1 CORINTHIANS 7:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?”
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? — Paul pivots to eschatological hope: the unbelieving spouse might be converted through the witness and prayer of the believing partner. The question 'how do you know?' (ti oidasō) expresses epistemic humility before God's purposes. Marriage to an unbeliever, while not ideal, becomes a potential avenue of redemption. This softens the prohibition against mixed marriage for those already married.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 7:16
“For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband?” This again refers to that expression, “let her not leave him.” That is, “if he makes no disturbance, remain,” says he, “for there is even profit in this; remain and advise and give counsel and persuade.” For no teacher will have such power to prevail (Reg. πεῖσαι. Bened. ἰσχὺσαι. ) as a wife. And neither, on one hand, does he lay any necessity upon her and absolutely demand the point of her, that he may not…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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