Confusing Bible Passages Week 4
I Cor. 7:13-14—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. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.
Once again, we must ask the same ol’ question: WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
sanc·ti·fy tr.v. sanc·ti·fied, sanc·ti·fy·ing, sanc·ti·fies
This passage is quite confusing to many. Why is it confusing to you?
How can someone with no belief in the Lord be “made holy, purified or set apart? How can this be? In previous weeks we have already established that people are only saved through Christ. So, how can one be cleansed without him?
Any ideas on what this passage might mean?
We KNOW that it CANNOT mean what many think it sounds like. Unbelievers are not saved through a marriage! (Ezek. 18:20, Rom 14:12, Mark 16:16) So, in order to understand, we probably need to once again look at the context of the entire passage where this was included.
Start in verse 1. It appears as if the Christians in Corinth are asking many questions about marriage. In fact it would seem, they probably directly asked what to do if married to an unbeliever. “Should we stay together?” “Should we separate?” etc… So, Paul is setting out to explain some answers on how God views marriage.
The problem of this verse usually arises because of a misunderstanding of the word “Sanctified”. Using it does NOT equate sanctification to salvation! EX:
Turn to Matt 23:17-19
Jesus says that the temple sanctifies the gold, and the altar sanctifies the gift. Is he talking of salvation here? NO!!!!!!!! He is talking simply about that which is common versus that which is set apart. Or something unclean becoming clean. This makes it totally different does it not? (in fact look at verse 14—Paul even uses the word unclean…further bringing validity to this word study).
So….why then were they concerned with the cleanness or uncleanness of marriage??
They were confused, due to belief and tradition under the Law of Moses. Under this law, marriage heathens or unbelievers was condemned and prohibited!
Deut 7:1-4
Joshua 23:12
Ezra 10:1-4, 10-11
It would appear that remembrance of such things had brought the question back to the forefront of the Corinthians’ mind. These new Christians were very confused what to do about all of these relationships in question. The basic question seems to be: IS THIS MARRIAGE “UNCLEAN”? WHAT ABOUT OFFSPRING?
And the verse that we have discussed simply answers this question. Paul is assuring them….”YOU ARE CLEAN. YOU SHOULD STAY TOGETHER”
Q. Why?
A. Because the marriage IS CLEAN before the Lord!!!!
Further proof of what Paul is saying is evident in verse 16. How do you think this proves what he was truly talking about? Paul seems to suggest the possibility of bringing a spouse to salvation if you stay married. This proves that verse 14 is NOT talking about salvation, because if it were, then verse 16 would be null and void and make no sense! Why should you worry about their salvation, if that was covered by the marriage???? I think Paul is stating that the UNION OR MARRIAGE is clean, and should remain! BUT ONLY YOUR FAITH MAY SAVE THE UNBELIEVER!
One does not suddenly find salvation because they married a Christian. We know that already. What is one saved by? But that marriage is still honored as valid by God. Therefore it is CLEAN, unlike the Law of Moses and should stay a marriage….especially if there is the chance the unbeliever can be converted by witnessing the faith if the one they love! J The believing mate is very much still accountable in being faithful to the marriage. The importance of that marriage and validity of it, is NOT lessened just because one of them is an unbeliever!