1 Corinthians 7:16
ESV
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
NIV
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
NASB
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
CSB
Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.
NLT
Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
KJV
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
NKJV
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
What does 1 Corinthians 7:16 mean?
Paul concludes his teaching about whether Christians who are married to non-Christians should get divorced. He has firmly said: no. Believers should not fight over it, if the unbelieving spouse wants to go. They should not, however, be the one to end the marriage simply because the other person is not yet saved.Now Paul adds a hopeful note. Perhaps, by remaining in marriage to an unbeliever, a wife or husband will lead that spouse to faith in Christ. Some scholars link this idea to the last line of the previous verse: "God has called you to peace."
Perhaps an unbelieving husband or wife will see God at work in the heart, mind, and actions of their Christian spouse and be drawn to Christ, as well (1 Peter 3:1–2). Or perhaps God has also called the spouse to the same peace and they simply have not yet believed.
Paul does not promise that the unbelieving spouse will absolutely be saved, but he wants Christian spouses to remain available to be used by God to help bring about the salvation of their husbands or wives by means of faith in Christ.
First Corinthians 7:1–16 includes Paul's teaching about sex and marriage for Christians. Some in Corinth apparently thought even married believers should not have sex. Paul rejects that idea, insisting that married Christians belong to each other and should not deprive each other in this way because of the temptation to sexual sin. Also, married believers should not divorce in order to somehow be closer to God. The Lord intends marriage to be for life. Those married to unbelievers may, by staying in the marriage, help lead the other person to Christ.
Paul rejects an idea concerning the Corinthian believers: that married Christians should not have sex. Perhaps some even thought marriages should be dissolved and avoided. On the contrary, Scripture says married Christians should have regular sex in order to avoid temptation. Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction. The time is short. All believers should live and serve Christ now as if this world is passing away.
