What other scriptures support the principle of marrying "only in the Lord"? The Standard Set in 1 Corinthians 7:39 “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.” • “Only in the Lord” draws a clear boundary: marriage must unite two people who already share saving faith in Christ. Clear New-Testament Reinforcement • 2 Corinthians 6:14-15—“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers… what fellowship does light have with darkness?” – The yoke image points directly to permanent partnerships such as marriage. • Ephesians 5:31-32—Paul calls marriage a “profound mystery” picturing Christ and the church; that picture requires both spouses to belong to Christ. • 1 Corinthians 15:33—“Bad company corrupts good character.” The moral logic behind the command applies most intensely to marriage. Old-Testament Foundations • Deuteronomy 7:3-4—Israel is told not to “intermarry” with the nations, “for they will turn your sons away from following Me.” • Exodus 34:15-16—Similar prohibition; intermarriage is linked with idolatry. • Genesis 24:3-4—Abraham makes his servant swear to find Isaac a wife “from my country and my kindred.” • Genesis 28:1—Isaac warns Jacob not to take a Canaanite wife but to seek one among the covenant family. • Joshua 23:12-13—Israel is cautioned that marrying outside the covenant would become “snares and traps.” • Ezra 9:1-2, 12; Nehemiah 13:23-27—Post-exilic leaders confront mixed marriages and call the people back to covenant purity. Historical Lessons That Confirm the Principle • 1 Kings 11:1-4—“Solomon loved many foreign women… his wives turned his heart after other gods.” • Malachi 2:11—“Judah has profaned the LORD’s sanctuary… and has married the daughter of a foreign god.” These narratives show the spiritual drift that follows ignoring God’s marital boundaries. Wisdom for Daily Life • Proverbs 12:26—“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” If discernment is vital in friendship, it is indispensable in marriage. • Amos 3:3—“Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?” Shared discipleship is the essential agreement for life’s journey. Putting It All Together Scripture speaks with one voice: from Genesis to Revelation, marriage is designed to join two believers who already share covenant loyalty to the Lord. The command in 1 Corinthians 7:39 is not an isolated rule but the consistent pattern God reveals for protecting the holiness, unity, and witness of His people. |
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