Sinful to marry an unbeliever?

blackhole

Active Member
Apr 5, 2019
325
117
34
South Dakota
✟20,013.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
To keep this more concise, I'll clarify at the beginning that I reject 2Co 6:14 (unequal yoking) as a prohibition against inter-religious marriage; read that chapter for context.

However, it seems clear that 1Co 7:39 forbids marriage between a believer and an unbeliever.

But then what about Hosea? Okay, that was an exception to the rule; he was directly commanded to do otherwise. It's not to be taken as a generalization; we can't fairly assume that it's okay for us also to marry unbelievers.

Esther, then. She wasn't commanded by God to marry a hostile man who was about to murder the Jews. Was her marriage sinful? Her actions are celebrated; a book in the Bible is named after her.

So, perhaps 1Co 7:39 is only about what a person ought to do, in light of the present distress?

Thoughts?

P.S. I don't want your opinion or preference. Explain why you believe what you do.
 
Last edited:

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
To keep this more concise, I'll clarify at the beginning that I reject 2Co 6:14 (unequal yoking) as a prohibition against inter-religious marriage; read that chapter for context.

However, it seems clear that 1Co 7:39 forbids marriage between a believer and an unbeliever.

But then what about Hosea? Okay, that was an exception to the rule; he was directly commanded to do otherwise. It's not to be taken as a generalization; we can't fairly assume that it's okay for us also to marry unbelievers.

Esther, then. She wasn't commanded by God to marry a hostile man who was about to murder the Jews. Was her marriage sinful? Her actions are celebrated; a book in the Bible is named after her.

So, perhaps 1Co 7:39 is only about what a person ought to do, in light of the present distress?

Thoughts?


Ought to always have that minimum of compatibility.
Otherwise faith fades.
 
Upvote 0

blackhole

Active Member
Apr 5, 2019
325
117
34
South Dakota
✟20,013.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Grace under Jesus.

James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Luk 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
 
Upvote 0

blackhole

Active Member
Apr 5, 2019
325
117
34
South Dakota
✟20,013.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Grace under Jesus.

James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Also, that verse would apply only if you didn't know whether the marriage was sinful. I didn't make this thread with the intention of remaining ignorant, but with the intention of knowing what is "good." The text you proposed doesn't help with this in the slightest way.
 
Upvote 0

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Also, that verse would apply only if you didn't know whether the marriage was sinful. I didn't make this thread with the intention of remaining ignorant, but with the intention of knowing what is "good." The text you proposed doesn't help with this in the slightest way.
Why would that be my problem? (It's not.)
 
Upvote 0

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Also, that verse would apply only if you didn't know whether the marriage was sinful.

Sin is a contract between you and God. Other people can't read your contract.
My Bible is not your contract of sin.

"Do not judge by appearances"
1 Corinthians 2:15
The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one (others).
 
Upvote 0

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Luk 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Not me asking. God does that.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Upvote 0

Aussie Pete

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Aug 14, 2019
9,081
8,268
Frankston
Visit site
✟727,030.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Divorced
To keep this more concise, I'll clarify at the beginning that I reject 2Co 6:14 (unequal yoking) as a prohibition against inter-religious marriage; read that chapter for context.

However, it seems clear that 1Co 7:39 forbids marriage between a believer and an unbeliever.

But then what about Hosea? Okay, that was an exception to the rule; he was directly commanded to do otherwise. It's not to be taken as a generalization; we can't fairly assume that it's okay for us also to marry unbelievers.

Esther, then. She wasn't commanded by God to marry a hostile man who was about to murder the Jews. Was her marriage sinful? Her actions are celebrated; a book in the Bible is named after her.

So, perhaps 1Co 7:39 is only about what a person ought to do, in light of the present distress?

Thoughts?

P.S. I don't want your opinion or preference. Explain why you believe what you do.
Paul's reasoning is timeless. "How can two walk together if they are not agreed?" I've watched too many (usually) young women marry someone who attends church because the woman goes. Once the married, the guy won't go and to keep the peace, the woman stops also. I have a very personal interest in this.

It's no fun married to an unbeliever if you value your Christian walk. I speak from experience.
 
Upvote 0

Tom8907

Active Member
Feb 3, 2020
59
56
London
✟12,057.00
Country
United Kingdom
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Engaged
To keep this more concise, I'll clarify at the beginning that I reject 2Co 6:14 (unequal yoking) as a prohibition against inter-religious marriage; read that chapter for context.

However, it seems clear that 1Co 7:39 forbids marriage between a believer and an unbeliever.

