{"id":19934,"date":"2009-02-13T21:19:00","date_gmt":"2009-02-14T03:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=19934"},"modified":"2020-02-13T21:21:11","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T03:21:11","slug":"only-in-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/only-in-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"Only in the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\tby Bob Buchanon\n

Would you please explain the phrase \u201cin the Lord\u201d found in I Corinthians 7:39? Does this mean that if the widow chooses to remarry, she would only be allowed to marry one who is a Christian or \u201cin the Lord\u201d?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The phrase \u201cin the Lord\u201d is prepositional and must modify either a subject, predicate, or object. Deciding whether it is an adjective (modifying the subject or object) or an adverb (modifying the verb) will help us understand the passage. To help us understand the meaning in I Corinthians 7:39, let us note how the phrase is used in another passage. Paul\u2019s statement in Ephesians 6:1 says, \u201cChildren, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.<\/em>\u201d Now, what is to be \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d \u2014 the children, the parents, or the obedience of the children? If we place \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d as modifying the subject, we are saying that only Christian children have the duty to obey parents. If \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d modifies the object, then children have a duty to obey parents only when the parents are Christians. If, however, the phrase modifies \u201cobey,\u201d then children must obey their parents in all things where they can without disobeying the Lord. In other words, \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d is an adverb modifying their obedience.<\/p>\n

In I Corinthians 7, if \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d modifies the subject, it means the woman must be \u201cin the Lord<\/em>.\u201d But the entire chapter gives marriage instructions for Christians, so that would be rather redundant. If \u201cin the Lord<\/em>\u201d modifies the object, it means the man she marries must be \u201cin the Lord<\/em>.\u201d If the phrase modifies the predicate (as it did in Ephesians 6:1), it means the marriage itself must be \u201cin the Lord<\/em>.\u201d Within the context of the entire passage, and by comparing the reading and meaning with Ephesians 6:1, it seems to me that the last explanation is the correct one. The simple meaning is that the widow must not marry anyone who will prevent her from \u201cseeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 6:33). She is \u201cfree to marry whom she will<\/em>,\u201d but only when such marriage will not interfere with her faithful service to the Lord.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Bob Buchanon Would you please explain the phrase \u201cin the Lord\u201d found in I Corinthians 7:39? Does this mean that if the widow chooses to remarry, she would only be allowed to marry one who is a Christian or \u201cin the Lord\u201d? The phrase \u201cin the Lord\u201d is prepositional and must modify either a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[64,76],"class_list":["post-19934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-marriage","tag-terminology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9039,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-about-the-argument-that-for-the-remission-of-your-sins-is-plural-and-refers-back-to-repentance-in-acts-238\/","url_meta":{"origin":19934,"position":0},"title":"What about the argument that “for the remission of your sins” is plural and refers back to repentance in Acts 2:38?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 17, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello again. An argument that I have addressed with my friend, but I thought you might like, is about baptism. The argument is that if it says in Acts 2:38 \"for the remission of your sins\" instead of \"for the remission of sins\" then it is personal and it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45648,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-all-who-call-on-the-lord-be-saved-when-jesus-said-that-not-all-who-call-his-name-will-be-saved\/","url_meta":{"origin":19934,"position":1},"title":"How can all who call on the Lord be saved when Jesus said that not all who call his name will be saved?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Recently someone said they found a contradiction in the New Testament. 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But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23270,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-we-only-greet-in-the-name-of-the-lord-jesus-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":19934,"position":3},"title":"Should we only greet in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Brother, Greetings to you. Is there any regulation to greet only in the name of Christ? Or can we greet in the name of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? Could you please clarify this, brother? Thanks. Answer: Of the many passages that mention greetings, none say \"in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44592,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-a-sin-to-marry-a-woman-who-has-committed-adultery\/","url_meta":{"origin":19934,"position":4},"title":"Is it\u00a0a sin to marry a woman who has committed adultery?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it a sin to marry a woman who has committed adultery? She is not married and I'm willing to forgive her and start afresh with her. Answer: Technically, you have nothing to forgive her. 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