I say this as a concession, not as a command.
To the married I give this command – not I, but the Lord – a wife should not divorce a husband
To the rest I say – I, not the Lord – if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.
With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is – and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!
What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.
I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.
