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Analytical-Literal Translation

Third Edition

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

Sample passage from chapters 1-8

1Corinthians 7

¹Now concerning [the things] of which you* wrote to me: [it is] good for a man not to be touching a woman [sexually]. ²But because of such sexual sins, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³Let the husband be rendering the affection being owed to the wife, and likewise also the wife to the husband. ⁴The wife does not have control [or, authority] over her own body, but the husband; and, likewise also the husband does not have control over his own body, but the wife. ⁵Stop depriving one another, except by mutual consent for a time, so that you* shall be devoting yourselves to [or, having free time for] fasting and prayer; and again to the same be coming together, lest Satan be tempting you* because of your* lack of self-control. ⁶But this I say as a concession, not as a command. ⁷For I desire all people to be even as myself. But each has his own gracious gift from God, one indeed in this manner, but another in that.

⁸Now I say to the unmarried [persons] and to the widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I [am]. ⁹But if they are not exercising self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to continue being inflamed [with lust].

¹⁰Now to the ones having married I am giving strict orders [or, am instructing] (not I, but the Lord) [i.e., Jesus commented on this subject during His earthly ministry]: do not let a wife separate from a husband. ¹¹But even if she is separated, let her be remaining unmarried or let her be reconciled to the husband. And stop letting a husband divorce a wife. [see Matt 19:3-9]

¹²But to the rest I speak (not the Lord) [i.e., Jesus did not comment on this subject during His earthly ministry]: if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to be living with him, stop letting him divorce her. ¹³And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to be living with her, stop letting her divorce him. ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified [or, set apart to God] by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the husband; for otherwise indeed your* children are unclean [or, defiled], but now they are holy [or, set apart to God]. ¹⁵But if the unbelieving [spouse] separates himself, let him be separating himself; the brother or the sister has not been bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace. ¹⁶For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save the husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save the wife?

¹⁷If not [fig., Otherwise], as God distributed to each, as the Lord has called each, in this manner let him be walking about [fig., conducting himself]; and in this manner I instruct in all the assemblies. ¹⁸Was anyone called having been circumcised? Stop letting him become uncircumcised. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Stop letting him be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but [what matters is] keeping [the] commandments of God. ²⁰Each [person] in the calling in which he was called, in this let him remain.

²¹Were you called [as] a slave? Stop letting it be a concern to you, but if also you are able to become free, rather make use of [it]. ²²For the [person] in the Lord having been called [as] a slave is [the] Lord’s freedman. Likewise also the free person having been called is a slave of Christ. ²³You* were bought [or, redeemed] with a price; stop becoming slaves of people. ²⁴Each [person] in [the circumstance] in which he was called, brothers [and sisters], in this [circumstance] let him remain with God.

²⁵Now concerning the virgins, I do not have a commandment of [or, from] [the] Lord [i.e., Jesus did not comment on this subject during His earthly ministry], but I give an opinion as one having been shown mercy from [the] Lord to be faithful [or, trustworthy]. ²⁶So I consider this to be good because of the present distress, that [it is] good for a man to be in this manner: ²⁷Have you been bound to a wife? Stop seeking to be loosed [or, divorced]. Have you been loosed [or, divorced] from a wife? Stop seeking a wife. ²⁸But even if you do marry, you did not sin; and if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But such will have tribulation in the flesh, and I [am trying to] spare you*.

²⁹But this I say, brothers [and sisters], the time has been shortened; from now on, it is that even the ones having wives should be as not having, ³⁰and the ones weeping as not weeping, and the ones rejoicing as not rejoicing, and the ones buying as not possessing, ³¹and the ones making use of this world as not making full use of [it], for the form of this world is passing away.

³²But I want you* to be free from anxiety; the unmarried [man] is anxious for [or, concerned about] the [things] of the Lord, how he will please the Lord. ³³But the married [man] is anxious for [or, concerned about] the [things] of the world, how he will please the wife. ³⁴And the wife and the virgin have been distinguished [or, have different interests]: the unmarried [woman] is anxious for [or, concerned about] the [things] of the Lord, so that she should be holy both in body and in spirit; but the married [woman] is anxious for [or, concerned about] the [things] of the world, how she will please the husband. ³⁵Now this I say for your* own profit [or, benefit], not so that I should cast a noose [fig., a restriction] on you*, but for the proper behavior and devotion to the Lord, without distraction.

³⁶Now if anyone thinks [he is] acting shamefully [or, behaving improperly] towards his virgin, if she is past marriageable age [or, if his passions are strong], and it is obligated to happen, what he desires let him do; he does not sin. Let them marry. ³⁷But [he] who has stood steadfast [fig., is convinced] in his heart, not having necessity, and has authority [or, control] over his own desire, and this he has determined in his heart, to be keeping his own virgin, he does well. ³⁸Accordingly, also the one giving in marriage [or, getting married] does well, but the one not giving in marriage [or, not getting married] does better.

³⁹A wife has been bound by [the] law as long as her husband lives, but if also the husband sleeps [fig., dies], she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in [the] Lord [fig., but only if he is a Christian]. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she remains in this manner, according to my opinion. And I think I also to be having [the] Spirit of God.

Scripture taken from the Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament of the Holy Bible: Third Edition.
Copyright © 2007 by Gary F. Zeolla of Darkness to Light ministry (www.zeolla.org/christian).
Previously copyrighted © 1999, 2001, 2005 by Gary F. Zeolla.

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The above sample passage was posted on this Web site September 19, 2007.

First Corinthians (9-16)

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