The First Letter of St. Paul
to
The Corinthians
Chapter
7
¹ Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman."
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1)
Oh God my Father, when considering our sinful nature it would be best for a man not to touch a woman if that man is not ready or able to take responsibility of the consequences, such as raising a family or caring for that same woman and child. Amen.
² But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 2)
Oh God my Father this is the reason why Priests are to be allowed to be united in marriage since it would be better than having them involved in sexual immorality as the world has witnessed Amen.
³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 3)
Oh God my Father both husband and wife are to have their own personal space where each can have the opportunity to express themselves with freedom. None of them are to feel as if they are the underdog trodden down and made to feel low in one's self-esteem. Amen.
⁴ For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 4)
Oh God my Father I am of the opinion that neither wife nor husband have the authority to change or dominate in each other in any way. Both are to be supportive and complementary to one in other as is the mind with the body, and the body ideally with the soul Amen.
⁵ Do not deprive one another except by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5)
Oh married couples, do not deny each other of Yourselves both physically and psychologically. Share in both mind and body freely without the fear of being criticised by each other but with the security of being heard respected and understood Amen. Husbands are to respect their wives especially when they are during their period and abstain from having sex however after this period the sexual relationship is to continue so that the physical, spiritual and psychological foundations of the relationship remain stable and firm Amen.
⁶ This I say by way of concession not of command, ⁷ I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father how I wish that many people prayed on the Bible as I do and reap the blessings that come from Your Word, however, on the other hand, I bless other forms of praise and worship that all have the same positive end that of being in relationship with You Amen.
⁸ To the unmarried and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am. ⁹ But if they are not practising self-control they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God my Father, I support St. Paul's teaching re the importance of practising self-control, however, this is a skill that is also to apply in marriage for this solves many issues that are experienced by married couples, for in time our sinful self may start getting the best of us, and we may become selfish and adopt an individualistic attitude which shuts out our wives, husbands and even our children. Amen. Therefore we must always be aware and on guard over our selves Amen.
¹⁰ To the married I give this command-not I but the Lord-that the wife should not separate from her husband ¹¹ (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband, and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 to 11)
Oh God my Father this biblical verse has put my heart at rest, for although I have separated from my wife and she from me, I have remained unmarried and I do not even have a partner. I thank You Jesus for giving me self-control in succeding to live without a woman in my life Amen.
¹² To the rest I say-I and not the Lord-that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 12)
Oh God my Father there is a difference between fact and opinion, or when a person is speaking from the spirit or from one's own mind or flesh. Help us oh God my Father to discern the truth Amen.
¹³ And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13)
Oh God, my Father, I pray for couples where the husband or wife is an unbeliever so that there is harmony in the relationship and not stress and conditioning due to one's beliefs. May both feel free to practice and worship in whom one believes Amen.
¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 14)
Oh God my Father in my case I could not make the quasi unbelieving wife a believer. Even though she listened to spiritual music when it came to face the facts she showed her true colours and the level of her belief. Amen.
¹⁵ But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 15)
Oh God my Father today I realize that it is to peace that You have called me. Since I have separated I am again living this state of peace. I thank You for the second chance Amen.
¹⁶ Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 16)
Oh God my Father throughout sixteen years of marriage I tried to save my wife. I tried to offer her an opportunity of meditating on Your Word as I do which could have united us in prayer, however, she chose different ways or forms of spirituality Amen.
¹⁷ However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 17)
Oh God my Father I thank You for putting me back on track living the life that from the beginning You had assigned for me. I am sorry that You disobeyed You and got married Amen.
¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 18)
Oh God my Father as much as circumcision meant alot during the time of St. Paul Baptism means a lot to us. I pray that we all receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and with the grace of God we learn how to live and honour that baptism Amen.
² But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 2)
Oh God my Father this is the reason why Priests are to be allowed to be united in marriage since it would be better than having them involved in sexual immorality as the world has witnessed Amen.
