Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: October 9, 2005
MARRY – ONLY IN THE LORD (Part 4)
Ben Justice
[CONTINUATION OF LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE AND LAST IN THIS SERIES.]
===================================================
What have others said about the phrase “only in the Lord” as used in I Cor. 7:
39? There has not been more agreement among Biblical scholars that “only in
the Lord” refers to a Christian.
Guy N. Woods was asked, “Does I Corinthians 7:39 teach that a Christian widow
may remarry only if she marries a Christian?” His immediate response was “yes”
(Guy N. Woods, Questions & Answers — Open Forum, Freed-Hardeman
College Lectures, Vol. 1, Pg. 93).
David Lipscomb and E.G. Sewell, in their work, Questions Answered, said
concerning I Corinthians 7:39, “So a widow that is a Christian is limited in a
second marriage to a man that is a Christian, if she would marry again.” Then,
as a side note, they make this excellent observation: “I do not suppose the law
in the case of a young Christian woman differs in principle from a widow that is a
Christian. If it is wrong for a Christian widow to marry a man not a Christian,
why is it not wrong also for a young Christian woman to marry a man not a
Christian?” (David Lipscomb & E.G. Sewell, Questions Answered, Pg. 432-
433).
George Dehoff said, “If the husband is dead, the wife is free to marry again, only
she is not to marry a heathen, but a Christian” (George Dehoff, Dehoff’s
Commentary — I Corinthians, Vol. IV, Pg. 77).
Wayne Jackson takes this view. He cites a number of references from biblical
scholars. However, he makes this interesting observation: “If such was Paul’s
instruction with reference to the experienced widow, would a more relaxed view
have been entertained regarding the marriage of the even more vulnerable young
virgin” (Wayne Jackson, “Should a Christian Marry Outside the Faith,”
Questions & Answers, The Christian Courier on the Web — www.
christiancourier.com — Jan. 16, 2001).
Roy H. Lanier, Sr. said, “I believe Paul teaches that a Christian widow may
remarry, but she is to marry a Christian (I Corinthians 7:39) . . . She is free to be
married to whom she will, only he must be a Christian” (Roy H. Lanier, Sr., 20
Years of The Problem Page — Vol. 2, Pg. 120).
B.W. Johnson, in Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament, writes, “In case of
her husband’s death, she is free from the marriage bond, and can marry who she
will, with one limitation — she must marry in the Lord; that is, a Christian. An
alien marriage is prohibited” (B.W. Johnson, Johnson’s Notes on The New
Testament, Pg. 97).
G.C. Brewer said, “I am of the opinion that the expression, ‘in the Lord’ in I
Corinthians 7:39 means a ‘Christian’.” (As quoted by Woods, Ibid., Pg. 95).
Gus Nichols made these excellent observations, in answering the question:
“What is the meaning of the phrase ‘in the Lord’ in I Corinthians 7:39 and
Ephesians 6:1?” He answers by saying,
Perhaps this question grew out of the theory that a widow may marry ‘in the
Lord’ and marry a man who is out of Christ — not a Christian. Christ is the Lord
referred to in these passages (Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:11). If a sinner who has never
obeyed the gospel is “in the Lord,” then such a one is “in Christ” and saved in
his unbelief and disobedience . . . How can a sinner be “in the Lord” when he
has never been “baptized into Christ” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:26-28)? The natural and
unstrained interpretation of I Corinthians 7:39 is that a “widow” is to marry one
in Christ, a Christian (As quoted by Woods, Ibid.).
As we bring this study to a close, we may ask this question: “Does a Christian
widow sin if she marries a non-Christian?” If it is the case that “only in the
Lord” refers to a Christian (and there is no doubt that it does), and Paul
commanded that she marry only a Christian, and if she does not marry a
Christian, then yes, she sins in so doing. How can one disobey God’s
commandments and not sin? What must she do? As we learned from I Cor. 7:12-
13, Paul forbade the putting away or separation from an unbelieving spouse. The
formed marriage is still a legitimate marriage. It is not an adulterous union.
What is the sin? Very simply, it is rebellion to the teachings of the Lord. The
widow (now married) must repent, and admit she was wrong. Then she must
strive to seek to win her unbelieving spouse to the Lord (I Cor. 7:16; I Pet. 3:1-
4). Bruce Curd relates the story of Gus Nichols. He said that brother Nichols
told him “that in his ignorance he married a girl who was not then a Christian.
However, when he later learned the truth about whom a Christian should marry,
he repented of his sin, but he did not divorce his wife because God had forbidden
such elsewhere in his word” (See Bruce R. Curd, Marry Only In The Lord, Pg.
21).
Wayne Jackson penned the following in this regard. He noted that one must
“repent of the disposition that led to that decision, and then set your mind
toward the goal of making ‘seeking-the-kingdom-first’ choices henceforth in your
life. There are many circumstances in our lives which are irreversible currently.
Is it not possible that one could realize that he or she did not approach some of
his earlier decisions with the highest of ideals.
“There is nothing wrong with asking God’s forgiveness for such superficial
choices, resolving to make more spiritually responsible determinations in the
future, and working then to make the very best of one’s present situation” (As
quoted by Bruce R. Curd, Marry Only In The Lord, Pg. 118).