What about religiously mixed marriages?

MARRYING “ONLY IN THE LORD.”

God’s instructions to widows in are plain and straight forward. First, marriage is for life. Spouses are bound to one another in marriage until one of them dies. If that happens the widow is free to to marry “whom she wishes” with one (clarifying) stipulation; that he be “in the Lord.” (Or a follower in Christ).

There are some who would understand the “only in the Lord” as simply meaning as marrying as a follower who is seeking to do God’s will in everything. But this takes the phrase out of the context of the phase that is before this concerning who can be married.

1 Corinthians 7:39 ESV

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

1 Corinthians

There are some who would understand the “only in the Lord” as simply meaning as marrying as a follower who is seeking to do God’s will in everything. But this takes the phrase out of the context of the phase that is before this concerning who can be married. So marry whoever you want, but they must be in the Lord.

The Greek does not just say “in the Lord” but the Greek is μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ. The word μόνον means “alone or only” so “only” in the Lord. This clarifies the “in the Lord” and connects it to the previous statement of marrying whoever she wishes, as long as he is in the Lord.

Though this particular command is directly addressing christian widows in regards to marrying again, it also applies to anyone who gets married. It would be illogical and inconsistent for the command to marry “only in the Lord” to apply only to widows.

A widow is maritally in the same position (single) that she was before she got married which is the same place the woman who has never been married is in (single).

When interpreting this passage using the greater context of scripture you find that it falls right in line with Old and New Testament principles and passages. (c.f. . , . . .)

Blayney, B., Scott, T., & Torrey, R. A. with Canne, J., Browne. (n.d.). The Treasury of Scripture knowledge (Vol. 2, p. 120). London: Samuel Bagster and Sons.

Quickly, is sometimes misunderstood to be an example of Christians marrying non-Christians. But examining it closer shows that it is addressing a specific situation for those already married.

1 Peter 3:1 ESV

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

This passages is speaking to wives who are already married who were likely already married when they became followers of Christ. If one holds the position that this could be speaking to some who where already Christians and married a non-Christian it can only be based on speculation. There is no way of substantiating that claim.

1 Peter 3:1–7 ESV

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3

Regardless, the command is specifically to wives so it cannot apply to the unmarried to speak to whether or not they cannot marry someone who is not a follower of Christ.

In other words to say that this passage shows that a followers of Christ can marry an unbeliever would be reading into the text.