Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

1 Corinthians 7:12

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 12 But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord:+ If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is agreeable to staying with him, let him not leave her;

1 Corinthians 7:12

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 12 Τοῖς To the δὲ but λοιποῖς leftover (ones) λέγω am saying ἐγώ, I, οὐχ not ὁ the κύριος· Lord; εἴ if τις any ἀδελφὸς brother γυναῖκα woman ἔχει is having ἄπιστον, unbelieving, καὶ and αὕτη this [woman] συνευδοκεῖ is thinking well together οἰκεῖν to be dwelling μετ’ with αὐτοῦ, him, μὴ not ἀφιέτω let him be letting go off αὐτήν· her;

1 Corinthians 7:12

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 12 But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord:+ If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her;

1 Corinthians 7:12

The Bible in Living English
- 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is satisfied to live with him, let him not divorce her,

1 Corinthians 7:12

American Standard Version
- 12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

1 Corinthians 7:12

The Emphasized Bible
- 12 But unto the rest say I—Not the Lord,—If any brother hath a wife that believeth not And she is well pleased to dwell with him Let him not leave her;

1 Corinthians 7:12

King James Version
- 12 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 him, let him not put her away.

1 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 7

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 7:12
  
  I say, yes, I, not the Lord: Several times in this chapter, Paul makes a distinction between his own thought or opinion and the words of Christ. (See also verses 25, 40.) It seems that Paul was humbly reminding his readers that on certain questions, he was unable to quote directly from a teaching of Jesus Christ. However, Paul was able to offer his opinion as one of Christ’s apostles who was filled with holy spirit. As Jesus had promised, that spirit would guide his followers “into all the truth.” (Joh 16:13) Paul’s counsel was thus inspired of God and, like the rest of the Scriptures, provided authoritative and helpful direction for all Christians.—2Ti 3:16.
  
  an unbelieving wife: In this context, the expression rendered “unbelieving” does not refer to a wife who has no religious beliefs. It refers to one who does not have faith in Jesus and who is not dedicated to Jehovah. She could have been a Jewess or a believer in pagan gods.