1 Corinthians 7:15

Sex on the Side ?

The Legitimacy Of Marriage Between A Christian And An Unbeliever: 1 Corinthians 7:12-16

To “the rest” Paul (as an inspired apostle whom the Lord counted trustworthy and who had the Spirit of God, v. 25, 40) applies Matthew 19:6, 9 and explains that marriage between a Christian and an unbeliever is indeed a legitimate marriage. At no time in this passage does the inspired apostle urge the Christian who is married to an unbeliever to depart (divorce) because his or her mate is an unbeliever. Indeed, the Lord's will is that they remain together as Matthew 19:5-6 instructs.

So, if the unbeliever is content or willing to live with a Christian, the Christian is commanded not to depart, for the Christian brings a sanctifying influence and life into the home (v. 14; cf. 1 Pet. 3:1-2).

However, if the unbeliever departs (we necessarily infer that under such a condition the unbeliever is not content to dwell with the Christian), the Christian is “not under bondage” to the unbeliever (the Christian is to let the unbeliever depart). Can we know with confidence what “not under bondage” means? Yes we can, by applying the same type of hermeneutics we apply to other Bible passages (including those already mentioned in this study).

These principles include, for instance:
1) The meaning given the passage will not contradict other passages of scripture (Jno. 17:17).
2) All God says on the subject must be consulted (Psa. 119:160).
3) The context (both immediate and general) must be observed and harmonized.
4) The proper definition of terms is vital in coming to a correct understanding of the text. (We cannot assume definitions - we must verify their legitimate meaning and usage in scripture).
5) The grammar used by the Holy Spirit must be considered and respected (cf. Matt. 22:31-32).

Now, when we correctly apply these principles of interpretation to 1 Corinthians 7:15, it will not be men's scholarship on the passage or men's division over the passage which determines our understanding and our application of it. It will be because we have “rightly divided” the word of truth and come to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17).

No Contradiction

“Not under bondage” will not contradict Matthew 19:6, 9. Since marriage between a Christian and an unbeliever is legitimate (7:12-14), any severing of it falls under the Lord's regulation of marriage. Therefore, when a believer and an unbeliever divorce, Matthew 19:9 fully applies. Any understanding and application of “not under bondage” which causes a contradiction with Matthew 19:6, 9 is inaccurate and not the truth of Christ. There is no “Pauline exception” in 1 Corinthians 7:15 which allows for scriptural remarriage to a new mate. If so, Paul contradicts what Jesus taught in Matthew 19:9.

If Paul is giving another cause for divorce and remarriage, then one can be put away for a reason other than fornication and remarry with God's approval. This construction necessarily contradicts Matthew 19:9 and 5:32. Therefore, the remarriage to a new mate explanation of “not under bondage” must be rejected.

All God Says On The Subject

When all of what God says on the subject of marriage is consulted, we understand that every marriage (regardless of the faith or faithlessness of the participants) is before God and judged by God (Gen. 2:23-24; Heb. 13:4). God joins together the man and woman regardless of their faith or lack of faith in Christ (Matt. 19:6). That joining together (a bond of obligation) lasts for a lifetime (1 Cor. 7:39; Rom. 7:2). Only one exception gives one party the right to divorce and marry a new mate with God's approval (Matt. 19:9). We can agree on this because we can understand this teaching of Christ. All other teaching is false and moves us away from the grace of Christ (Gal. 1:6-9).

We know that when a Christian marries someone (whether a Christian or an unbeliever), the Christian's first allegiance remains with Christ (1 Cor. 7:23; Lk. 14:26). By “keeping the commandments of God” the Christian remains “with God” regardless of his external conditions (1 Cor. 7:19, 24). Thus, we can remain in every non-sinful condition in which we are called since upon our conversion we become slaves of Christ and not men (1 Cor. 7:17, 20, 23-24). The marriage of a Christian to an unbeliever is one such non-sinful condition or “calling” (1 Cor. 7:12-14).

Jesus said divorce is permitted in the case of adultery! So I'm using what Jesus said and what Paul said and pointing out that being unequally yoked is way worse than a husband cheating on his wife.. Because if that unbeliever is unredeemable they will do more damage than just cheating! Paul said basically try to save them but if they want to leave or get in the way of your relationship with God with ultimatums, the believer is supposed to chooses Gpd so the unbeliever would eventually leave. The person is not bound and is free to remarry in the Lord

i think its important to separate the issue of divorce and remarrying

its okay to divorce or be divorced on some grounds
but remarrying has stricter rules

like for me, as a widow, i do not feel permitted to remarry
so its a life of chaste for me from this point on.
its been 4 yrs. this is hard to do!

