Reflections on 1 Corinthians 7:10–24, 39–40
Divorce is one of the most sensitive and painful subjects Christians face today.
Almost everyone has been touched by it in some way—perhaps personally, or through a child, parent, or close friend. No one enters marriage intending for it to end in divorce. Yet we live in a fallen world where sin brings brokenness into even our most precious relationships.
Because of that reality, Christians must approach the topic of divorce with both truth and compassion. In 1 Corinthians 7:10–24, 39–40, the apostle Paul addresses questions about marriage, separation, and desertion in the church at Corinth. While he is responding to specific circumstances, the passage gives us timeless principles that help guide us today.
Two Common Mistakes Christians Make About Divorce:
Mistake 1: Treating Divorce as the Unforgivable Sin
Some Christians treat divorce as if it places someone beyond God’s grace. But the Bible is clear: divorce is not the unforgivable sin. The unforgivable sin is rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit who leads us to Christ (Matthew 12:31–32).
In certain tragic situations, divorce may even be the only way to escape serious evil or danger. Churches must be careful not to stigmatize divorced people but instead offer pastoral care, support, and encouragement.
Mistake 2: Taking Divorce Too Lightly
On the other hand, some treat divorce casually. In many modern contexts, divorce is seen as the natural solution whenever a marriage becomes difficult or unhappy.
But Scripture presents a very different view. Marriage is not merely a social contract—it is a covenant before God. Therefore, Christians must resist the cultural pressure to treat divorce as an easy option.
1. Lifelong Marriage Honours God
Paul writes: “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:10)
Paul makes it clear that this instruction comes directly from Jesus’ teaching. In Matthew 19:3–9, when the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, he pointed them back to God’s design in creation: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6)
From the beginning, marriage was meant to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman. Divorce was never God’s original intention. Jesus explained that divorce was permitted in the Old Testament because of human hardness of heart, not because it was God’s ideal (Matthew 19:8).
Jesus acknowledges one of the grounds for divorce: sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9). When a spouse breaks the marriage covenant through adultery, divorce becomes permissible—though even then, reconciliation is the preferred outcome, if there is repentance by the guilty party.
2. Unhappy Couples Should Seek Reconciliation
Paul continues: “But if she does separate, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:11)
For Christian couples who separate for reasons that are not biblically justified, Paul says that divorce and remarriage is not the answer. Instead, the goal should be reconciliation.
Why such a high standard?
Because marriage reflects something deeper.
The Bible presents marriage as a picture of Christ’s relationship with his church (Ephesians 5:25–32). Christ does not abandon his people; therefore Christian marriage should strive to reflect that covenant faithfulness.
3. Christians Married to Unbelievers Should Remain Married
Paul then addresses another situation: a Christian married to a non-Christian.
“If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.” (1 Corinthians 7:12)
Some Corinthians Christians were worried that their non-Christian spouse was in some way defiling them, their marriage and their children.
Actually, the opposite it true: the presence of a Christian spouse brings godly spiritual influence and great blessing into the household. (Cf. v14)
Paul even suggests that the believing partner might become the means through which God brings the other spouse to salvation: “How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband?” (1 Corinthians 7:16)
However, this does not encourage or promote missionary marriage: Christians marrying non-Christians with the hope of converting them.
In Corinth, some spouses were converted when they were already married.
4. Desertion and Abuse Breaks the Marriage Covenant
“But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15)
Here Paul introduces a second biblical ground for divorce: desertion by an unbelieving spouse. If the unbelieving partner abandons the marriage, the believer is not bound to remain in the marriage.
Many pastors (including myself) and theologians also recognize that abuse falls within the spirit of this principle because abuse violates the fundamental nature of marriage. An abusive spouse is behaving like an unbeliever who does not consent to live within the normal bounds of marriage (v12).
Thus, the Bible permit divorce for adultery, abandonment, and abuse.
5. Your Circumstances Do Not Determine Your Relationship with God
“Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him.” (1 Corinthians 7:17)
God calls people to himself in every situation: single, married, divorced, rich, poor, slave, or free. What matters most is serving Jesus in your current circumstances.*
God was not put off by your circumstances when he called you to himself, neither should you be. Focus on serving Jesus in your circumstances, rather than changing them.
This truth is very liberating: you can serve Jesus where you are.
If you can change your situation, change it; but you are not compelled to in order to be more “spiritual” or to be a better Christian. (Cf. v22-24)
6. Death Ends the Marriage Covenant
“A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39)
When a spouse dies, the surviving partner is free to remarry, but only to another believer.
A Word of Hope
Divorce brings deep pain to everyone involved.
Yet, the gospel reminds us that God’s grace reaches into tough situations. Through Christ there is forgiveness, restoration, and hope.
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*This does not mean remaining in an abusive marriage. As Frank Retief writes in his book Divorce: Hope for the Hurting, “It is possible for a marital situation to become so bad and the behaviour of one of the spouses so evil that it is more sinful to stay in the situation and allow it to continue than for the marriage to be dissolved.”