哥林多前书第七章第25—35节，保罗就单身的弟兄姐妹是否应该成家阐明了他的意见（注意，保罗说这只是他的意见，而不是主的命令）。

保罗说由于基督徒所面临的艰难与压迫，一个人在什么状况里就最好保持在那个状况里，比如，有妻子的就继续与妻子生活，还没有妻子的就不要找妻子。但是单身的弟兄若结婚或单身的姐妹要出嫁，并不是犯罪，但是肉身要受苦，因为结了婚需要为世上的事挂虑，比如花精力服事自己的配偶孩子等世上的关系，保罗说他不想单身的弟兄姐妹们受这些苦。保罗说时间短暂，世界将要过去，因此，那有妻子的要像没有妻子，购买的要像不曾拥有所购买的。保罗愿大家无所挂虑，以合宜的方式服事主，没有分心的事。

林前7:25 论到童身的人、我没有主的命令、但我既蒙主怜恤、能作忠心的人、就把自己的意见告诉你们。
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
林前7:26 因现今的艰难、据我看来、人不如守素安常才好。
I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.
林前7:27 你有妻子缠着呢、就不要求脱离．你没有妻子缠着呢、就不要求妻子。
Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife.
林前7:28 你若娶妻、并不是犯罪．处女若出嫁、也不是犯罪．然而这等人肉身必受苦难．我却愿意你们免这苦难。
But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
林前7:29 弟兄们、我对你们说、时候减少了．从此以后、那有妻子的、要像没有妻子．
But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
林前7:30 哀哭的、要像不哀哭．快乐的、要像不快乐、置买的、要像无有所得．
and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess;
林前7:31 用世物的、要像不用世物．因为这世界的样子将要过去了。
and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
林前7:32 我愿你们无所挂虑。没有娶妻的、是为主的事挂虑、想怎样叫主喜悦。
But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
林前7:33 娶了妻的、是为世上的事挂虑、想怎样叫妻子喜悦。
but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
林前7:34 妇人和处女也有分别。没有出嫁的、是为主的事挂虑、要身体灵魂都圣洁．已经出嫁的、是为世上的事挂虑、想怎样叫丈夫喜悦。
There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
林前7:35 我说这话、是为你们的益处．不是要牢笼你们、乃是要叫你们行合宜的事、得以殷勤服事主、没有分心的事。
This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.