But then what about Hosea? Okay, that was an exception to the rule; he was directly commanded to do otherwise. It's not to be taken as a generalization; we can't fairly assume that it's okay for us also to marry unbelievers.

Esther, then. She wasn't commanded by God to marry a hostile man who was about to murder the Jews. Was her marriage sinful? Her actions are celebrated; a book in the Bible is named after her.

So, perhaps 1Co 7:39 is only about what a person ought to do, in light of the present distress?

Thoughts?

P.S. I don't want your opinion or preference. Explain why you believe what you do.

It is indeed very clear that 1Co 7:39 prohibits it and with good reason, why on earth would a non-believer be happy with their children being taught that salvation only comes through Christ, etc? All that will come is that they will tell you that you are poisoning the kids minds, etc.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0

tturt

Senior Veteran
Supporter
Oct 30, 2006
15,760
7,236
✟788,800.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
True. What if, you want to go to church and they want to do something else? What if God tells you to give a sufficient about of money, service, or time in your prayer closet? You think they're going to agree every time. What if He calls you to full time ministry? Or it's little Johnny's birthday and He tells you to go to the hospital to visit someone you dont really know?

Also, I know of couples who are criticized and mocked on a consistent basis by the unsaved spouse for believing in Yahweh. Can you imagine what it feels like to love Yahweh with all your heart and not being able to talk about Him to your spouse that you love without ending up in a verbal fight, hurt feelings, etc.
 
Last edited:
  • Winner
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Mountainmanbob

Goat Whisperer
Supporter
Sep 6, 2016
15,961
10,817
73
92040
✟1,096,353.00
Country
United States
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
P.S. I don't want your opinion or preference. Explain why you believe what you do.

I was married to an unbeliever once.
Makes for one rough ride.
Married to a born again saint now.
Nice praying and going to Church together.
M-Bob
 
  • Friendly
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0

1213

Disciple of Jesus
Jul 14, 2011
3,661
1,117
Visit site
✟146,199.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Sinful to marry an unbeliever?

I don’t think it is a sin, if one doesn’t reject God because of that, because:

But to the rest I-not the Lord-say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now are they holy. Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in 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?
1 Cor. 7:12-16
 
Upvote 0

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
I don’t think it is a sin, if one doesn’t reject God because of that, because: ...1 Corinthians 7:12-16
Given that Paul wrote both verses, that scenario happens when both start off as unbelievers and one gets saved before the other one does.
 
Upvote 0

Daniel Marsh

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2015
9,748
2,615
Livingston County, MI, US
✟199,349.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
It is indeed very clear that 1Co 7:39 prohibits it and with good reason, why on earth would a non-believer be happy with their children being taught that salvation only comes through Christ, etc? All that will come is that they will tell you that you are poisoning the kids minds, etc.

Paul was giving advice, not binding this below as law.

1 Corinthians 7:12-28 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
12 The advice I have for the others is from me. The Lord did not give us any teaching about this. If you have a wife who is not a believer, you should not divorce her if she will continue to live with you. 13 And if you have a husband who is not a believer, you should not divorce him if he will continue to live with you. 14 The husband who is not a believer is set apart for God through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is set apart for God through her believing husband. If this were not true, your children would be unfit for God’s use. But now they are set apart for him.

15 But if the husband or wife who is not a believer decides to leave, let them leave. When this happens, the brother or sister in Christ is free. God chose you to have a life of peace. 16 Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You don’t know now what will happen later.

Live as God Called You
17 But each one of you should continue to live the way the Lord God has given you to live—the way you were when God chose you. I tell people in all the churches to follow this rule. 18 If a man was already circumcised when he was chosen, he should not change his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was chosen, he should not be circumcised. 19 It is not important if anyone is circumcised or not. What is important is obeying God’s commands. 20 Each one of you should stay the way you were when God chose you. 21 If you were a slave when God chose you, don’t let that bother you. But if you can be free, then do it. 22 If you were a slave when the Lord chose you, you are now free in the Lord. You belong to the Lord. In the same way, if you were free when you were chosen, you are now Christ’s slave. 23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be slaves to anyone else. 24 Brothers and sisters, in your new life with God, each one of you should continue the way you were when God chose you.

Questions About Getting Married
25 Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this, but I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy. 26 This is a time of trouble. So I think it is good for you to stay the way you are. 27 If you have a wife, don’t try to get free from her. If you are not married, don’t try to find a wife. 28 But if you decide to marry, that is not a sin. And it is not a sin for a girl who has never married to get married. But those who marry will have trouble in this life, and I want you to be free from this trouble.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums