Does 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 Mean Christians Can Marry Unbelievers?
ApplyGodsWord.com/Mark Ballenger
Does 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 say that a Christian can marry an unbeliever? <br />
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“To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you 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?”<br />
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Notice Paul is clearly referring to a couple who is already married. Sometimes two unbelievers get married and then one of them becomes a Christian. This was especially relevant in Paul’s day because Christianity was new, so there was obviously going to be a lot of new conversions that created mismatches in marriage.<br />
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Paul says in instances where the non-Christian wants to remain with the Christian, the Christian should not divorce him or her. However, if the non-Christian wants to leave, the Christian spouse is free to let him or her go.<br />
Nowhere in this passage is there any instructions about a Christian marrying a non-Christian as a way to save him or her. The point is that a Christian spouse has made a commitment to their spouse in marriage. They should seek to witness to their unbelieving spouse and not divorce him or her. This is a passage about not divorcing. It is not a passage encouraging marrying a non-believer.<br />
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