If an unbelieving spouse leaves the marriage, can the Christian remarry?
Question:
I guess my question is about "wrongful marriages.'' If a Christian is married to an unbeliever and the unbeliever does not want to stay married to the believing party, it is my understanding that the Christian is to let the unbeliever go and the "bond of marriage" is not binding anymore. Therefore, this bond is broken and not binding anymore under law and they would be free to remarry (I Corinthians 7:15). If a brother or sister is not in bondage according to the law then they would be freed from the bond of the law, free to remarry or stay single.
Prayerfully consider. Thanks.
Answer:
"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" (I Corinthians 7:15).
I addressed this over a year ago in Marriage, so I have considered what you stated. Your point is based on mixing the term for a covenant bond with the term for slavery to arrive at the wrong conclusion. It is a stretch to make this work in English, but it definitely does not work in Greek.
In addition, while Paul states that an unbeliever may depart from the marriage, there is no statement in this passage about the Christian being allowed to remarry. The departure would fall under the rules states in I Corinthians 7:10-11.
By the way, Paul argues that a marriage to a non-believer is a legitimate marriage. You are calling it a wrongful marriage, which Paul proves is false in I Corinthians 7:12-14.
