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TEACHING OF ST. PAUL
75

of re-marriage to the Christian, on the principle that no natural franchise is forfeited by discipleship.

V.—The same principles governed the apostle's ruling on the subject of fresh mixed marriages. He forbids the widow to re-marry except "in the Lord," which can hardly mean less than a prohibition of marriage with a non-Christian. In the second epistle we have the prohibition stated at length, and with much solemnity:

"Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God."[1]

This language is general, and both in ancient and in modern times it has been questioned whether it is intended to refer to mixed marriages: St. Augustine says he does not remember a passage in the New Testament forbidding in unambiguous terms Christians

  1. 2 Corinthians vi. 14-16.