Marriage to Unbelievers and Biblical Principles
The biblical principle regarding marriage to unbelievers is rooted in several New Testament passages. In 1 Corinthians 7:39, Paul advises that a Christian should marry "only in the Lord" [4]. This principle is further elaborated in the context of mixed marriages, where one spouse is an unbeliever. According to 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, if an unbelieving spouse is willing to live with a believing spouse, the believer should not divorce them [2, 5].
The reasoning behind this advice is partly based on the potential for the believing spouse to influence the unbelieving partner towards faith, as seen in the examples of Ruth and potentially Joseph and Moses [6]. However, if the unbelieving spouse chooses to depart due to the believer's faith, the believer is not bound in such a way as to prevent them from living "in peace" (1 Corinthians 7:15) [7, 8].
Paul also addresses the issue of remarriage, particularly for younger widows, advising them to remarry "in the Lord" to avoid giving the devil an opportunity to tempt them (1 Timothy 5:11-14) [3, 9]. The concern here is not just about the personal faith of the individual but also about the testimony of the Christian community [11].
Torrey's Topical Textbook summarizes the biblical view of marriage, highlighting that it should be "only in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:39), emphasizing the importance of shared faith in a marriage [1]. This principle is in line with the broader biblical teaching on the importance of believers not being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) [4].
Different Christian traditions interpret these biblical principles slightly differently, particularly regarding divorce and remarriage. For instance, some traditions, like the Methodist/Wesleyan perspective represented by Adam Clarke, note that while Paul's advice allowed for a degree of flexibility in the case of an unbelieving spouse departing, the contemporary understanding of marriage as indissoluble except by death or ecclesiastical court judgment has evolved [10].
The biblical principles regarding marriage to unbelievers emphasize the importance of shared faith, the potential for evangelism within a mixed marriage, and the need for believers to live in peace and maintain a good testimony. These principles are grounded in the New Testament teachings and have been interpreted and applied in various ways across Christian traditions.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:13 (BSB) — And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 5:11 (BSB) — But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:39: 7:39 A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly discouraged the marriage of Christians to unbelievers (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-16).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:12: 7:12-13 Paul now turns to the case of a Christian married to an unbeliever. • I do not have a direct command from the Lord: Paul knew of no saying of Jesus that was directly applicable, but his counsel is consistent: Believers must be faithful and honor their marriage commitment.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:16: What knowest thou but that by staying with thy unbelieving partner thou mayest save him or her? Enforcing the precept to stay with the unbelieving consort (Co1 7:12-14). So Ruth the Moabitess became a convert to her husband's faith: and Joseph and Moses probably gained over their wives. So conversely the unbelieving husband may be won by the believing wife (Pe1 3:1) [CALVIN]. Or else (Co1 7:15), if thy unbelieving consort wishes to depart, let him go, so that thou mayest live "in peace": for thou canst not be sure of converting him, so as to mak”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving depart,.... If the unbelieving party, man or woman, separate themselves from the believing party on account of religion, and in hatred to it, and will not live with the believer unless Christ is denied, his Gospel abjured, and his ordinances and worship relinquished: let him depart; he or she, though not without making use of all proper means to retain them; but if, after all, they will go, unless such things are complied with as are unreasonable and sinful, they are not to be held, but let go; and the deserted person may sit down conte”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:15: 7:15 If the unbeliever breaks up the marriage, the believing husband or wife is free to let them go. • has called you: God’s desire is that his people live in peace, rather than in the intolerable conflict of a mixed marriage no longer desired by the non-Christian spouse.”
- 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 5:11: 5:11-15 Young widows still in their childbearing years required a different approach. Paul was concerned that the false teachers were leading them astray. 5:11-12 If Paul was concerned about remarriage to unbelievers (cp. 5:14), their previous pledge would refer to their Christian faith, which they would surrender upon entering a pagan marriage; such a marriage would probably have alienated them from Christ. It is also possible that Paul and the church recognized a special category of “sacred widowhood” (see 5:5; cp. Acts 9:36-37), entered by a vow that Paul re”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving, depart - Whether husband or wife: if such obstinately depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation, a brother or a sister - a Christian man or woman, is not under bondage to any particular laws, so as to be prevented from remarrying. Such, probably, the law stood then; but it is not so now; for the marriage can only be dissolved by death, or by the ecclesiastical court. Even fornication or adultery does not dissolve the marriage contract; nor will the obstinate separation of any of the parties, however long continued, give the party aban”
- 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 5:14: 5:14 Paul is advising younger widows to remarry—and to marry believers (5:11-12; cp. 2:15). • not . . . say anything against them: Their actions were hurting their testimony for the Good News (see 1 Thes 4:11-12; Titus 2:8).”