³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 3)
Oh God my Father both husband and wife are to have their own personal space where each can have the opportunity to express themselves with freedom. None of them are to feel as if they are the underdog trodden down and made to feel low in one's self-esteem. Amen.
⁴ For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 4)
Oh God my Father I am of the opinion that neither wife nor husband have the authority to change or dominate in each other in any way. Both are to be supportive and complementary to one in other as is the mind with the body, and the body ideally with the soul Amen.
⁵ Do not deprive one another except by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5)
Oh married couples, do not deny each other of Yourselves both physically and psychologically. Share in both mind and body freely without the fear of being criticised by each other but with the security of being heard respected and understood Amen. Husbands are to respect their wives especially when they are during their period and abstain from having sex however after this period the sexual relationship is to continue so that the physical, spiritual and psychological foundations of the relationship remain stable and firm Amen.
⁶ This I say by way of concession not of command, ⁷ I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father how I wish that many people prayed on the Bible as I do and reap the blessings that come from Your Word, however, on the other hand, I bless other forms of praise and worship that all have the same positive end that of being in relationship with You Amen.
⁸ To the unmarried and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am. ⁹ But if they are not practising self-control they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God my Father, I support St. Paul's teaching re the importance of practising self-control, however, this is a skill that is also to apply in marriage for this solves many issues that are experienced by married couples, for in time our sinful self may start getting the best of us, and we may become selfish and adopt an individualistic attitude which shuts out our wives, husbands and even our children. Amen. Therefore we must always be aware and on guard over our selves Amen.
¹⁰ To the married I give this command-not I but the Lord-that the wife should not separate from her husband ¹¹ (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband, and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 to 11)
Oh God my Father this biblical verse has put my heart at rest, for although I have separated from my wife and she from me, I have remained unmarried and I do not even have a partner. I thank You Jesus for giving me self-control in succeding to live without a woman in my life Amen.
¹² To the rest I say-I and not the Lord-that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 12)
Oh God my Father there is a difference between fact and opinion, or when a person is speaking from the spirit or from one's own mind or flesh. Help us oh God my Father to discern the truth Amen.
¹³ And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13)
Oh God, my Father, I pray for couples where the husband or wife is an unbeliever so that there is harmony in the relationship and not stress and conditioning due to one's beliefs. May both feel free to practice and worship in whom one believes Amen.
¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 14)
Oh God my Father in my case I could not make the quasi unbelieving wife a believer. Even though she listened to spiritual music when it came to face the facts she showed her true colours and the level of her belief. Amen.
¹⁵ But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 15)
Oh God my Father today I realize that it is to peace that You have called me. Since I have separated I am again living this state of peace. I thank You for the second chance Amen.
¹⁶ Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 16)
Oh God my Father throughout sixteen years of marriage I tried to save my wife. I tried to offer her an opportunity of meditating on Your Word as I do which could have united us in prayer, however, she chose different ways or forms of spirituality Amen.
¹⁷ However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 17)
Oh God my Father I thank You for putting me back on track living the life that from the beginning You had assigned for me. I am sorry that You disobeyed You and got married Amen.
¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 18)
Oh God my Father as much as circumcision meant alot during the time of St. Paul Baptism means a lot to us. I pray that we all receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and with the grace of God we learn how to live and honour that baptism Amen.
¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and circumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 19)
Oh God my Father I thank You for reminding me what really matters in life Amen. I pray for the love, faith courage and determination to obey Your commandments even if this requires that I go against my natural and selfish self Amen.
²⁰ Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 20)
Oh God my Father You called me to leave my belongings and to follow You. Today I dedicate my life in service to You and Your people. I am not tied to anything or anyone, All is Yours and what You wish to take is Yours and what You wish to remain is also in Your decision Amen. I pray that I will always be free to serve You and to never be constrained by people or possessions Amen.
²¹ Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever."
(The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians chapter 7 verse 21)
Oh God my Father I thank You for telling me to let go of my past and move on in the present life. I was a slave of my passions, desires and feelings but with Your help this has become an issue of the past Amen.
