What does the Bible say about interfaith marriage?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that Christians should ordinarily marry fellow believers, yet those already married to an unbeliever are called to remain faithful, loving, and hopeful in witness if the spouse is willing to live with them. Deuteronomy 7:3-4, Genesis 24:3-4, 1 Kings 11:2, Ezra 10:2, and Malachi 2:11 warn that marriages drawing God’s people into idolatry compromise covenant faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 7:39 directs believers to marry “only in the Lord,” and 2 Corinthians 6:14 cautions against spiritually unequal partnerships. Still, 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 forbids abandoning an unbelieving spouse merely for unbelief, while 1 Peter 3:1 commends godly conduct that may win them to Christ.