“What Does 'Yoke' Mean?”

Monday, November 19, 2012

    I read the post "When Two Oxen Fall in Love" and had a question.  The verse you used to say that God tells Christians to only marry other Christians was 1 Corinthians 7:39.  1 Cor 7:39 is not directed to all those who would be married but specifically to those who have spouses who have passed and seek to be remarried.  I understand that all of us may be able to ascertain God's will for us as Christians from this verse, but I am unwilling to use it as law except in its given context.  I guess my question is this: does the Word of God explicitly tell Christians that they cannot marry someone who is not yet a Christian?

Sincerely,
Want It In Writing

Dear Want It In Writing,

The Bible never uses the words, “No Christian can marry a non-Christian”, but there are enough clear verses that we feel confident in saying that it is a sin.  1 Cor 7:39 is one of those verse.  If a Christian widow shouldn’t marry a non-Christian, it makes no sense that those marrying for the first time should.

However, the most powerful verse on this subject is 2 Cor 6:14.  When it says, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers,” we must ask the question, “Is marriage a form of ‘yoking’ yourself to someone?”

To ‘yoke’ means to ‘couple or attach to’ something.  Marriage, by God’s definition, is when a man and a woman become one (Gen 2:24).  Marriage vows are definitely a yoke.  Therefore, 2 Cor 6:14 would include the prohibition against marrying an unbeliever.

Share