"For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?"
In what sense is an unbelieving spouse "made holy" because of a believing spouse. Perhaps being made holy refers to positive influences that the believer can have on the unbeliever. That would explain why the children are also holy. If they were left to the unbeliever alone, they would surely follow after the unbelievers ways. But if a believing spouse can positively influence the unbelieving spouse, the children will also be kept from much uncleanness.
But the verses seem to go beyond mere external restraint and reach to the heart of the unbeliever. The testimony of the believer may so move the unbeliever that (s)he trusts Christ herself. Verse sixteen indicates that this is a real possibility that ought to be hoped for. And it is this possibility that motivates believers to stay with their unbelieving spouses.
Because of verse sixteen, the second explanation seems more likely to me. In addition to this, the eventual/possible salvation of the unbelieving spouse also explains the spouse being "made holy." Salvation or more specifically justification does not equal being "made holy." But salvation results in one being made holy. And all that was said about the positive influence would be true, in a deeper sense, of one who has come to know Christ.
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