1 Corinthians 7 · Verse 15

1 Corinthians 7:15

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

1 Corinthians 7:15, King James Version

1 Corinthians 7:15 in other translations

BSB	But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
WEB	Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
ASV	Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.
YLT	And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself--let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such cases, and in peace hath God called us;
DARBY	But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
BBE	But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.
Webster	But if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God hath called us to peace.

What does 1 Corinthians 7:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

15. if ... depart--that is, wishes for separation. Translate, "separateth himself": offended with her Christianity, and refusing to live with her unless she renounce it. brother or a sister is not under bondage--is not bound to renounce the faith for the sake of retaining her unbelieving husband [Hammond]. So De 13:6; Mt 10:35-37; Lu 14:26. The believer does not lie under the same obligation in the case of a union with an unbeliever, as in the case of one with a believer. In the former case he is not bound not to separate, if the unbeliever separate or "depart," in the latter nothing but "fornication" justifies separation [Photius in Æcumenius]. but God hath called us to peace--Our Christian calling is one that tends to "peace" (Ro 12:18), not quarrelling; therefore the believer should not ordinarily depart from the unbelieving consort (1Co 7:12-14), on the one hand; and on the other, in the exceptional case of the unbeliever desiring to depart, the believer is not bound to force the other party to stay in a state of continual discord (Mt 5:32). Better still it would be not to enter into such unequal alliances at all (1Co 7:40; 2Co 6:14).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 15. 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, etc. 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.

(*) "bondage" "Not enslaved" (a) "called" Rom 12:18, 14:19, Heb 12:14 (1) "to peace" "in peace"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 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 fulfill 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Ro 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 →

1 Corinthians 7:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487

δὲdehoweverG1161

ὁhotheG3588

ἄπιστοςapistosunbelieverG571

χωρίζεται,chōrizetaiseparates himself,G5563

χωριζέσθω·chōrizesthōhe should separate himself;G5563

οὐounotG3756

δεδούλωταιdedoulōtaihas bee under bondageG1402

ὁhotheG3588

ἀδελφὸςadelphosbrotherG80

ἢēorG2228

ἡhētheG3588

ἀδελφὴadelphēsisterG79

ἐνeninG1722

τοῖςtois<the>G3588

τοιούτοις·toioutoissuch [cases];G5108

ἐνenIntoG1722

δὲdehoweverG1161

εἰρήνῃeirēnēpeaceG1515

κέκληκενkeklēkenhas calledG2564

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

ὁho<the>G3588

θεός.theosGod.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 7:15

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
James 2:15
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A brother.
Mt 12:50; Jas 2:15
but.
14:33; Ro 12:18; 14:19; 2Co 13:11; Ga 5:22; Heb 12:14; Jas 3:17,18
to peace. Gr. in peace.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1 Corinthians 7:15
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1 Corinthians 7:16
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:15 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Pero si el infiel se aparta, apártese: que no es el hermano ó la hermana sujeto á servidumbre en semejante caso; antes á paz nos llamó Dios.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais si l’incrédule s’en va, qu’il s’en aille; le frère ou la sœur ne sont pas asservis en pareil cas; mais Dieu nous a appelés à marcher dans la paix.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn aber der Ungläubige sich trennt, so trenne er sich. Der Bruder oder die Schwester ist in solchen Fällen nicht gebunden; in Frieden aber hat uns Gott berufen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quod si infidelis discedit, discedat: non enim servituti subjectus est frater, aut soror in hujusmodi: in pace autem vocavit nos Deus.