“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband;
Continuing his argument against divorcing a non-believing spouse, Paul argues that staying with the unbelieving partner “sanctifies” that partner. The word “sanctify” means set apart. By marrying a Christian, the non-Christian and their family have a set-apart or special exposure to the Christian life and the possibility of becoming a Christian. There is a blessing by being married to a believer. There is also a great opportunity for children to come to Christ.
otherwise your children would be unclean,
If there was a divorce and the children went with the unbelieving partner, then they would not have exposure to the Christian or the gospel. This phrase does not refer to the baptism of babies but to an opportunity for children to hear the gospel message if they have at least one parent who knows Christ. These children are in a place of privilege. The word “unclean” carries the idea that children of non-Christians will be defiled by not being exposed to the gospel.
but now they are holy.
Remaining married to a non-Christian allows the children to be set apart (“holy”) unto an exposure to the gospel and the Christian life. They are not made morally holy but are set apart for an opportunity to be exposed to Christianity.
PRINCIPLE:
A new dynamic works in the life of a non-Christian married to a Christian.
APPLICATION:
Far from the idea that the Christian married to a non-Christian will be defiled, the non-Christian has a great opportunity to become a Christian. The Christian imbues the non-Christian with the fragrance of Christ (2 Co 2:15). Also, children of mixed marriages have a much greater opportunity to come to Christ if the Christian remains with the non-Christian. Timothy came to Christ even though his father was not a Christian. His believing mother influenced him to come to Christ.
Dear Grant,
Many thanks for your precious study! I also thank the Most High to have discovered your study.
I have just one question:
First, Paul speaks to the “Christian married People” (Sacred bound of the Biblical marriage and in case of divorce (adultery), the spouse has to remain single or reconciliate with the other spouse).
Second, Paul speaks to “the rest”: I think that “the rests” could not be considered as married People as the first category, otherwise when Paul says the unbeliever is free to leave, the believer is not under bundage of the unbeliever, if man and woman are married when they are not Christian and whe one turn his Life to Our Creator, it would mean that the believer had to remain single or reconciliate. This is in contradiction with the first category “Christian married People”, isn’t it? What do you think about?
The other question would be: Is the Biblical marriage the same for 2 believers and also the same for 2 unbelievers from the world before The Most High?
I wish you lot of benedictions in your ministry and thank you in advance four your help. Be The Most High with you all along your life. Blessings and greetings from Switzerland in the Name of The Most High.
Matiya
PS: Please excuse my english, I hope you will understand the meaning of my submit.
Matiya, thanks for your comment. God gives the right to remarry for a spouse who has been divorced because of adultery or some other sexual sin that violates the marriage. Note this study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/matthew/matthew-197f/ 1 Co 7 argues that a person can remarry if their spouse disserts them. Note this study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/1-corinthians/1-corinthians-715/ This is the next verse after the study where you made the comment.