[continued from previous message]   
      
   21 Were you called while a servant? Do not worry about it.   
   But if you may become free, do so.   
   22 (1Pe 2:16; Phm 1:16) For he who is called in the Lord   
   while a servant is the Lord's freeman. Likewise, he who is called   
   while free is Christ's servant.   
   23 (1Co 6:20; Lev 25:42) You were bought at a price.   
   Do not be the servants of men.   
   24 (1Co 7:20) Brothers, let every man, in whatever condition he is called,   
   remain there with God.   
      
   [17] But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every   
   one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.   
   [18] Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised.   
   Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.   
   [19] Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping   
   of the commandments of God.   
   [20] Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.   
   [21] Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be   
   made free, use it rather.   
   [22] For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's   
   freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.   
   [23] Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.   
   [24] Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.   
      
   The Unmarried and Widows   
      
   25 (1Co 7:6; 4:2) Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord.   
   Yet I will give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord   
   to be faithful.   
   26 (1Co 7:1; 7:8) I suppose therefore that this is good   
   because of the present distress,   
   that it is good for a man to remain as he is.   
   27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be uncommitted.   
   Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.   
   28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries,   
   she has not sinned. Nevertheless they will have trouble in this life,   
   but I would spare you that.   
   29 (Ro 13:11-12) But this I say, brothers, the time is short.   
   It remains that those who have wives should be as though they had none;   
   30 those who weep, as though they did not weep; those who rejoice,   
   as though they did not rejoice; those who buy,   
   as though they possessed nothing;   
   31 (1Jn 2:17; Ps 39:6; 1Co 9:18) and those who use this world,   
   as though they did not make full use of it.   
   For the form of this world is passing away.   
   32 (1Ti 5:5) But I prefer that you have no concern. He who is unmarried cares   
   for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.   
   33 But he who is married cares for the things of the world,   
   how he may please his wife.   
   34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin.   
   The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord,   
   that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares   
   for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.   
   35 (1Co 7:36) I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint   
   upon you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord   
   without distraction.   
   36 If any man thinks that he is behaving improperly toward his virgin,   
   (Some versions translate this word as "virgin daughters,"   
   others translate it as "fiancée." Since the Greek text itself remains unclear,   
   the editors have chosen to keep the literal translation.)   
   and if she is past the flower of her youth, and passions so require,   
   let him do what he will. He does not sin. Let them marry.   
   37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart without necessity,   
   and has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart   
   that he will keep his virgin, does well.   
   38 (Heb 13:4) So then he who gives her in marriage does well,   
   but he who gives her not in marriage does better.   
   39 (Ro 7:2-3; 1Co 7:15) The wife is bound by the law as long   
   as her husband lives. But if her husband dies, she is at liberty   
   to be married to whom she will, but only in the Lord.   
   40 But in my judgment she is happier if she so remains as she is.   
   And I think that I have the Spirit of God.   
      
   [25] Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my   
   judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.   
   [26] I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say,   
   that it is good for a man so to be.   
   [27] Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from   
   a wife? seek not a wife.   
   [28] But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she   
   hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I   
   spare you.   
   [29] But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both   
   they that have wives be as though they had none;   
   [30] And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as   
   though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;   
   [31] And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of   
   this world passeth away.   
   [32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth   
   for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:   
   [33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how   
   he may please his wife.   
   [34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried   
   woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body   
   and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world,   
   how she may please her husband.   
   [35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon   
   you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord   
   without distraction.   
   [36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his   
   virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do   
   what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.   
   [37] Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no   
   necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his   
   heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.   
   [38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth   
   her not in marriage doeth better.   
   [39] The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her   
   husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in   
   the Lord.   
   [40] But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also   
   that I have the Spirit of God.   
      
   1 Corinthians 8   
      
   Food Offered to Idols   
      
   1 (1Co 8:7; 8:4) Now as concerning food offered to idols: We know that   
   "we all have knowledge." Knowledge produces arrogance, but love edifies.   
   2 (1Co 3:18; 13:8-9) So if anyone thinks that he knows anything,   
   he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.   
   3 (Gal 4:9; Ex 33:12) But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.   
   4 (Dt 6:4; 4:39) So concerning the eating of foods that are offered   
   in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world,   
   and that there is no other God but one.   
   5 (2Th 2:4) For there are those who are called gods, whether in heaven   
   or in earth, as there are many gods and many lords.   
   6 (Jn 1:3; Mal 2:10; Ro 11:36) But for us there is but one God, the Father,   
   from whom are all things and for whom we exist.   
   And there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things   
   and through whom we exist.   
   7 (Ro 14:14; 1Co 8:9-10) However, not everyone has this knowledge.   
   Some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat the food as a thing   
   offered to an idol. So their weak conscience is defiled.   
   8 (Ro 14:17) But food does not commend us to God. Neither if we eat are   
   we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)