What is Paul saying when he says, "But if the unbeliever departs let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace."?
1 Corinthians 7:15
NKJV - 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
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Asked April 22 2018
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Gregory Jones
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
First, I would say that Paul in this passage made clear that he was expressing his own personal opinion, rather than providing guidance that was to be taken as being from God (1 Corinthians 7:12). Also, it is the unbelieving spouse who is initiating the action in Paul's example, with the implication (in my opinion) that the unbelieving spouse is separating because of disagreement or conflict with the believing spouse's faith. Yes, spouses have a duty of loyalty to each other, but they also have a higher loyalty and obligation to God (Luke 15:26). If a believing spouse has made every effort to preserve the marriage, but the unbelieving spouse will remain in the marriage only if the believing spouse abandons his or her faith, then the believing spouse should let the unbelieving spouse go. Paul is saying that, under such circumstances, the conflict that would be caused if the couple were to remain together would not be consistent with the peace that God would want to give the believer as the result of the believer's faith.
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