1 Corinthians 7:15

7:15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. ¹  God has called you in peace.

Ephesians 2:16-17

2:16 and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. ²  2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,

Ephesians 4:4

4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,

Ephesians 4:16

4:16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together ³  through every supporting ligament. ⁴  As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

¹ sn Interpreters differ over the implication of the statement the brother or sister is not bound. One view is that the believer is “not bound to continue the marriage,” i.e., not so slavishly tied to the instruction about not divorcing (cf. vv. 10-11) that he or she refuses to face reality when the unbelieving spouse is unwilling to continue the relationship. In this view divorce is allowable under these circumstances, but not remarriage (v. 11 still applies: remain unmarried or be reconciled). The other view is that the believer is “not bound in regard to marriage,” i.e., free to remain single or to remarry. The argument for this view is the conceptual parallel with vv. 39-40, where a wife is said to be “bound” (a different word in Greek, but the same concept) as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is “free” to marry as she wishes, only in the Lord. If the parallel holds, then not bound in v. 15 also means “free to marry another.”

² tn Grk “by killing the hostility in himself.”

³ tn The Greek participle συμβιβαζόμενον (sumbibazomenon) translated “held together” also has in different contexts, the idea of teaching implied in it.

⁴ tn Grk “joint of supply.”