Interpretations On A Couple of Verses

[Amon Amarth]

I was just looking for some explanations on what context this is to be taken. The verse in question are I Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verses 13 & 14.

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 holy.

This seems odd when combined with today's definition (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary) of sactify.

1 : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : CONSECRATE
2 : to free from sin : PURIFY
3 a : to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to b : to give moral or social sanction to
4 : to make productive of holiness or piety <observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it -- Deut 5:12 (Douay Version)>

Now I know that words have been changed throughout different translations, but I am still curious to whether this acts as a "get out of jail free card" or if it's just a vast misinterpretation.

Also, I'm sorry if this has been gone over before, but I used the search feature and wasn't able to find anything. A simple link to the thread regarding the question would be fine if it has. Thanks for any help.

 

[Rafael]

In this case, the believing woman would then be the spiritual "covering" for the husband. Her prayers would be that which would set them apart before God. If he wanted to stay married to her, she would still be bound to him.
I see no get out of "jail for free card"...? Usually an unbeliever will not be "pleased to dwell" with an active true believer; because, as the scriptures say - if two people are not in agreement, how can they walk together, and this would be in the deepest sense - spiritually. Marriage or sin cannot be taken lightly, but when a mistake is made and realized it is better to repent - even of a wrong marriage. There are always consequences and pain to sin, so don't ever think that divorce is as easy as a get out of jail free card. "Free" just doesn't fit into how terrible it is to make the sin of marrying the wrong person when being a Christian.

The Bible says let not man put asunder what God has put together:

Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

BUT, how often do people marry without the council of God or choose by the flesh instead of the Spirit? How many marriages does God put together? Not many - so, in my opinion, divorcing an unbeliever that is in agreement to the divorce is not a sin. The marriage itself was a mistake (sin).

Nehemiah got so angry with Jews for marrying unbelievers that he punched them out and pulled their hair - forcing them to leave these wives without any ceremony at all.

Neh.13:23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

 

[Amon Amarth]

Thanks for your reply raphe.

 

[evolisamyth]

Amon, it is interesting that you ask in what "context" you should take the referenced text...
It should be taken in context of the rest of the text, specifically, the leading verses of the chapter.

First, it appears that Paul is answering a question posed by the Corinthians in a letter to him earlier. Vs. 1.

It appears that their issue was multi-fascetted dealing with fornication, marriage, and devorce. note who's authority he claims for his statements in vs. 10...God's. The basic idea is, "NO FORNICATION"...which is to say, no sex outside of marriage. If you can't keep from having sex outside of marriage, then get married. If you can resist...stay unmarried. If you are married, be true to your spouse and don't deny him/her sexual pleasure. If you do withold sex, be agreed on how long and for what reason. Oh, and by the way, if you are married, don't devorce.

BUT, in verse 12, he makes it clear that the next statement is his own opinion and not God's commandment.

THEREFORE. the context in which you should take the verses that you asked about is that it is Paul's opinion and not God's command. So don't get too wrapped around the axle or bother yourself too much about figuring out the nuances and verbage. Although...it appears, if you compare and contrast other scripture on the matter, that the saved spouse is able to give a good testimony and hopefully win the unsaved to faith in Christ. REMEMBER, God doesn't let anything happen that He doesn't want to happen. They are together for a reason. God didn't make a mistake. If the unbeliever comes to know Christ as his/her savior, he/she will also learn that God's rules for remaining married apply to him/her. The saved person is expected to follow this rule. The unsaved is not expected to follow the rule because they aren't God's people. Therefore, if they leave, they aren't in any worse condition for it because they are condemned for their unbelief anyway. The Christian needs to not leave because they KNOW what God's will is and should choose to stay in His will.

Hope this helps.

 

[Serapha]

IN keeping with the context of the letter responding to the Corinthians, it should also be noted that there were various types of marriages in Corinth, and because of the problems and difficulties with marriage, many people were turning away from marriage and just living together. There was common law marriage in Corinth as well as slave marriages where two slaves were just put together without choice. There were arranged marriages as well as daughters sold into marriage. Add to that, the facts that homosexuality and adultery were common place, and you see some serious difficulties in addressing the Corinthian church concerning believers in marriage situations.


If you want to take that passage in context with the rest of the Bible, you will see that Jesus Christ taught that divorce came about because of man, but divorce is never in God's plan; therefore religious differences are not a reason for issuing a bill of divorcement.
~malaka~