Yes, Paul instructs believers to remain with an unbelieving spouse who is willing to continue the marriage.
According to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7, a believing husband should not divorce an unbelieving wife who is content to live with him, and likewise a believing wife should not leave an unbelieving husband who is willing to stay. The believer's presence sanctifies the marriage and children, and the believer is called to peace, not to initiate separation. If the unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is not bound and should let them go.
1 Corinthians 7:12-16 — This passage directly addresses the believer married to an unbeliever, giving instructions to remain married and explaining the sanctifying effect.
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul writes to believers who are married to unbelievers. If the unbelieving spouse is willing to live with the believer, the believer must not divorce them. The believing husband is not to put away his unbelieving wife, and the believing wife is not to leave her unbelieving husband. The unbelieving spouse is sanctified by the believer, and their children are holy, not unclean. If the unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is to let them go, for a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases. God has called believers to peace, and the believer may be the means of saving their spouse, though they cannot personally save them.
Les Feldick teaches that in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul's instructions reflect the early church's expectation of Christ's imminent return and the looming persecution, which made remaining single preferable, but marriage is permitted if one cannot control sexual desires. He emphasizes that marriage is a sacred, sanctified relationship ordained by God, and believers are to reflect Christ's love in their marriages, as seen in Ephesians 5, where husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. He notes that a believer's union with Christ is like a marriage, and the marriage relationship is holy and not to be adulterated by immorality.
According to Paul's teaching, a believer should not divorce an unbelieving spouse if the unbeliever is willing to continue the marriage. The believer's presence sanctifies the union and the children, and the believer is called to peace, not to initiate separation. Paul even raises the possibility that the believing wife or husband might be instrumental in the spouse's salvation.
If the unbelieving spouse decides to leave, the believer is to let them go. In such a situation, the believer is not under bondage, because God has called them to peace. This indicates that the believer is not obligated to force the marriage to continue if the unbeliever chooses to depart.
Les Feldick explains that Paul wrote with the expectation of Christ's imminent return and the coming persecution, which influenced his advice that it might be better to remain unmarried. However, marriage is acceptable if one cannot control sexual desires, as it is better to marry than to burn. This context helps believers understand the practical guidance Paul gives.
Les Feldick emphasizes that marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with the Church. Just as husband and wife become one, believers are one with Christ. This union is holy and sanctified, and believers should not adulterate it through immorality. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, which prevents divorce and reflects godly love.
Paul's Context for Marriage Advice
Les explains that Paul wrote with the Lord's imminent return and coming persecution in view, which shaped his counsel that remaining unmarried might be easier, but marriage is permissible if one cannot contain sexual desires.
Marriage as Union with Christ
Les draws a parallel between husband and wife becoming one and the believer's union with Christ, showing that marriage reflects Christ's relationship with the Church.
Submission and Love in Marriage
Les teaches that in Ephesians 5, wives submit to husbands, and husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, a sacrificial love that eliminates divorce issues.
The Meaning of Adonai: Understanding God as Master
2 Corinthians 11, verse 1, where Paul writes to the Gentiles, would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly, and indeed bear with me, for I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for Paul says, I have espoused you to one husband. Who is he talking about? The Lord Jesus, see? I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you, the body of Christ, as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Marriage in Pagan vs. Christian Context
Les explains that Corinthian believers came from a pagan background where marriage was not viewed with moral integrity, and Paul corrects misunderstandings, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage.
Believer's Oneness with Christ
Les reiterates that believers are one with Christ in a spiritual union, akin to marriage, and this is revealed in Scripture for us to believe by faith.
Marriage is Holy and Sanctified
Les stresses that marriage and the family are holy and sanctified by God, and sexual immorality adulterates the believer's union with Christ.
Husbands Love as Christ Loved
Les teaches that husbands should have the same attitude toward their wives as Christ has toward the church—total love, even to the point of dying for her—which prevents divorce and reflects true Christian marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:12-14: 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. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 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.
This passage gives direct instruction to believers married to unbelievers, stating they should remain if the unbeliever is willing, and explains the sanctifying effect.
1 Corinthians 7:15-16: 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. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
This shows that if the unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer is free, and suggests the possibility of being a means to the spouse's salvation.
According to Paul, no. The believer should not initiate divorce if the unbelieving spouse is willing to live with them. The Marriage is sanctified by the believer's presence, and the believer is called to peace.
If the unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is to let them go. The believer is not under bondage in such a case, because God has called them to peace.
No, one spouse cannot personally save the other. However, Paul raises the possibility that the believer might be instrumental in the spouse's salvation, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:16.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Marriage — 1 Corinthians 7 Explained