Bible Verses About Continence

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.

So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren:

the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.

And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.