live with him. But the one part of the verse should be allowed to explain the other. An obligation which is said to exist in one case, Paul denies exists in another. If the un- believer is willing to remain, the believer is bound by the marriage contract ; but if she be unTvdlling, he is not bound. But God hath called us in peace (iv dpiqvri^ i. e. wa-re cTmt kv dprjVTj). Peace is the state in which the called should live. The gospel was not designed to break up families or to sepa- rate husbands and wives. Therefore, though the believer is free if deserted by his unbeheving partner, the separation should be avoided if possible. Let them live together if they can ; and let all proper means be taken to bring the unbeliev- ing party to a sense of duty, and to induce him to fulfil the marriage covenant. This is the common view of the meaning of this clause. Others understand it in a directly opposite sense, viz., as assigning a reason why the separation should take place, or at least why the attempt to detain an unwilling husband or wife should not be pressed too far. ' As God hath called us to live in peace, it is contrary to the nature of our vocation to keep up these ill-assorted comiections.' This, however, is contrary to the whole animus of the apostle. He is evidently labouring throughout these verses to prevent all unnecessary disruptions of social ties.
16. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save (thy) husband ? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save (thy) wife ?
The meaning of this verse depends on the interpretation given to the preceding. If Paul there said, ' Your call to live in peace forbids the continuance of the marriage relation with an unwilling husband or wife ; ' then this verse must give a further reason why (supposing one of the parties to be unwil- ling) such marriages should not be continued. That reason is, the utter uncertainty of any spiritual good flowing from them. * Why persist in keeping up the connection, when, O wife, you know not whether you can save your husband ? ' If, however, the common interpretation of v. 15 be adopted, then the meaning is, ' Live in peace if possible, for how knowest thou whether thou shalt not save thy husband ? ' &c. We have here, therefore, an additional reason for avoiding separa- tion in the case supposed. Compare 2 Sam. 12, 22. Joel 2, 14. Jonah 3, 9, in the Septuagint, where the phrase rts olh^v ct,