1 Corinthians 7:39

5T363

Bound. Gr. ded, as in v. 27 (see comment there).

Her husband liveth. God intended that nothing but death bring about a separation between husband and wife (see on Matt. 19:5-9; cf. MB 63-65).

At liberty. There is no sin in a woman’s marrying a second time, provided she follows the Lord’s instruction in selecting a companion (see Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:1-3; Eph. 5:31).

In the Lord. Even after the death of her companion a woman is not at liberty to enter into a marriage with an unbeliever. Duty to God must supersede all other considerations, and no plan must be adopted in which God is not glorified (see 2 Cor. 6:14-16; 5T 110; MYP 456, 462). Among the reasons why Christians should not marry unbelievers are the following: (1) Association with an unbeliever, be he heathen or nominal Christian, would greatly interfere with the carrying out of the instructions to be “separate,” to be a “peculiar people,” and not to be “conformed to this world” (see 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 Peter 2:9; Rom. 12:2). (2) There could be no real sympathy and companionship with one whose philosophy of life, particularly in the most important things, is so directly opposed to true religion. (3) Living with one whose daily life showed a lack of respect for, and appreciation of, the true gospel of Jesus Christ might lead to the woman’s losing her piety and moving away from her simple faith in the message and standards of God for His people (see MYP 453, 454). Knowing that marriage between believers and unbelievers is one of the most successful ways of ruining the happiness and usefulness of individuals, Satan does his utmost to persuade people to turn away from safe advice and to follow the promptings of the unsanctified heart, thereby creating situations that may mean lifelong misery, and ultimately eternal loss (see 2T 248; 5T 363-365).