Sanctification and holiness (1 Corinthians 7:14) : an investigation of the meaning of the Greek words Hegiastai and Hagia within the context of intermarriage

Abstract

This study investigates the meaning of the Greek words fiYtaoxai and ayia within the context of 1 Cor 7:14. The thesis employs the historical-grammatical method. Based on the Jewish view regarding intermarriage, in Paul's time, some of the Corinthian Christians considered intermarriages with unbelievers to be illegal unions, and the resultant children dKaSapra "unclean," "illegal" or "bastards." They might also have concluded their church had been defiled and profaned, necessitating divorce. In confronting this view, Paul employed the words ■^yiaorai "he or she has been sanctified" and ayia "holy." This investigation tries to defend that in 1 Cor 7:14, the Christian party of an intermarriage sanctifies his unbelieving spouse, in the sense that the unbeliever is legitimately attached to the Christian party as a spouse. The children of the intermarriage are holy in the sense that they are legal children. This study concludes that the usage of the terminology of sanctification and holiness may be considered as a non-soteriological sanctification and holiness. However, the unbelieving spouse and children of such a marriage may have a chance of being converted into Christianity, due to the existence of the Christian party in the family as indicated in 1 Cor 7:16. If they accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, they will be sanctified and become holy in Him. In this case, they will possess the so-called soteriological sanctification and holiness.