The Blessed Hope Podcast -- with Dr. Kim Riddlebarger

“Mixed Marriages, `Holy’ Spouses and Children” Season Three/Episode Thirteen (1 Corinthians 7:12-16)

Sep 2, 2024

The discussion tackles the complexities of mixed marriages where one spouse is a believer and the other is not. Insights from 1 Corinthians highlight guidance on whether to stay in the marriage if the unbeliever is willing. The term 'holy' is explored regarding both the spouse and their children, raising questions about covenant membership and infant baptism. The episode also examines Paul's broader teachings on marriage, authority, and the impact of faith on family dynamics, all while contextualizing these issues in the early church.

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INSIGHT

Paul's Apostolic Authority Is Distinct Yet Authoritative

Paul distinguishes his apostolic guidance from direct words of Jesus while retaining full authority as guided by the Spirit.
Kim Riddlebarger explains this resolves why Paul writes "I, not the Lord" in 1 Corinthians 7:12.

ANECDOTE

Plutarch Shows Greco-Roman Household Pressure

Kim cites Plutarch to show Greco-Roman expectations that wives worship their husband's gods.
This illustrates the cultural tension new Christians faced in household worship practices.

INSIGHT

Holiness Can Be A Status, Not Immediate Salvation

Paul uses "holy" for unbelieving spouses and children in a different sense than for believers.
Riddlebarger emphasizes this sanctification is status-based and not identical to union with Christ.

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Episode Synopsis:

Paul’s Gentile mission was a huge success. A number of new churches were established throughout the eastern Mediterranean world–including fast growing churches in important cities such as Corinth, Thessalonica, and Ephesus. But with the spread of the gospel into a previously unevangelized world dominated by Greco-Roman culture and religion, came a whole set of pastoral problems–problems which were not specifically addressed in the Old Testament or in the teaching of Jesus.

A number of such questions surface in Corinth–as we have seen. But one pressing matter facing the Corinthians is what should happen when one party to a marriage comes to faith in Jesus Christ, while the other spouse does not, creating a so-called “mixed-marriage.” Should the believer leave or divorce the unbeliever if they refuse to convert to Christianity? And what, exactly, is a Christian spouse’s status if their unbelieving spouse divorces them because of their new-found faith in Jesus Christ? Must they remain single and celibate until the deserting spouse dies?

And an even bigger question arises. What about the children of mixed marriages? What is their standing in the church and what is their status before God? Are they members of the covenant of grace, and therefore eligible for all of the benefits thereof, while assuming all the responsibilities of covenant membership? Are they eligible to receive the sign and seal of that gracious covenant, which is baptism?

Paul answers these questions by appealing to the “holy” status of a partner to a mixed marriage and applying that same status to the children of such a union. How can an unbeliever be said to be “holy.” How can Paul affirm that of children who are born in original sin? To make his case, Paul grounds this “holiness” in the Old Testament’s principle of covenant authority–the believing parent’s authority over those in the household and as seen in the five household baptisms found in the New Testament.

For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/