1 Corinthians 7:12

But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

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WEBBE

But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

BSB

To the rest I say this ( I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

KJV

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

ASV

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

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.

Original Greek

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Τοῖς Tois To the G3588 δὲ de now G1161 λοιποῖς loipois rest G3062 λέγω legō say G3004 ἐγὼ egō I myself G1473 οὐχ ouch — not G3756 ὁ ho the G3588 κύριος kurios Lord G2962 εἴ ei If G1487 τις tis any G5100 ἀδελφὸς adelphos brother G80 γυναῖκα gunaika a wife G1135 ἔχει echei has G2192 ἄπιστον apiston unbelieving G571 καὶ kai and G2532 αὕτη hautē she G3778 συνευδοκεῖ suneudokei consents G4909 οἰκεῖν oikein to dwell G3611 μετ met᾽ with G3326 αὐτοῦ autou him G846 μὴ mē not G3361 ἀφιέτω aphietō he should divorce G863 αὐτήν autēn her G846

The early church

For as when discoursing about separating from fornicators, he made the matter easy by the correction which he applied to his words, saying, "Howbeit, not altogether with the fornicators of this world;" so also in this case he provideth for the abundant easiness of the duty, saying, "If any wife have a husband, or husband a wife, that believeth not, let him not leave her." What sayest thou? "If he be an unbeliever, let him remain with the wife, but not if he be a fornicator? And yet fornication is a less sin than unbelief." I grant, fornication is a less sin: but God spares thine infirmities extremely. And this is What He doth about the sacrifice, saying, "Leave the sacrifice, and be reconciled to thy brother." This also in the case of the man who owed ten thousand talents. For him too He did not punish for owing him ten thousand talents, but for demanding back a hundred pence from his fellow-servant He took vengeance on him.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 10–16

Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 7 →

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.