1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Should Married Christians Separate?

The second question would seem to be, "Should a Christian, who is joined to Christ, separate from the union of marriage?" Jesus had answered this question (Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:1-8). Generally, they should not even separate. Lipscomb says, "If she and her husband cannot live harmoniously together let her remain unmarried. She is not permitted to marry again. That would be adulterous." Further, "If the wife who has separated from her husband finds that, after all, she cannot live a single life in purity the only course open to her is to be reconciled to the husband whom she has injured." The rules of this verse apply to a husband, too (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

Paul wrote the Lord's commandments (1 Corinthians 14:37), but the Lord had not spoken of this matter while on earth. By inspiration, Paul spoke the Lord's will in the matter. To this point, Paul has instructed believers married to unbelievers. If the unbeliever is willing to live with the believer and allow him to be faithful, the believer should not separate. The principle applies to believing wives as well as husbands (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).

There is nothing sinful or illegitimate about a marriage between believer and unbeliever. The children were not born of an illegitimate union. So, the law would not require the believer to quit such a relationship. McGarvey says the word "unclean" should be taken in the Jewish sense, meaning "not to be touched." A marriage of such a nature under Moses' law would have been unclean (Deuteronomy 7:13; 1 Kings 11:12; Ezra 9:12). "The law of Christ so reverses that of Moses that the Christian sanctifies or removes the uncleanness of the unbelieving partner, and of the children" (1 Corinthians 7:14).

If the unbelieving partner refuses to live with the believer, so long as the believer practices his, or her, beliefs, then, the believer does not have to live with the unbeliever. Continuing to live with the unbeliever would, under these circumstances, place the believer in slavery to Satan and cause him to reject Christ. The unbeliever cannot, by appealing to the husband/wife relationship of love, force the believer into such bondage. The believer should, however, separate peacefully. By being peaceful and patient, the believer may be able to convert the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:15-16; 1 Peter 3:12).