However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world-- how she may please her husband.

But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married.

So then he who marries his virgin does well, but he who does not marry will do better.

Fire consumed His chosen young men, and His young women had no wedding songs.

I say this as a concession, not as a command.

I command the married-- not I, but the Lord-- a wife is not to leave her husband.

But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her.

But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.

Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.

What I say in this matter of boasting, I don't speak as the Lord would, but foolishly.

In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.

But by God's grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God's grace that was with me.

For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message [for profit], but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not give up.

Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God's message, but in God's sight we commend ourselves to every person's conscience by an open display of the truth.

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry--

and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

But I received mercy because of this, so that in me, the worst [of them], Christ Jesus might demonstrate the utmost patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.