18. NOW CONCERNING ... DIVORCE - 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

 

In this passage of Scripture Paul continues to address questions that have been raised with him from the believers in Corinth. Perhaps there were issues in Corinth concerning divorce that had been raised with Paul in the letter that was sent to him (7:1).

 

Please read 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

 

Verse 10: In this verse Paul addresses those who were already married in Corinth, yet he is quick to point out that what he has to say is really the command of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Mk 10:8-12). Paul speaks not on his own authority here, but as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

What is the command of the Lord? The command is that a wife is not to separate from her husband (7:39). In Scripture, separation is as much divorce as what is termed divorce in our day (a legal ending of the marriage relationship).

QUESTION: Is there then no room for divorce in Christianity? Explain your answer.

 

Verse 11: In this verse however, Paul recognizes that separations will in fact occur and therefore gives instructions concerning that possibility. He is not approving divorce, for no allowance to remarry is given in this verse. If separation does in fact occur, even though it is contrary to Scripture, the wife that separates from her husband must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband should she wish to be married (when she recognizes the sinfulness of the separation). There is no room given here for the pursuit of another partner other than her husband. Likewise the husband is not to divorce (separate or send away) his wife (7:27).

Note that the emphasis here is upon reconciliation in a marriage breakdown situation and not upon separation. Though separation may occur in a Christian marriage it is not here condoned by the apostle, but is shown to be contrary to Christian practice, for reconciliation is the only option given for separation from a marriage partner.

Verse 12,13: In these verses Paul is not speaking without Holy Spirit inspiration, but is actually pointing out that what he here says was not actually spoken by the Lord during his earthly ministry. This is something that is being added to special revelation via the mouth of Paul (7:40; 14:37) and not as a quote from Jesus.

Paul now seeks to address the rest that are married, that is those that are married to unbelievers. What Paul addresses here is the situation were one partner has become a Christian while the other has not. This is what is called a ‘mixed marriage.’ Here are instructions as to how a Christian is to view marriage in a mixed marriage situation. Even in this situation divorce is not an automatic choice for the Christian. Even though Christians are to marry only in the Lord (7:39; 2 Cor 6:14-18), when someone becomes a Christian after marriage and their partner remains in an unmarried state, they must not automatically file for divorce.

If in the mixed marriage situation the unbelieving partner is happy to stay married to the believing partner, the believer is not to seek divorce.

QUESTION: In a mixed marriage situation, should the believer actively seek to provoke a divorce? Explain.

 

Verse 14: In this verse Paul says that the unbelieving partner is sanctified by the believing partner, but what does this actually mean? The unbeliever has in no way been joined to Christ by virtue of now having a believing partner, for he/she is still characterised by unbelief and is therefore outside of a saving relationship with Christ. However the unbeliever has not been put in a situation in which he/she has a major advantage to those who continue to have unbelieving partners. In a sense they have been set apart from all other unbelieving marriage partners, for they now have a believing marriage partner and are daily exposed to the light of the gospel.

But there is also an application made to the children of a mixed marriage in this verse. Does this verse therefore teach that children are placed into a place of right standing before God on the basis of their believing parent’s faith? The answer to this question is that no where in Scripture is such a thing taught and therefore it is extremely unlikely that this passage is introducing such a thing which would put the axe to the tree of justification by faith alone.

Again, like the unbelieving partner, any children in a mixed marriage situation are also exposed to the influence of the gospel on a daily basis. It is likely in such a situation that such children are not wholly given over to a debased mind, being influenced in some manner by the godliness of the believing partner. However this does not mean that they now possess salvation on the basis of their parent’s faith.

Verse 15: If, in a mixed marriage situation, the unbeliever chooses to leave the marriage, then he/she is to be allowed to leave. In the mixed marriage situation this is to be allowed without dispute. The believing partner is not bound to the unbelieving partner in such a situation. This seems to imply that the believer who is ‘deserted’ by an unbeliever is then free to remarry, but only in the Lord (7:39).

The unbeliever is to be allowed a divorce in such a mixed marriage situation if they wish for one. The believer’s responsibility in such an event is to seek to live at peace with the unbeliever. There is to be no hostility shown to the unbelieving partner because he/she wishes for a divorce. Rather they are to be let go.

Verse 16: In this verse Paul establishes the reason as to why a believing partner is to remain in a mixed marriage situation should the unbelieving partner wish to remain married to them. The reason given is that they might in fact be the means of the conversion of their partner. This continues to be so even for the unbeliever that has left the marriage, for peaceful relations have been maintained.

QUESTION: What part has 1 Peter 3:1 to play in a mixed marriage situation as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7? Explain.

 

Even though believers are unable to save anyone by their own abilities or power, they may yet be used as instruments of God in the salvation of the lost. This may even be so of their unbelieving marriage partners.

QUESTIONS: What can the believing partner do in seeking the salvation of their unbelieving marriage partner?

 

On the basis of verse 16, should believers marry unbelievers in order to win them to Christ? Give reasons for your answer.

 

Individual Discovery

What is Paul teaching slaves in verses 17-24 of 1 Corinthians 7? Why does he bring this teaching up here?

 

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17/10/2006

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