Christian Marriage to Non-Christian Partners in Scripture
Christian scripture addresses the topic of marriage between believers and non-believers, offering guidance that ranges from direct commands to practical advice for existing mixed-faith unions. The Old Testament contains prohibitions against intermarriage with pagans, a concern that continued into the New Testament era [12].
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul provides significant instruction on this matter, particularly in his first letter to the Corinthians. one tradition states that a widow may remarry, but "only if he loves the Lord" [8]. This counsel strongly discourages Christians from marrying unbelievers [8]. Similarly, the instruction in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," is interpreted as a prohibition against such marriages [10]. This imagery of being "unequally yoked" draws from Old Testament laws forbidding the yoking of different kinds of animals, such as an ox and an ass together for plowing, and is also linked to the prohibition against marrying heathens in Deuteronomy 7:3 [10]. The underlying principle is that believers and unbelievers are "utterly heterogeneous" in spirit [10].
However, Paul also addresses situations where a Christian is already married to a non-Christian. In 1 Corinthians 7:12, Paul states, "But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her" [4]. This indicates that while there was no direct command from Jesus on this specific scenario, Paul's counsel was for the Christian spouse to remain committed to the marriage [14]. The phrase "not the Lord" signifies that Paul is offering his own inspired apostolic guidance rather than quoting a direct teaching of Jesus [13, 14].
A key theological concept in these mixed marriages is the idea of sanctification. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 7:14, "For the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy" [1]. This verse suggests that the presence of a believing spouse brings a form of holiness to the unbelieving partner and their children [9]. This "holiness" is not necessarily a salvific conversion of the unbelieving spouse, but rather a consecration or setting apart within the marital and family unit due to the Christian's faith [9]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, interprets this to mean that the Christian spouse may become "the means of saving them unto eternal life," encouraging prayer and perseverance in such marriages [11].
The purpose of marriage itself, as outlined in scripture, includes the happiness of humanity, increasing population, raising "godly seed," and preventing fornication [5]. Marriage is described as a divinely instituted covenant relationship [5]. The expectation of the "promised seed of the woman" (Genesis 3:15) was an incentive for marriage in early ages [5]. The Bible also uses the imagery of marriage to describe the relationship between Christ and the Church, with the Church being referred to as "the bride" [6].
The New Testament also affirms the right of apostles, including Peter (Cephas) and the Lord's brothers, to have a "Christian wife" or "believing wife" [3, 7]. This highlights the expectation within the early Christian community that spouses would share the same faith.
The Old Testament background to these New Testament instructions is significant. Intermarriage with pagans was a recurring issue and concern throughout the Old Testament [12]. For example, Genesis 24:3 and Ezra 9:1-2 illustrate this concern [12]. The concept of "affinity" refers to the relationship created by marriage [2].
Sources
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:14 (BBE) — For the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Affinity — [[77]Marriage]”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 9:5 (BBE) — Have we no right to take about with us a Christian wife, like the rest of the Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:12 (BBE) — But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bride — Frequently used in the ordinary sense (Isa. 49:18; 61:10, etc.). The relation between Christ and his church is set forth under the figure of that between a bridegroom and bride (John 3:29). The church is called "the bride" (Rev. 21:9; 22:17). Compare parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13).”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 9:5 (NASB) — Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:39: 7:39 A widow may marry another man, but only if he loves the Lord. Paul strongly discouraged the marriage of Christians to unbelievers (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-16).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:14: 7:14 By remaining committed to the marriage, the Christian brings holiness to the unbelieving spouse. Such holiness extends to the children, who also benefit from the holiness of a Christian parent (cp. Mal 2:15).”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 6:14: Be not--Greek, "Become not." unequally yoked--"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Lev 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (Deu 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare Deu 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also Co1 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (Co2 6:16; Co1 8:10; Co1 10:14). fellowship--literally, "”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 7:16: For what knowest thou, O wife - You that are Christians, and who have heathen partners, do not give them up because they are such, for you may become the means of saving them unto eternal life. Bear your cross, and look up to God, and he may give your unbelieving husband or wife to your prayers.”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:16: 34:16 Intermarriage with pagans was a problem throughout the Old Testament (see Gen 24:3; Ezra 9:1-2; cp. 2 Cor 6:14-18).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:12: to the rest--the other classes (besides "the married," Co1 7:10, where both husband and wife are believers) about whom the Corinthians had inquired, namely, those involved in mixed marriages with unbelievers. not the Lord--by any direct command spoken by Him. she be pleased--Greek, "consents": implying his wish in the first instance, with which hers concurs.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:12: 7:12-13 Paul now turns to the case of a Christian married to an unbeliever. • I do not have a direct command from the Lord: Paul knew of no saying of Jesus that was directly applicable, but his counsel is consistent: Believers must be faithful and honor their marriage commitment.”