1 Corinthians 7

“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” The line’s distinctive content terms include concerning, good, touch. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” The line’s distinctive content terms include husband, wife, benevolence. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own…” The line’s distinctive content terms include body, husband, power. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandment, permission. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abide, good, unmarried. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” The line’s distinctive content terms include marry, better, burn. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his…” The line’s distinctive content terms include husband, depart, reconciled. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include believeth, dwell, husband. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” Naming Circumcision keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abide, calling. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bought, price, servants. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” Naming Brethren keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, distress, present. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;” The line’s distinctive content terms include both, brethren, remaineth. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include possessed, rejoice, rejoiced. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” The line’s distinctive content terms include world, abusing, fashion. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” The line’s distinctive content terms include careth, married, please. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“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…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need…” The line’s distinctive content terms include behaveth, flower, marry. Its relationship to verses 35 and 37 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath…” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” The verse names God and Spirit rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.