This I say by way of concession, not of command.
To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband
To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
But in my opinion she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.
What I am saying in regard to this boastful undertaking, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool;
I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love.