1 Corinthians 7:10-11

Scripture: 1 Cor. 7:10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband

1 Cor. 7:11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

Teaching: The testimony of Scripture is that marriage is meant to be for life, as it is a covenant before the Lord, established by God, and consummated into a one-flesh relationship. Paul is reminding the Corinthians what the biblical design, and thereby, standard for marriage is, and what that looks like practically. Paul’s teaching here is nothing different than the Jewish standard that emphasized the permanency of marriage. Marriage, biblically, is not simply a more formalized relationship with legal benefits, as it has, to some extent, become in our modern world.

Thus, in verse 10, Paul is clear that his instruction is from the Lord and that specific instruction is for the wife not to separate from her husband. In the original Greek, verse 11 is separated from verse 10, and thus not also part of the command of the Lord. However, Paul adds verse 11 because he is aware that separation and divorce do happen, even amongst believers, despite the Lord’s instruction against it. Paul is not excusing divorce or separation, or giving situations when it is permissible (notice, he does not specify any situations or sins that allow it).

He then supplies, seemingly, his own opinion in verse 11 (as it is not part of the command of the Lord in verse 10), that should a separation occur, it would be best to either remain unmarried or be reconciled to one’s spouse. Marion Soards wrote a commentary on 1 Corinthians and noticed something of particular importance in these verses. As he says, “Having clearly and plainly reiterated the command of the Lord, Paul does not turn the Lord’s word into a new law. Moreover, facing the reality of a divorce that is obviously contrary to the advice from the Lord, Paul does not denounce the divorced person.” Paul’s tact in delivering the instruction of the Lord, his practical guidance as a pastor, and his graceful embracing of those who do still divorce may leave us in the 21st century wanting further clarification, but at the very least, giving us an understanding of the ideal of marriage we are to strive for.  

Takeaway: These are a couple verses that are very challenging in today’s modern world. There are so many scenarios not covered, so many questions left unanswered. Naturally (or according to our fleshly desires), our inclination as Christians is to look to the Bible for justification or permission for our actions and desires. We want what we perceive as fairness at all times. But this is not how God’s Word works – it is not there to embrace what we already want, but rather to call us to repentance as inspired by God’s unmerited grace. It is there to reveal who our God is so that we we would know Him and His ways, turning from our own. God’s Word also does not give us complete clarity on every nuance and facet of life in a Genesis 3 fallen world. Such seems to be the case here, where we are left wanting for either a third option or more clarity. But just as Paul did not denounce those who were divorced, neither does God. God’s grace was always unmerited – it does not cease when we turn from His instruction. Thus, the biggest takeaway of these verses is not what is permissible or a new law we must follow or else we forfeit our relationship with Christ, but rather the permanence of marriage. Marriage is a covenant that was designed by God and is used throughout Scripture to picture salvation (i.e. the Church as the bride of Christ). We should not view marriage as merely a legal relationship that is good when it’s good and dissolvable when it’s bad. We should trust the Lord when He says reconciliation is possible in Him. We should honor marriage as the foundational building block of our earthly lives and families. We should see marriage in the way that God sees it, not in the ways we want it to work for our own benefit.