Letters of Paul to the Early Church. Robert H. Mounce

who is not a believer and he is willing to stay with her, then she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is more likely to be saved because his wife is a believer and the unbelieving wife is more likely to be saved because her husband is a believer. Beyond that, this continuing relationship makes it more likely that the children will come to salvation.

      But if the unbelieving partner chooses to leave, don’t prevent it. In such cases the believing partner is no longer bound by vows taken in marriage; God has called us to live a peaceful life. How can either believing spouse, wife or husband, be sure that by staying together they will be able to lead the other to salvation?

      You are to continue living in whatever setting the Lord has placed you; remain as you were when called by God. This is what I prescribe for every church. If a man was a Jew when he became a Christian, he shouldn’t try to remove the marks of circumcision. If a man was a Gentile when he was called, he’s under no obligation to submit to circumcision. Whether or not a man is circumcised is of no importance. What is important is that he keeps God’s commandments. So each of you should remain as you were when God called you.

      If you were a slave when God called you, don’t let it bother you, but if you have a chance to gain your freedom, take it. Even though you were a slave when God called you, you are now a freeman in the Lord. In the same way, if you were free when called you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price to set you free so don’t live in bondage to the world. To put it simply, each one of you, my friends, should remain and serve God just as you are, slave or free.

      Now, regarding your question about those not yet married: I have no specific instructions from the Lord, but give my opinion as one who has been shown mercy by the Lord and is trustworthy. Because of all the difficulties we are facing, it is better for the unmarried to remain as they are. If you are pledged to a woman, don’t try to break the relationship. If you have no such obligation, don’t look for a wife. However, if you do get married, that doesn’t mean you have sinned. Nor was it sinful for the woman who married you. However, those who do go ahead with marriage just now are going to face a lot of additional trouble in this world, and I would like to spare you that.

      My point is this, dear friends: This entire world system with its customs is on its way out, so from now on you who are married should not allow marriage to determine the way you live. What would normally bring sadness should no longer be the case. Rejoicing need not be your response to every pleasant moment. Stop living as though the stuff of this world really mattered. Of course, life requires you to use things, but don’t get absorbed in all of that. As I said, this old world with its perspective on life and reality is on its way out.

      I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. The unmarried man is free to spend his time and energy on the Lord’s affairs, how to please the Lord. It is not the same with the married man. He is responsible for a number of mundane issues because he wants to please his wife and this pulls him in two directions at the same time. In the same way, the unmarried woman, whether previously married or not, can give her full attention to the affairs of the Lord and live a life completely dedicated to him. But the married woman has to busy herself with everyday issues because she wants to please her husband as well as the Lord. I’m not telling you this to make your life more difficult but to be of help. I want there to be as few distractions as possible in your service to the Lord.

      The man who is engaged to a young woman and is concerned whether he is conducting himself appropriately—his passions are strong, and that’s understandable—that man should go ahead and marry his fiancé as he desires. There is no sin in that. But the man who stands firm in his resolve not to marry his fiancé and is under no compulsion from others or from his own passions—this man also does the right thing. So the one who marries his fiancé does well, but in view of the brevity of time, the one who doesn’t marry does better.

      A Christian wife is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but should he die, she is free to marry again. She can marry any man she chooses, but he must be a fellow believer. In my opinion, however, it would be better for her to remain single, and I believe this bears the approval of God’s Spirit.

      Chapter 8