1 Corinthians 7:14

Sanctified. Gr. hagiazo. “to make holy.” The background of this statement is doubtless the fear in the hearts of some believers whose companions were not Christians that defilement, or pollution, would result from remaining in the intimate relationship of marriage with unbelievers. Paul does not mean that the unbelieving husband or wife would become holy, or be converted to Christianity, merely by continuing to live in matrimony with a Christian, or that the unbeliever would gradually become favorably inclined toward Christianity by noticing its effect upon his companion. That point he discusses later (see on v. 16). He is here speaking of a condition that existed as soon as one party to a marriage became a Christian, not of something that would develop in the future. “Sanctified,” therefore, simply describes a status that does not defile. The unbelieving partner is sanctified in relation to the question of the propriety of Christians and heathen living together in marriage. If the marriage is legal, and is recognized as such by the church, the two are by the marriage tie one flesh and are indissolubly united (see Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5, 6; Eph. 5:31). This being the case, it is proper for them to live together. There is no need for a divorce.

Children unclean. That is, begotten of an unholy marriage, and thus in a sense illegitimate. If divorce were recommended on the ground that one spouse was a heathen, it would imply that such a marriage was improper. The Corinthians themselves did not believe that children of mixed marriages were illegitimate; therefore, even according to their own ideas, the marriage must be proper.

Now are they holy. That is, in the same way that the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife. They are hallowed in the sense that they are born of a hallowed union.