1 Corinthians 7:12-16
Faithfulness to Christ within marriage seeks peace and preserves the union when possible.
12 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.
13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in 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?
Faithfulness to Christ within marriage seeks peace and preserves the union when possible.
Paul instructs believers married to unbelievers not to seek divorce if the unbelieving spouse is willing to remain, emphasizing the sanctifying influence of the believing partner and the call to peace.
Paul continues answering questions related to marriage in the Corinthian church. After reaffirming the Lord’s teaching on the permanence of marriage among believers (7:10–11), Paul now addresses marriages where one spouse becomes a Christian while the other remains an unbeliever. Such situations likely arose as the gospel spread through households in Corinth. Paul emphasizes that the believing spouse should not initiate separation simply because of spiritual differences. Instead, the Christian presence within the marriage can become a means of blessing and potential salvation for the unbelieving partner.
As the gospel spread through Corinth, individuals often came to faith while their spouses remained committed to pagan beliefs. This created new relational tensions within households. Paul provides guidance for these situations, emphasizing stability, faithfulness, and the potential for spiritual influence.
Marriage, Singleness, Calling, and Undistracted Devotion to the Lord
In light of the present age and the believer’s belonging to Christ, marriage and singleness are both gifts to be stewarded with holiness, faithfulness, contentment, and undistracted devotion to the Lord.