1 Corinthians 7:15

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ Now, I have a command for those who are married. Actually, it is not from me; it is what the Lord commanded. A wife should not leave her husband. ¹⁰ To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband ¹⁰ Vnto the maryed comaunde not I but the Lorde: that the wyfe separate not her selfe from the man. ¹⁰ But to the married I command -- not I, but the Lord -- that the wife not leave her husband ¹⁰ To married people I give this command (not really I, but the Lord): A wife must not leave her husband.Malachi 2:14,16; Matthew 5:32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Malachi 2:14,16, 1 Corinthians 7:12,25, 40;">[xr] ¹⁰ But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband ¹⁰ Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord.) A wife should not leave her husband. ¹⁰ But to the married I give charge, [yes] not I, but the Lord, That the wife is not to depart from her husband, ¹⁰ And to the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband: ¹⁰ To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A brother: Matthew 12:50, James 2:15

but: 1 Corinthians 14:33, Romans 12:18, Romans 14:19, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 5:22, Hebrews 12:14, James 3:17, James 3:18

to peace: Gr. in peace

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 24:2 - she may go 1 Corinthians 5:11 - called 1 Corinthians 7:10 - Let 1 Corinthians 7:39 - wife 1 Corinthians 9:5 - a sister Colossians 3:15 - to the

Cross-References

Genesis 7:19
And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.

Genesis 7:19
And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered.

Genesis 7:19
The water rose so much that even the highest mountains under the sky were covered by it.

Genesis 7:19
The waters completely inundated the earth so that even all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered.

Genesis 7:19
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills that [were] under the whole heaven were covered.

Genesis 7:19
The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered.

Genesis 7:19
The waters prevailed so greatly and were so mighty and overwhelming on the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.

Genesis 7:19
And the watris hadden maistrie greetli on erthe, and alle hiye hillis vndur alle heuene weren hilid;

Genesis 7:19
And the waters have been very very mighty on the earth, and covered are all the high mountains which [are] under the whole heavens;

Genesis 7:19
Finally, the waters completely inundated the earth, so that all the high mountains under all the heavens were covered.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But if the unbelieving depart,.... If the unbelieving party, man or woman, separate themselves from the believing party on account of religion, and in hatred to it, and will not live with the believer unless Christ is denied, his Gospel abjured, and his ordinances and worship relinquished:

let him depart; he or she, though not without making use of all proper means to retain them; but if, after all, they will go, unless such things are complied with as are unreasonable and sinful, they are not to be held, but let go; and the deserted person may sit down contented, being not to be blamed, the fault entirely lying upon the deserter:

a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. The Ethiopic version reads it, "to such an one"; one that is called by grace a church member, and so a brother or sister in Christ, is not to be subject to an unbeliever in matters of conscience, in things appertaining to the worship of God, and the service and glory of Christ; nor, being in such circumstances, that either Christ must be forsaken, or the unbeliever will depart, are they obliged to yield to such an one, but rather suffer a departure; nor are they bound to remain unmarried, but are free to marry another person, after all proper methods have been tried for a reconciliation, and that appears to be impracticable; desertion in such a case, and attended with such circumstances, is a breach of the marriage contract, and a dissolution of the bond, and the deserted person may lawfully marry again; otherwise a brother, or a sister in such a case, would be in subjection and bondage to such a person:

but God hath called us to peace; which ought to be sought after and maintained, so far as it can be consistent with truth, the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and interest of religion. The believing party being threatened with a desertion, ought as much as possible to seek for peace and reconciliation, and do all that can be to prevent a departure; for saints are called by the grace of God, to follow after and cultivate peace, not only with one another in their Christian communion as saints, but with all men, even their enemies, and especially with such as are so nearly allied; wherefore the departure should not be easily admitted, or a new marriage be suddenly entered into, reconciliation, if it can be obtained, being most eligible and becoming a Christian.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But if the unbelieving depart - If they choose to leave you.

Let him depart - You cannot prevent it, and you are to submit to it patiently, and bear it as a Christian.

A brother or a sister is not under bondage ... - Many have supposed that this means that they would be at liberty to marry again when the unbelieving wife or husband had gone away; as Calvin, Grotius, Rosenmuller, etc. But this is contrary to the strain of the argument of the apostle. The sense of the expression “is not bound,” etc. is, that if they forcibly depart, the one that is left is not bound by the marriage tie to make provision for the one that departed; to do acts that might be prejudicial to religion by a violent effort to compel the departing husband or wife to live with the one that is forsaken; but is at liberty to live separate, and should regard it as proper so to do.

God hath called us to peace - Religion is peaceful. It would prevent contentions and broils. This is to be a grand principle. If it cannot be obtained by living together, there should be a peaceful separation; and “where” such a separation has taken place, the one which has departed should be suffered to remain separate in peace. God has called us to live in peace with all if we can. This is the general principle of religion on which we are always to act. In our relation to our partners in life, as well as in all other relations and circumstances, this is to guide us. Calvin supposes that this declaration pertains to the former part of this verse; and that Paul means to say, that if the unbelieving depart, he is to be suffered to do so peaceably rather than to have contention and strife, for God has called us to a life of peace.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 7:15. But if the unbelieving, depart — Whether husband or wife: if such obstinately depart and utterly refuse all cohabitation, a brother or a sister-a Christian man or woman, is not under bondage to any particular laws, so as to be prevented from remarrying. Such, probably, the law stood then; but it is not so now; for the marriage can only be dissolved by death, or by the ecclesiastical court. Even fornication or adultery does not dissolve the marriage contract; nor will the obstinate separation of any of the parties, however long continued, give the party abandoned authority to remarry. If the person have been beyond sea, and not heard of for seven years, it is presumed he may be dead; and marriage has been connived at in such cases. If there be no person to complain, it may be presumed that there is none injured. But I have known instances where even a marriage after seven years' absence has been very unfortunate; the husband returning at the end of ten or twelve years, and to his utter distress finding his wife married to another man, and with issue of that marriage! There can be no safety in this case, unless there be absolute certainty of the death of the party in question.

God hath called us to peace. — The refractory and disagreeing party should not be compelled to fulfil such matrimonial engagements as would produce continual jarring and discord. At the same time each should take care that he give no cause for disagreements and separations, for the author of the Christian religion is the author of peace, and has called us to it.