To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Comment: In other places the Bible says that believers should marry believers. (eg 2 Corinthians 6v14). In the early church many were converted to Christianity in their adult lives and frequently after they were married. So Paul states clearly that it was to be the unbelieving partner who was to break the ‘until death’ concept of marriage! If,however, the unbelieving partner walks out on the marriage, Paul says that the believer is not ‘enslaved’. Does this mean that the believer is free to marry again? I suspect so. But it does not diminish the sanctity and God desired permanency of marriage. If the partner does not walk away from marriage there is always the hope and desire that they may decide to follow Jesus. Paul adds – and don’t forget about the children.
Prayer: Please help me to understand this passage in the context of the whole of Your teaching on the subject in Your Word.
As I read it! 