Marriage to Unbelievers and Spiritual Compromise in Christianity
The New Testament addresses the issue of marriage between believers and unbelievers, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. A key passage is 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, which asks, "what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" [2]. The Living Translation of this verse similarly questions, "what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?" [1]. This passage is often interpreted as a warning against spiritual compromise that can arise from close alliances, including marriage, with those who do not share the Christian faith.
However, Paul also provides specific guidance for situations where a Christian is already married to an unbeliever. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, Paul states that he does not have a direct command from the Lord on this matter but offers counsel that believers should remain faithful to their marriage commitment [9]. He explains that "the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife" [7]. This does not imply internal sanctification of the unbeliever, which is understood to be a work of the Holy Spirit, but rather an external or relational sanctification that benefits the household [7]. This "holiness" extends to the children of such a union, who also benefit from having a Christian parent [3].
If an unbelieving spouse chooses to depart, the believing spouse is not bound to maintain the marriage [5, 6]. John Gill explains that if an unbelieving party separates due to religious differences and refuses to live with the believer unless Christian faith is renounced, the believer is free to let them go [5]. Adam Clarke notes that if an unbelieving spouse "obstinately depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation," the Christian is not under bondage [8]. This freedom is understood to be consistent with God's desire for His people to live in peace, avoiding the "intolerable conflict of a mixed marriage no longer desired by the non-Christian spouse" [6].
Paul's concern about marriage to unbelievers is also evident in 1 Timothy 5:11-12, where he addresses young widows. He suggests that their previous pledge might refer to their Christian faith, which they could surrender upon entering a pagan marriage, potentially alienating them from Christ [4]. This highlights the potential for spiritual compromise when a believer enters into marriage with an unbeliever.
Sources
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 6:15 (LITV) — And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?”
- 2 Corinthians “2 Corinthians 6:15 (NASB) — Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”
- 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).”
- 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 5:11: 5:11-15 Young widows still in their childbearing years required a different approach. Paul was concerned that the false teachers were leading them astray. 5:11-12 If Paul was concerned about remarriage to unbelievers (cp. 5:14), their previous pledge would refer to their Christian faith, which they would surrender upon entering a pagan marriage; such a marriage would probably have alienated them from Christ. It is also possible that Paul and the church recognized a special category of “sacred widowhood” (see 5:5; cp. Acts 9:36-37), entered by a vow that Paul re”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving depart,.... If the unbelieving party, man or woman, separate themselves from the believing party on account of religion, and in hatred to it, and will not live with the believer unless Christ is denied, his Gospel abjured, and his ordinances and worship relinquished: let him depart; he or she, though not without making use of all proper means to retain them; but if, after all, they will go, unless such things are complied with as are unreasonable and sinful, they are not to be held, but let go; and the deserted person may sit down conte”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:15: 7:15 If the unbeliever breaks up the marriage, the believing husband or wife is free to let them go. • has called you: God’s desire is that his people live in peace, rather than in the intolerable conflict of a mixed marriage no longer desired by the non-Christian spouse.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,.... That is, "by the believing wife"; as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, and so it is read in some copies; and likewise in the next clause the same is read, by the believing husband; this is a reason given by the apostle why they should live together. This cannot be understood of internal sanctification, which is never the case; an unbeliever cannot be sanctified by a believer in this sense, for such a sanctification is only by the Spirit of God; nor external sanctification, or an outward refo”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving, depart - Whether husband or wife: if such obstinately depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation, a brother or a sister - a Christian man or woman, is not under bondage to any particular laws, so as to be prevented from remarrying. Such, probably, the law stood then; but it is not so now; for the marriage can only be dissolved by death, or by the ecclesiastical court. Even fornication or adultery does not dissolve the marriage contract; nor will the obstinate separation of any of the parties, however long continued, give the party aban”
- 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.”