“The unbelieving husband
Is consecrated
Through his wife.
The unbelieving wife
Is consecrated
Through her husband.
Otherwise,
Your children
Would be unclean,
But as it is,
They are holy.”
ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ· ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
Paul said that the unbelieving husband (γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος) is consecrated or sanctified (ἡγίασται) through his believing wife (ἐν τῇ γυναικί). The unbelieving wife (ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος) is consecrated or sanctified (καὶ ἡγίασται) through her believing husband (ἐν τῷ ἀδελφῷ). Otherwise (ἐπεὶ ἄρα), their children (τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν) would be unclean (ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν), but they are holy (νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν). Paul indicated that the believing wife or the believing husband sanctified or consecrated the unbelieving husband or wife. Thus, the children in these mixed marriages would not be unclean, but holy or sanctified via the believing spouse in this relationship. Thus, the believing husband or wife sanctified the whole family, their spouse and their children, by their beliefs. The power of belief in Jesus Christ was awesome. Do you believe in the sanctification of Jesus Christ?
