God's Instructions for Marriage and Divorce

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul is answering questions posed to him by the believers at Corinth. In verses 10-16, he deals with three different scenarios related to marriage: 1) a marriage where both spouses are believers; 2) a marriage where one spouse is an unbeliever and wants to continue in the marriage; and 3) a marriage where one spouse is an unbeliever and wants to leave the marriage. In the first instance, Paul relies on the direct teachings of Jesus for his answer. In the two cases where one spouse is an unbeliever, he relies on the Holy Spirit's direction to guide people about God's will for them in these circumstances. The underlying principle in all cases is that, as believers, we need to consider marriage as a lifelong commitment on our part, no matter the circumstances.