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More I Corinthians commentaries
I Corinthians 4:1-5
Whose opinion really matters?
I Corinthians 4:6-13
God is looking for genuine humility
I Corinthians 4:14-21
Discipline in Love
I Corinthians 5:1-13
Immorality Must Be judged
I Corinthians 6:1-11
Don’t Sue the Brethren
I Corinthians 6:12-20
Stay Sexually Pure
I Corinthians 7:1-11
Counsel for Christians married to Christians
I Corinthians 7:12-24
Counsel for Christians married to non-Christians
I Corinthians 7:25-40
Counsel for the Christians who are not married
I Corinthians 8:1-6
Love Is More Important than Knowledge
I Corinthians 8:7-13
Be sensitive to conscience
I Corinthians 9:1-10
The Pattern of Self-Denial
I Corinthians 9:11-18
Paul Surrenders His Rights
I Corinthians 9:19-23
Being a Servant To All Men
I Corinthians 9:24-27
Dealing with Christian liberty
I Corinthians 10:1-5
The Dangers of Overconfidence
I Corinthians 10:6-13
God Will Help You Resist Temptation
I Corinthians 10:14-22
Eating Meat Offered to Idols
I Corinthians 10:23-33
Principles that Govern Christian Liberty
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Counsel for Christians married to non-Christians
I Corinthians 7:12–24
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Howard Hendricks was speaking at a conference in Dallas, and asked the question of the audience of 2000, “Do you know someone who is perfect?” He was about to go on, when he noticed a lone hand raised in the back of the auditorium. Hendricks asked, “Are you perfect … More
In the previous passage it has been clear that the instructions were for cases where both the husband and wife were Christians. Now the apostle speaks of the situation where, after marriage one spouse becomes saved and the other is not. The question is asked, does this make it permissible for the converted one to divorce or leave the unconverted person? Paul answers with an absolute no.
- Christians who are married to non-Christians (vv. 12-24). Although it is an act of disobedience for a Christian to knowingly marry an unsaved person (II Cor. 6:14), it appears some in the church were saved after they had been married, but their mates had not been converted. Because of their desire to serve Christ, some people thought they ought to divorce their heathen spouses. He makes it plain that there is no reason why a believer should put away his unbelieving spouse. Paul like Jesus believed that marriage was permanent (vv. 12-14). When it says, he “is not under bondage,” it means the person who is a Christian is not obligated to try to prevent the unsaved spouse from leaving, but this does not give freedom for remarriage (v. 15). Paul’s command about the permanence of marriage (vv. 10-11) comes from the Old Testament (Gen. 2:24) and from Jesus (Mark 10:2-12). The believers should continue to live in the marriage union if the other partner is willing to do so.
It is easy to be so concerned about what we could be doing for the Lord somewhere else that we miss great opportunities right where we are. In every job we should speak out for Christ.Application
Whatever my circumstance in life may be, it should have no bearing on whether or not I live for Christ. Pleasing God and living for Him should be my number one goal in life.
I Corinthians 7:12-24 (English Standard Version)
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. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 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. 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. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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