1 Corinthians 7 14

1 Corinthians 7:14 kjv

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14 nkjv

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14 niv

For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14 esv

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14 nlt

For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7 verses

1 Corinthians 7 14 meaning

The verse addresses mixed marriages where one spouse is a believer and the other is not. It declares that the unbelieving spouse is "sanctified" or set apart relationally by virtue of their union with the believer. This means they are not a source of spiritual defilement for the believing spouse, and God treats that marital union differently due to the presence of a believer. Consequently, the children of such a union are "holy," meaning they are not considered "unclean" or outside God's sphere of grace, but are legitimate members of a household influenced by God through the believing parent. This is a positional or relational holiness, distinct from salvific holiness.

1 Corinthians 7 14 Context

Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians addresses various issues concerning marriage and celibacy, prompted by questions from the Corinthian church. Paul emphasizes that marriage is good and appropriate for many, particularly to avoid sexual immorality. He also extols the virtues of celibacy for those gifted for it, as it allows for undivided devotion to the Lord. Within this larger discussion, verses 12-16 specifically deal with what became known as the "Pauline privilege" concerning mixed marriages where one spouse converts to Christianity after marriage. Some new believers likely worried that continuing in a marriage with an unbeliever would defile them or their children, perhaps influenced by Old Testament purity laws or contemporary Jewish practices that emphasized separation from non-believers. Paul directly counters these anxieties, asserting that the presence of a believer "sanctifies" the unbelieving spouse and renders the children "holy," thereby removing any religious grounds for divorce from the believer's side.

1 Corinthians 7 14 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This particle introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding counsel in verses 12-13, which allows a believer to remain with an unbelieving spouse.

• the unbelieving (ὁ ἄπιστος - ho apistos): This Greek term denotes a person without faith in Christ, highlighting their spiritual condition as a non-Christian.

• husband (ἀνὴρ - anēr): Specifically refers to the male spouse. In this context, it applies to a husband who has not accepted Christianity.

• is sanctified (ἡγίασται - hēgiastai): From hagiazō (ἁγιάζω), meaning "to make holy" or "to set apart." Here, it signifies a relational or positional consecration. The unbelieving spouse is not made salvifically holy but is placed within a sphere of divine favor and protection through their connection to a believer, meaning they are no longer viewed by God as a source of ritual defilement to the believing spouse.

• through (ἐν - en): This preposition indicates the instrument or means by which the sanctification occurs.

• his wife (τῇ γυναικὶ - tē gynaikis): Refers to the believing spouse, serving as the agent of this relational sanctification within the marriage.

• and (καὶ - kai): Connects the two symmetrical statements about husband and wife.

• the unbelieving (ἡ ἄπιστος - hē apistos): The female spouse who has not come to faith in Christ.

• wife (γυνὴ - gynē): The female spouse in question.

• is sanctified (ἡγίασται - hēgiastai): The same positional or relational sanctification applies, indicating that the unbelieving wife is also set apart.

• through (ἐν - en): Signifies the instrumentality once more.

• her believing husband (τῷ ἀδελφῷ - tō adelphō): Literally "the brother," referring to the male believing spouse. The term "brother" emphasizes his new identity and relationship within the Christian community, highlighting his role as the conduit of sanctification.

• Otherwise (ἐπεὶ ἄρα - epei ara): This conjunction introduces the logical alternative or consequence if the previous statement about relational sanctification were untrue. It suggests what would happen if the unbeliever truly defiled the marriage.

• your children (τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν - ta tekna hymōn): Refers to the offspring born from this mixed marriage.

• would be unclean (ἀκάθαρτα - akatharta): From akathartos (ἀκάθαρτος), meaning "impure, defiled, ceremonially unfit." This term evokes Old Testament purity laws. If the marriage itself were seen as defiling, the children born of it would inherit this impurity, rendering them outside God's holy community or ineligible for covenant blessings.

• but as it is (νῦν δὲ - nyn de): Literally "but now," marking a contrast to the hypothetical "otherwise" scenario and affirming the actual, positive reality.

• they are holy (ἅγιά ἐστιν - hagia estin): From hagios (ἅγιος), meaning "sacred, set apart." This is a positional holiness, not implying automatic salvation for the children, but rather that they are legitimately within the sphere of God's grace and covenant blessings due to the believing parent. They are considered members of a Christian household, set apart for nurture within the faith community and not regarded as impure or religiously disqualified.

• "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife...": This declaration powerfully counters the Jewish and potentially pagan belief that a believer would be defiled by remaining in marriage with a non-believer. Instead, the spiritual status of the believer actually positively impacts the marital relationship, setting the unbelieving spouse and the marriage apart from typical pagan unions. This grants legitimacy and purpose to such continued marriages.

• "...and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband.": This parallel statement ensures the principle is universally applied, reinforcing that the spiritual influence flows from the believer irrespective of gender, bringing a distinct consecrated status to the marital union in God's eyes.

• "Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.": This phrase provides the compelling, practical rationale and reassuring consequence. If the believer did not have a sanctifying influence, the children would logically be considered "unclean," or outside God's purview and promises, facing social and religious stigma within the early Christian community. However, because of the believing parent, the children are declared "holy"—meaning they are within the scope of God's redemptive influence, eligible for the care, teaching, and embrace of the Christian church, and are recipients of blessings within the covenant community by association. This designation implies a distinct advantage for their spiritual upbringing, fostering a hope for their eventual personal faith.

1 Corinthians 7 14 Bonus section

This verse subtly reveals the early Church's pastoral sensitivity to specific challenges faced by new converts. In the ancient world, especially with a background in Jewish purity laws or Hellenistic concerns about pagan practices, it would be natural for believers to wonder if continuing to live with an unbelieving spouse would compromise their newfound faith or even defile their children. Paul's emphatic declaration of "sanctified" and "holy" acts as a powerful counter-cultural statement and theological reorientation. It signifies that the holiness conferred by Christ is transformative and extends a positive influence, rather than being easily contaminated by the world. It champions the powerful, active grace of God at work through the believer, even in an unsaved home environment. Furthermore, the term "holy" for children can be understood as an early indication of the Church's recognition of a special status for children within the Christian community, paving the way for practices such as dedicating children and raising them within the teachings of Christ, a theme that echoes throughout New Testament thought on family and the promises of God to His people and their offspring.

1 Corinthians 7 14 Commentary

1 Corinthians 7:14 is Paul's profound reassurance to Christians in mixed marriages, addressing the sensitive concern of ritual purity and its implications for family life. He teaches that a believing spouse, by their very union, relationally "sanctifies" the unbelieving partner, effectively rendering the marriage legitimate and acceptable to God. This isn't about salvation but a divine declaration that the marriage, influenced by a Christian, is not a source of defilement to the believer. Consequently, the children born of such a union are declared "holy," meaning they are regarded as part of God's covenant sphere rather than being religiously unclean. This implies they are set apart for spiritual upbringing within the Christian home and community, thereby enjoying a unique advantage and access to the Gospel. It provides strong justification against divorcing an unbelieving spouse, reinforcing the hope for their conversion and validating the sanctity of the family unit under the influence of faith. For instance, children of a mixed marriage are fully welcomed into the church and given spiritual instruction, distinct from how they might be perceived in cultures overly concerned with ritual purity from non-believers.