To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. — Paul distinguishes his own counsel from dominical teaching (apo tou kyriou = from the Lord), likely referencing Jesus' prohibition of divorce in the Gospels. The command (epitassō) is the strongest form of instruction. Separation (chōrizō) is forbidden absolutely. Paul's insistence on the Lord's authority here grounds marriage ethics in Jesus' own teaching, beyond Paul's mere opinion.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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