1 Corinthians 7:12

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian believers regarding mixed-faith marriages, positioning this instruction immediately after his prior directives on mutual divorce in verses 10–11.

The words — The phrase ἐγὼ οὐχ ὁ κύριος (egō ouch ho kurios) literally renders "I myself, not the Lord," explicitly separating apostolic guidance from direct divine mandate.

The thread — This structural distinction between personal counsel and explicit command appears in 1 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Corinthians 11:17, and 1 Corinthians 7:25.

Why it lands — It commands a believing spouse to preserve the marriage whenever the unbelieving partner consents to cohabitation, without adding personal grounds for separation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
2 Corinthians 11:17 In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
1 Corinthians 7:25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
Ezra 10:2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.
Ezra 10:11 Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”