1 Corinthians 7:12-16 (WEL) Now concerning the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 If a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is pleased to live with her, she should not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified because of the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are sanctified. 15 But if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave. A brother or sister is not enslaved in such cases; moreover, God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband, or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
V12 Now concerning the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to live with him, let him not divorce her.
This refers to 2 unbelieving married people, and one believed and is saved. The other is not. Stay married, if she wants to stay.
You will be a witness to her from your life.
You will also be praying for her to believe, protected, etc.
V13 If a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is pleased to live with her, she should not leave him.
The same applies to a wife who believes while the husband does not.
V14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified because of the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are sanctified.
They are sanctified, not saved. The sanctification comes from our witness, our prayers, the Christian environment in the home, etc. The Christian environment in the home should be that idols, satanic objects, occult, sexual symbols, etc. have been removed. Divination and other practices are not done anymore. Compare Acts 19:19.
Ryrie: (Ryrie Study Bible Notes) “The presence of a believer in the home sets the home apart and gives it a Christian influence it would not otherwise have. A believing partner, therefore, should stay with the unbeliever. However, this does not mean that children born into such a home are automatically Christians. They are holy in the sense of being set apart by the presence of one believing parent.”
V15 But if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave. A brother or sister is not enslaved in such cases; moreover, God has called us to peace.
Nevertheless, it is possible that the non-Christian leaves. If so, let them leave. The believer is free to marry, but only in the Lord. Desertion is a legitimate reason for divorce.
Some reasons allowing divorce are listed in Scriptures as follows:
By permission
B1 Sexual sins
C1 Incest: Leviticus 18:6-18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
C2 Adultery: Matthew 19:1-9 and Matthew 5:32
C3 Porn: Matthew 5:32
B2 Desertion
C1 Physical leaving: 1 Corinthians 7:15
C2 Spiritual leaving: (a person would lose their faith if they stayed in that type of marriage) Nehemiah 13:23-26 and 1 Corinthians 7:11-15.
C3 Abuse
B3 Loss or Damage of your faith. If you stay, then you or your children may lose salvation and faith
C1 A relationship that might lead to a denial of Jesus Christ: Ezra 10:44 Deuteronomy 7:1-6
C2 Might lead to a type of abuse, spiritual abuse.
V16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband, or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Our life, witness, and prayers might bring conviction (John 16:8), and they humble themselves and believe in Jesus alone.
We learn:
- How to handle a mixed marriage of a believer with an unbeliever.
- A legitimate reason for divorce.
Questions:
- How can you use this knowledge and wisdom from God to help others?
- If you are in such a marriage, are you praying and witnessing from your life?