife to become a Christian?
17 Everyone should live the life the Lord gave to him. He should live as he was when he became a Christian. This is what I teach in all the churches.
18 If a man became a Christian after he had gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew, he should do nothing about it. If a man became a Christian before, he should not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew.
19 If it is done or not done, it means nothing. What is important is to obey God's Word.
20 Everyone should stay the same way he was when he became a Christian.
21 Were you a servant who was owned by someone when you became a Christian? Do not worry about it. But if you are able to become free, do that.
22 A servant who is owned by someone and who has become a Christian is the Lord's free man. A free man who has become a Christian is a servant owned by Christ.
23 He paid a great price for you when He bought you. Do not let yourselves become servants owned by men.
24 Christian brothers, each one should stay as he was when he became a Christian.
25 I have no word from the Lord about women or men who have never been married. I will tell you what I think. You can trust me because the Lord has given me His loving-kindness.
26 I think, because of the troubles that are coming, it is a good thing for a person not to get married.
27 Are you married to a wife? Do not try to get a divorce. If you are not married, do not look for a wife.
28 If you do get married, you have not sinned. If a woman who is not married gets married, it is no sin. But being married will add problems. I would like to have you free from such problems.
29 I mean this, Christian brothers. The time is short. A married man should use his time as if he did not have a wife.
30 Those who have sorrow should keep on working as if they had no sorrow. Those who have joy should keep on working as if there was no time for joy. Those who buy should have no time to get joy from what they have.
31 While you live in this world, live as if the world has no hold on you. The way of this world will soon be gone.
32 I want you to be free from the cares of this world. The man who is not married can spend his time working for the Lord and pleasing Him.
33 The man who is married cares for the things of the world. He wants to please his wife.
34 Married women and women who have never been married are different. The woman who has never been married can spend her time working for the Lord. She wants to please the Lord with her body and spirit. The woman who is married cares for the things of the world. She wants to please her husband.
35 I am saying these things to help you. I am not trying to keep you from getting married. I want you to do what is best. You should work for Him without other things taking your time.
36 If a man and woman expect to get married, and he thinks his desires to marry her are getting too strong, and she is getting older, they should get married. It is no sin.
37 But if a man has the power to keep from getting married and knows in his mind that he should not, he is wise if he does not get married.
38 The man who gets married does well, but the man who does not get married does better.
39 A wife is not free as long as her husband lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants, if he is a Christian.
40 I think she will be much more happy if she does not get married again. This is what I think. I believe it is what the Holy Spirit is saying.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.