“… if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.”

Under what circumstances, if any, is divorce allowed for believers? Much heat has been generated among scholars and average Christians alike. The difficulty lies in the lack of a comprehensive, all-inclusive treatise on the subject in Scripture. In fact, we find scattered passages addressing different aspects of the subject (e.g. Gen. 1–2, Matt. 19:1–12, Mark 10:1–12, Rom. 7:1–4, 1 Cor. 7). They must all be considered in putting together a comprehensive statement on divorce and remarriage. Reconciling these passages has its difficulties, as evident by the many disagreements and conflicting resolutions. Such is beyond the scope of our study here. But we must observe this passage in context of Paul’s overall message to the Corinthians. For that we must make careful observation of what he writes.

Paul has in focus the marriage of a believer and an unbeliever. While he elsewhere warns believers against being unequally yoked or bound with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14), some come to faith while already married, and the spouse rejects faith in Christ. Paul simply addresses the situation where such an unequal yoke exists. Also note his instruction is the same for the husband as it is for the wife, unlike the Mosaic Law, which only allows for husbands to initiate divorce (Deut. 24:1–5). Paul was indeed progressive when compared to Judaism!

The principle is this: having an unbelieving spouse does not justify divorce. Paul qualifies this by saying the case in mind has the unbeliever consenting to live with the believer. Interestingly, he does not address the option where the believing spouse does not consent to staying together. It would seem odd to suggest that the continuance of a marriage was based only on the unbeliever’s consent. Why not also the consent of the believer—unless, of course, the believer is called to a higher view of marriage? The importance of marriage supersedes the unequal yoke situation—such is the weight God gives to the marriage union. While unbelievers may not hold to that standard, Christians should!

The language used is reminiscent of Deut. 24:1–5, the classic OT passage on divorce and remarriage. In that case, the husband was given the right to divorce, and that for anything that fits this reason: “that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her…” The experts of the Law argued relentlessly over what those conditions were. But Paul presents a higher standard: having a non-Christian spouse is not a basis for divorce.

Lord, thank You for exalting marriage, even when it involves an unequal yoke.