With regard to the question about people who have never married, ¹  I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

So then, dear brothers and sisters, ¹  be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, ¹  are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, ²  which is from ³  the Lord, who is the Spirit. ⁴ 

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, ¹  that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

Then we who are alive, who are left, ¹  will be suddenly caught up ²  together ³  with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” ¹  and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord ²  must turn away from evil.”

Think of how we regard ¹  as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ² 

For the eyes of the Lord are ¹  upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. ² 

This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:

When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord ¹  told him. He took his wife,

After Herod ¹  had died, an ²  angel of the Lord ³  appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

And a leper ¹  approached, and bowed low before him, saying, ²  “Lord, if ³  you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Peter ¹  said to him, ²  “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, ¹  “Lord, save me!”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, ¹  “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: ¹  “God forbid, ²  Lord! This must not happen to you!”

the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make ¹  his paths straight.’” ² 

She answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]