Explanations For 1 Corinthians 7
Concerning Marriage and Divorce
By Carl O. Cooper
I. 1 Corinthians 7:1-9
A. In these 1st. 9 verses Paul is advising the church in Corinth that they would be better off if they did not get married. At first that seems to be unusual advice for Paul to give. But when you consider the environment the people of Corinth were living in, it actually makes good sense. These Christians were being severely persecuted for their Christian faith. Paul realized that if a man had a wife and a family to worry about he would be more worried about them that he would be about serving Christ. How could you publicly confess Christ if you were afraid your family would be targeted for abuse for your actions? This was a very real problem in Corinth during that time in history.
II. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
B. In these verses Paul gives his advice for the married Christians in Corinth. And in the process this advice from the Holy Spirit touches the lives of all married Christians everywhere and in every age. This advice is clear. They are not to separate and divorce.
C. The words “separate” and “divorce” are used in the NKJV and some others but the Greek words here carry multiple meanings just as English words have multiple meanings. Verse 10 reads like this;
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Now in these verses the differences are not significant because we understand the meaning of the context. The context is clear. Married Christians are not to separate and divorce.
Now it was not easy for a woman to separate from her husband in those days. Women had no rights in a marriage as a man did back then. She may have been able to separate in some cases, but her husband had all the power and authority and she had none. She certainly did not have the authority to sue her husband for a divorce as women have today. Her husband, on the other hand, could divorce his wife at will. You will remember that Jesus had to set the record straight when he revoked the concessions Moses had made about divorce. This is found in Matthew 19:9. But either way the message is clear. Christians are to stay together. This was Paul’s command to the Corinthians and it applies to us today just the same.
Now as far as these Greek words are concerned, “to depart” is a translated English word for the Greek word with the Strong’s reference number “G5563”. This word carries multiple meanings. This word is translated 13 times in the KJV Bible and never translated “Divorce”. Other definitions are used such as “depart”, “separate”, and “put asunder”. This is the word used for the woman’s action in verse 10.
In verse 11 the man is told not to divorce his wife. But even here the Greek word carries the Strong’s number “G863”. This word is translated 146 times in the KJV and is translated using the English words, “put away”, “leave” and even “forsake”. It could, by implication, be translated divorce as in the case of this man in verse 12. The KJV never translates this word “divorce, in the KJV the English words “put away” are used.
However, let us never forget what Jesus told the world in Matthew 19:9.
Matthew 19:9 (NKJV)
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
So there you have it. Christian people are not to separate or divorce. The only exception to this command would be if there was sexual misconduct involved with one or both.
III. 1 Corinthians 7:12-17
A. 1 Corinthians 7:12-17 (KJV)
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
B. As anyone can see with these verses, Paul starts addressing a new category of Christians starting in verse 12. This new category is designated as “The Rest”. These are Christians in the church who have married a “non-believer”.
Now as my daddy uses to say, “this is serious business”. The reason this is so serious is because a Christian is commanded in the Scriptures not to marry a non-believer.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (KJV)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
These Scriptures now take up the subject of a man or woman who is in the church as a Christian who’s spouse is not a Christian. These people are “Unequally yoked to a non-believer”.
Now this is not talking about a Christian in the church who wants to marry a non-believer. This context is about someone who comes into the church already married to a non-believer. How do we know that this is the context of these verses?
Well, look at verse 17. That clears up the context with no doubts.
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
So, “the rest” that Paul is referencing here in this section are those who have come into the church already married to a non-believer. Not some Christian in the church who wants to commit sin by marrying a non-believer.
Well, what are these people suppose to do about this situation?
Simple to see, right? They are not to separate or divorce.
What did Jesus say about divorce? There is “only one reason for divorce”, right? That would be for sexual misconduct. So what do these people do about being yoked together with an un-believer? Paul says they are to stay together if at all possible. But if the non-believer leaves, they are to let him leave.
The ideal solution to this dilemma would be for the non-believer to become a Christian.
However you will also notice here that there is no mention of either party marrying someone else. This separation is not grounds for an approved divorce by God. To divorce for this cause is still a sin.
Now a Christian who would want to marry a non-believer is not mentioned in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.
That situation is covered in 2 Corinthians 6:14
IV. 1 Corinthians Verses 25-38
A. In this section Paul talks about unmarried women. He advises them to remain unmarried if they can but if they cannot they have not sinned. He lists many reasons why it would be better for them not to marry given the times in which they were living.
V. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Paul here address Christian widows whose husband has died.
A. 1 Corinthians 7:39 (KJV)
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
B. So a Christian widow must marry a man who is also a Christian. That is the meaning of “only in the Lord”. Now I know that there are many, many people who would like to find some way, any way, for this Scripture to allow a Christian widow to just marry anyone she wants to. Many ways have been suggested to spin these verses to allow a Christian to violate the command, “do not be unequally yoked together with a non-believer”.
Now I ask you, the reader, is that good advice? What is likely to happen to a Christian widow if they marry a non-Christian? Doesn’t everyone see clearly the problems with that type of remarriage? God sees it too. That is why He says not to do it.
Some people would explain this verse by saying that the phrase “only in the Lord” modifies the word “Marriage”. If it did then it would be saying that the marriage must be in the Lord. In other words, the person this widow married must be properly divorced or he must be able to marry without violating God’s commands about marriage.
Let me tell you this! That explanation is not correct!
Once again let’s explore the Greek text for these verses.
The Greek word that has been translated into the English words “only in the Lord” or “in Christ” carries the Strong’s reference numbers G1722 (in) and G5547 (Christ).
The Greek word here is “en” which is translated “in the”.
The meaning of “en” is:
A Primary preposition denoting a “fixed” position. (In place, time, or state). Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary. Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition. Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary.
Now in case this explanation is not clear, it means this; The Greek word “en” is a preposition that shows a fixes position in time, place, or state and it never modifies an action verb unless another preposition separates the phrases.
So there you have it from the Greek. Marry is an action verb. And the preposition phrase “in the Lord” cannot modify an action word. Instead, it modifies “whom she wishes” which would be the man she marries. (Which is a fixed state without an action verb).
I don’t usually endorse the NIV translation but in this case they got it right.
1 Corinthians 7:39 (NIV)
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians Chapter 7 covers several things about marriage and divorce of several types. But everything we need to know about these subjects is not covered in these verses. Don’t forget Jesus’ explanations about divorce in Matthew 19. And don’t forget about Paul’s commands in 2 Corinthians about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The command not to be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever is so important to the young people in our churches. We are losing 60 – 80% of our young people and a large part of the reason is because they marry the wrong people. If we don’t teach them that the Bible commands a Christian to marry another Christian we will lose many, many more.
Carl O. Cooper
issues and opinions 