1 Corinthians 7:8-11
8 “But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife.”
Good for them if they remain: There was an immense amount of persecution occurring at the time of writing. Paul was encouraging those who are unmarried to remain unmarried considering this. Those who were married in the context had much to lose should a spouse or family member be killed at the hands of the Romans. Paul, therefore, wanted to spare the Corinthians the pain of loss.
The wife should not leave her husband: Paul does not create a law forbidding divorce but instead encouraged lifelong marriages. Believers are to do everything that they can to fight for their marriage. This was contrary to Roman law which allowed casual divorce through a simple sending off of the spouse. However, if they should leave, they are to remain unmarried in light of the present persecution.
