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NASB | 1 Corinthians 7:15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to peace. |
Bible Question (short): Can one know if their spouse is saved? |
Question (full): Can one know if their spouse is saved? If not, then how could anyone ever apply 1 Cor. 7:15 to their own situation? It Is Necessary To Discern Dogs And Swine ____________________ "In order to fulfill the commandments that follow (in Matthew 7), it is necessary to discern dogs and swine (v. 6) from one's own brethren (vv. 3-5)" ____________________ Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. (NASB 1 Corinthians 7:15) AMPLIFIED 1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace. If there is no way to tell whether a person is a believer -- if one cannot know whether their own spouse is saved -- then 1 Corinthians 7:15 becomes meaningless. Why would the Scripture say "if the unbelieving one leaves...", if it cannot be known whether or not the spouse is an unbeliever? (If one's spouse does not profess to be a Christian -- has never made a profession of faith in Christ for salvation -- it is reasonable to assume that he IS an unbeliever. This is a different situation altogether than that of knowing whether someone who PROFESSES to be a believer really is.) Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. Matthew 7:1 Amplified New Testament '7:1 Judge not. As the context reveals, this does not prohibit all types of judging (v. 16). There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise with careful discernment (John 7:24). Censorious, hypocritical, self-righteous, or other kinds of unfair judgments are forbidden; but in order to fulfill the commandments that follow, it is necessary to discern dogs and swine (v. 6) from one's own brethren (vv. 3-5)' (MacArthur Study Bible, Word Publishing, 1997). |