1 Corinthians 7:14 in relationship to Terumah
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:14 (NIV)
While reading my Daily Dose yesterday I came a cross an interesting argument which may help us to understand Paul’s statements here in his epistle to the ekklesia at Corinth.
There is an argument in the Talmud in regard to the transference of terumah from an open cask of wine to a loaf of bread, which has been set on top of it (in regard to Mishnah Terumos 10:3). The conclusion is that since the bread (a hot loaf, verses a cold, hard loaf) is permeated by the aroma of the wine, it therefore contains enough of the essence of the consecrated wine for it to be considered terumah as well. It is the scientific process of diffusion which allows the minute particles of wine to infuse the bread in order to pass on some of the flavor of the wine. How much more so can it be said of an unbeliever living in the same family with a believer. If we are truly living our lives out loud, our sanctity should be “splashing” all over those around us.