There are no marriages in heaven because there's no procreation of children in heaven. There is, however, covenant companionships.

One son of God is made up of a male and a female companion.

This is why in the beginning Adam and is wife were both called Adam!

"Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." [Gen.5:2]

Whether your covenant companion will be your husband will depend on how compatible you were on earth!

What do you mean by sex on the side ?

I'm I missing something or
Are you saying if you have a non believing spouse you can cheat on your spouse and that's ok ?

That's interesting and I have heard others say that before I however don't know if it's true but if it is

My Question is What if You never married ?

Also what if You married 5 or 6 times ?

it is my understanding that i am yoked to my husband until death regardless of the fact that he is deceased

i am willing to take correction on this

There is one marriage in heaven, The Lamb and His Bride.

no! I am talking about what the unbeliever does..

no! I am talking about what the unbeliever does..

Until your death?

Is a person eligible for remarriage after he/she is widowed? Not only does the Bible not speak against remarriage after a spouse dies, in some cases, it actually encourages it (1 Corinthians 7:8-9; 1 Timothy 5:14). The Jewish culture in biblical times also encouraged this for different reasons. In most cases, the Bible addresses the issue of widows rather than widowers. However, there is nothing within the context of any of these passages leading us to believe that the standard was gender-specific.

Primarily addressing widows was likely to have been for three reasons. The first was that men usually worked outside the home, sometimes doing dangerous jobs. Men in biblical times, just as now, had shorter life spans on average than their wives. Thus, widows were far more common than widowers.

The second reason was the fact that women rarely had any means of supporting themselves and their children in biblical times (2 Kings 4:1-7). Remarriage was the primary way in which a widow would regain protection and provision for the needs of herself and her children. Once Christ established the Church, the Church became responsible for the care of widows under certain circumstances (1 Timothy 5:3-10).

The third issue was that continuing the husband’s family line and name was a concern in Jewish culture. As a result, if a husband died without leaving any children to carry on his name, his brother was encouraged to marry the widow and provide her with children. Other men in the family had the option also, but there was a proper order in which each man had the opportunity to fulfill or pass on this responsibility (see the book of Ruth for an example of this). Even among priests (who had to follow a higher standard), remarriage after the death of a spouse was permitted. In the case of priests, it was under the stipulation that they only marry the widow of another priest (Ezekiel 44:22). So, based on all biblical instruction on the subject, remarriage after the death of a spouse is permitted by God.

Romans 7:2-3 tells us, “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.” Even with divorce occurring in 50% of marriages today, most wedding vows still contain the phrase “till death do us part.” This phrase may not be specifically from the Bible, but the principle is biblical.

When a man and woman get married, God unites them as one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6). The only thing that can break the marriage bond, in God’s eyes, is death. If a person’s spouse dies, the widow / widower is absolutely free to remarry. The Apostle Paul allowed widows to remarry in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 and encouraged younger widows to remarry in 1 Timothy 5:14. Remarriage after the death of a spouse is absolutely allowed by God.

Recommended Resources: Finding Your Way After Your Spouse Dies by Marta Felber

Read more: [link to www.gotquestions.org]

yep.

Then my apologies

But you do believe that a believer can remarry if they were unequally yoked and the unbeliever left?

Marry 5 or 6 times indicates there's no deep spiritual covenant being made! These relationships are all based on worldly factors, money, looks, same interest, etc.

If you never married on earth your very existence implies the Lord already has someone appointed to be your companion in His Kingdom!

well, we were not unequally yoked
as a believer, i am a widow bound to chastity for life

Yes, you are yoked only until death! You are free to remarry again if you want to!

if im yoked until death how can i remarry?

What a bunch of nonsense. It says no such thing. Besides, NOBODY knows when the end is except the Father.

Read the long paragraph above

Hahhaa not paragraph you know what I mean

I believe remarrying is adultery

Or maybe not in this case, go with where God leads you

You wish

This. We need to be led by the Spirit not people. Also if Paul says not bound, I believe that means to the marriage covenant so it wouldn't be adultery

So in romans 7 2:3
2For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.…

And in 1 Corinthians 7:15
15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.


He says the person is not bound... He must mean to the marriage covenant so both are free to remarry

This is a very difficult question to answer, not because the scriptures aren't clear but because so many people in our generation are living in the sin of adultery due to an unlawful remarriage.

You referenced 1 Cor. 7:15 in your OP but maybe you should take a second look at verse 10 in the same chapter.

"To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife."

Paraphrasing the commandments of Jesus himself, Paul teaches us that there are only two options for a divorced believer regardless of the reason for divorce or who files for divorce. Remain unmarried or be reconciled.