"Successful marriage requires falling in love many times with the same person"

Lets take a closer look at the first challenging scripture:

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15 KJV).

The word "depart" or "departed" is often used at funerals, but it's clear from the context that Paul isn't talking about death! The word "depart" means simply to leave. Also, remarriage advocates take the phrase "not under bondage" to mean "no longer obligated to keep marriage vows and thus free to remarry". However, the word "bondage" in the Greek is douloo - enslaved or to make a servant. Thus, "not under bondage" simply means a Christian believer is "not enslaved to or a servant of the unbelieving spouse who left".

Now, let's put this passage in context and read it in a modern language translation to help make it clear:

"If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him, for the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances. God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him" (1 Corinthians 7:12-17 NLT).

The key phrase "each one should retain" definitely does NOT permit new relationships or remarriage! If your unbelieving spouse leaves, you must accept that and just continue on as you were, retaining the place in life that the Lord assigned and to which God has called. Your faithfulness to your marriage vows and your willingness to remain faithful to the "one-flesh union" that God created, along with any necessary apologies and forgiveness for your part, might help "save your unbelieving spouse" or perhaps even bring about a reconciliation which would be difficult or most nearly impossible if you were to remarry.

What's true for the marriage where one is an unbeliever, is also true for the marriage between believing partners

"Now, for those who are married I have a direct command from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else go back to him. And the husband must not leave his wife."(1 Corinthians 7:10-11 NLT).

Remember, remaining single and reconciliation are the only options the believer has in the case of separation or divorce. Any other option is of man and not of God.

Next: Chapter 5 Resolving the Challenges 1 Cor 7:27-28

Key to translations used in this article: NLT  New Living Translation; KJV  King James Version; NIV  New International Version; NAS  New American Standard; ETGNT  Wuest's Expanded Translation Greek New Testament