1. Now I will answer the questions that you asked in your letter. You asked, “Is it best for people not to marry?”
2. Well, having your own husband or wife should keep you from doing something immoral.
3. Husbands and wives should be fair with each other about having sex.
4. A wife belongs to her husband instead of to herself, and a husband belongs to his wife instead of to himself.
5. So don't refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. Then Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6. In my opinion that is what should be done, though I don't know of anything the Lord said about this matter.
7. I wish that all of you were like me, but God has given different gifts to each of us.
8. Here is my advice for people who have never been married and for widows. You should stay single, just as I am.
9. But if you don't have enough self-control, then go ahead and get married. After all, it is better to marry than to burn with desire.
10. I instruct married couples to stay together, and this is exactly what the Lord himself taught. A wife who leaves her husband
11. should either stay single or go back to her husband. And a husband should not leave his wife.
12. I don't know of anything else the Lord said about marriage. All I can do is to give you my own advice. If your wife isn't a follower of the Lord, but is willing to stay with you, don't divorce her.
13. If your husband isn't a follower, but is willing to stay with you, don't divorce him.
14. Your husband or wife who isn't a follower is made holy by having you as a partner. This also makes your children holy and keeps them from being unclean in God's sight.