Both Gene Getz and Larry Crabb seem to interpret Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 7 quite well. A departing spouse, whether he/she claim to be a believer or not, is an unfaithful spouse. "A tree is known by its fruit," said the Lord.
The Greek word here is "apistos" or one of its derivatives, meaning "unbeliever or unfaithful." The word "pistos" means faith or belief; there is no difference, no distinction. Some theologians recognize this fact but are unwilling to make the case, even based on this fact and their knowledge of the Greek, placing an undue burden on the faithful spouse. I wonder if they are pressured by the fact that nearly all, if not all, English Bibles translate "apistos" exclusively as "unbeliever" here in this passage?
If a spouse leaves the marriage and abandons the other, the faithful spouse is under no obligation, no bondage, to cling to a dead marriage, but to let it die and to bury it. The departing spouse has already, in their own mind, let it die. Even if the faithful spouse does everything possible to reconcile, and the unfaithful spouse is no longer committed to their mutual covenant vows, the faithful one is free from such obligation.
In fact, if we are honest, everyone of us who are married (or have been) contributes to the potential breakup of the relationship because not a one of us is without sin. And unless we continually seek forgiveness for known offenses to the other, showing that we are bearing fruit of true humility and poverty of spirit, in God's eyes we have violated the marriage as much as a divorcé. The question remains: have you done all you can to reconcile with your spouse to the best of your ability? If so, you are faithful to the covenant.
It takes two to make a marriage, and only one to end it.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Kercher
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