1Corinthians:7:16

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rwp @1Corinthians:7:16 @{For how knowest thou ?} (\ti gar oidas ;\). But what does Paul mean ? Is he giving an argument _against_ the believer accepting divorce or _in favour_ of doing so ? The syntax allows either interpretation with \ei \ (if ) after \oidas \. Is the idea in \ei \ (if ) _hope_ of saving the other or _fear_ of not saving and hence peril in continuing the slavery of such a bondage ? The latter idea probably suits the context best and is adopted by most commentators . And yet one hesitates to interpret Paul as _advocating_ divorce unless strongly insisted on by the unbeliever . There is no problem at all unless the unbeliever makes it . If it is a hopeless case , acquiescence is the only wise solution . But surely the believer ought to be sure that there is no hope before he agrees to break the bond . Paul raises the problem of the wife first as in verse 10 |.

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