E. The Christian married to an unbeliever not willing to live with the believer (7:15–16)
E. The Christian married to an unbeliever not willing to live with the believer (7:15–16)
15. The case is different if the unbeliever is unwilling to continue the marriage. Leaves is in the middle voice, ‘takes himself off’ (it is the verb used in 10f. of the wife separating from her husband). If the unbeliever takes the initiative, then the believer is not bound. This appears to mean that the deserted partner is free to remarry; it would be a curious expression to use if Paul meant ‘is bound to remain unmarried’.
God has called us to live in peace probably refers to the whole of the treatment of mixed marriages, not simply to the last clause. Paul’s point is that the believer is called by God into a life where peace in the widest sense is his concern. In this matter of mixed marriages the line should be followed that conduces to peace. In some cases this will mean living with the pagan partner, in some cases it will mean accepting the pagan partner’s decision that the marriage is at an end. The underlying concern for peace is the same in both cases.
16. It is uncertain whether a believer will succeed in ‘saving’ an unbelieving spouse if the marriage continues. Precisely opposite conclusions have been drawn from this. Most recent translators and commentators take the ‘optimistic’ view: a marriage should be kept up as long as possible in the hope of a conversion. Who can tell whether the other will not in due course be saved? But this is not soundly based. The grammar leaves it uncertain (as in Eccl. 2:19; 3:21; and see Sakae Kubo, NTS, 24, 1977–78, pp. 539–544), and the context is against it. To cling to a marriage which the pagan is determined to end would inevitably lead to frustration and tension. The certain strain is not justified by the uncertain result. Marriage should not be seen simply as an instrument of evangelism. The guiding principle must be ‘peace’ (v. 15).