There are two different questions here. Regarding the choice of a future spouse, Paul writes explicitly in 1 Cor. 7:39 about a widow: she is free to choose a husband, but “only in the Lord”; 2 Cor. 6:14–18 urges believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, but marriage is not explicitly mentioned in this passage. For those who are already married to an unbeliever, Paul instructs them not to leave their spouse if the spouse is willing to live with them (1 Cor. 7:12–16).
What does the Bible say about this
- Choosing a future spouse. Paul writes that a wife is bound as long as her husband lives; if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone, but only in the Lord (1 Cor. 7:39). This is said about a widow.
- 2 Cor. 6:14–18: Paul urges believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers and contrasts righteousness with lawlessness, light with darkness, and the temple of God with idols; he then calls them to come out from among them and be separate. Marriage is not explicitly mentioned in this passage.
- Conclusion: 1 Cor. 7:39 explicitly limits a widow’s choice of a new husband with the words “only in the Lord,” while 2 Cor. 6:14–18 gives a more general principle concerning relationships with unbelievers. Applying these passages to every choice of a future spouse is an interpretation; 2 Cor. 6 itself does not explicitly speak about marriage.
- An existing marriage. If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she agrees to live with him, he should not leave her; the same is said of a wife with an unbelieving husband (1 Cor. 7:12–13).
- If the unbeliever chooses to leave, let them leave: in such cases, the brother or sister is not enslaved, for God has called us to peace; and no one knows whether they might save their spouse (1 Cor. 7:15–16).
- Peter addresses wives whose husbands do not obey the word: they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see their pure and reverent lives (1 Pet. 3:1–2). This passage concerns an existing marriage, not an argument in favor of choosing an unbeliever.
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scriptures
4 Scriptures · Father’s Blessing Bible
1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:14–18
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what communion does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what partnership does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you. 18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
1 Corinthians 7:12–16
12 To the rest I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her; 13 and if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave; the brother or sister is not enslaved in such cases; for God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? And how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Peter 3:1–2
1 In the same way, wives, submit to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your pure and reverent conduct.
