What does 1 Corinthians 7:11 mean?

Paul is completing a thought begun in the previous verse. He is answering a statement or question about sex and marriage for Christians (1 Corinthians 7:1). Some apparently believed it was more spiritual—morally superior—for Christians not to have sex nor be married. Paul has firmly rejected this false idea, showing that marriage is good, as is sex between married people (1 Corinthians 7:2–8).

Perhaps some in Corinth were thinking about divorcing their spouses in a misguided attempt to become more spiritual. In the previous verse, Paul declared it is absolutely against the Lord's will for a wife to sever her marriage from her husband. This is especially so in the context of this false idea of becoming more spiritual through celibacy.

Paul now adds that if a woman does this—or has done it—she should remain unmarried. The intent seems to be a hope that she might be reconciled to her husband after they have been separated. Otherwise, according to Jesus' teaching in Mark 10:12, she will be guilty of adultery when she marries another man. Jesus forbade divorce in all cases except for sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32).

Next Paul directs a similar command toward husbands, forbidding them from divorcing their wives, especially for the sake of achieving some higher spiritual connection with the Lord. Paul is clear throughout the passage that Christians who are married should stay married. He addresses the issue of Christians married to non-Christians in the following verses.

Neither this nor verse 10 is commentary on all divorces, for all reasons. Nor are they statements about all remarriages, for all reasons. The underlying principles are important, but not meant to be taken carelessly.