12 “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.”
7:12
But to the rest I, not the Lord, say:
Now Paul turns to the subject of Christians married to non-Christians (7:12-14). The “rest” refers to Christians married to non-Christians. Corinthian believers wanted to know whether a Christian married to a non-Christian changed the nature of marriage. Were they as members of the body of Christ to remain married to non-believers? This was a sincere question by the Corinthians seeking a proper understanding of the Christian life. Marriage to an unbeliever does not defile the believer.
The phrase “not the Lord” does not deny the inspiration of Scripture but only indicates that the Lord did not speak to this issue while He was on earth. Jesus never gave a total exposition on divorce while He lived on earth.
If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
Paul argues that marriage to a non-believer does not change the nature of marriage so, when people become Christians, they are to remain married. If the non-believer wants to remain married, then the believer should remain married.
7:13
And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
In both cases, whether the believer is the husband or the wife, continuance in marriage depends on the willingness of the non-Christian to continue the marriage. Christians should not divorce against the will of the unbeliever.
PRINCIPLE:
As a general principle, a Christian is not to divorce the unbelieving partner.
APPLICATION:
An unequal yoke to a non-believer can be frustrating, but it is not grounds for divorce. The believer is not to take the initiative in divorcing the unbeliever.
1 Peter 3″1-2, 1Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
My daughter claims in 1st Corinthians it states if a married person is a Christian and married to a non-believer he or she will be sanctified by their Chriatian partners belief. I find this hard to believe. I believe each person is responsible to GOD. Please clarify this. Thank You.
Elizabeth, did you read the next verse in these studies?
http://versebyversecommentary.com/1-corinthians/1-corinthians-714/
Hi there, i was discussing with a friend who said its ok for a believer to marry an unbeliver based in this text. But the bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 about unequally yoked, therefore marrying an unbeliever is a no no if you are a believer. So my question is, did the Believer believe in Christ before the marriage or after the marriage?
Many thanks
Temi, you are right that the Bible prohibits marriage to an unbeliever. The 1 Corinthian passage does not talk about marrying a non-believer, neither having married previously. It only deals with those who were married before they became believers. To use this passage as a right to marry non-Christians is to abuse the passage. It appears that the person making the argument is seeking to justify a case for marrying an unbeliever.