1 Corinthians 7:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

NIV: And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

NASB: And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

CSB: Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

NLT: And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.

KJV: And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

NKJV: And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

Great tension can exist in a marriage when one spouse is a Christian and the other is not. This would have been especially true in Paul's day, when the difference between Christian spirituality and the wider culture was more pronounced. For example, a converted wife would no longer wish to participate in the worship of her husband's gods or idols. Should they just get divorced in order to free each other?

In the previous verse, Paul said unequivocally that a Christian husband should not divorce his unsaved wife for this reason, so long as she is willing to continue being married to him. Now he says the same to Christian wives. If her husband is willing to stay married, she should not divorce him.

Paul explains how remaining married benefits the unsaved spouses and their children in the following verses, as well as what Christian spouses should do if their unsaved husbands or wives insist on a divorce.

First Corinthians 7:1–16 includes Paul's teaching about sex and marriage for Christians. Some in Corinth apparently thought even married believers should not have sex. Paul rejects that idea, insisting that married Christians belong to each other and should not deprive each other in this way because of the temptation to sexual sin. Also, married believers should not divorce in order to somehow be closer to God. The Lord intends marriage to be for life. Those married to unbelievers may, by staying in the marriage, help lead the other person to Christ.

Paul rejects an idea concerning the Corinthian believers: that married Christians should not have sex. Perhaps some even thought marriages should be dissolved and avoided. On the contrary, Scripture says married Christians should have regular sex in order to avoid temptation. Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction. The time is short. All believers should live and serve Christ now as if this world is passing away.

First Corinthians 7 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter, which focused mostly on avoiding sexual immorality. Here he commands married husbands and wives not to deprive each other of sex, or get divorced, in a misguided attempt to be more spiritual. Unmarried people who can live contentedly without sex, however, should consider remaining single in order to serve Christ undivided. Getting married is good, but the time is short. The form of this world is passing away. Unmarried people should think about the opportunities to avoid trouble and serve Christ that come with staying single.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.

Accessed 5/3/2024 8:21:41 AM