I contributed an article on divorce and remarriage to the latest issue of the Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal:
Andrew David Naselli. “What the New Testament Teaches about Divorce and Remarriage.” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 24 (2019): 3–44.
Evangelicals hold three main views on divorce and remarriage:
I argue for view 3b.
Here’s the outline:
1. Matthew 5:31–32 and 19:3–12
1.1. Jesus Permits but Does Not Require Divorce for Πορνεία
1.2. Remarriage Is Always Legitimate When the Divorce Was Legitimate
1.3. Πορνεία = Sexual Immorality (Matt 5:32; 19:9)
1.3.1. Πορνεία Does Not Refer Exclusively to Premarital Sex in Betrothal
1.3.2. Πορνεία Is Not Limited to Immoral Sexual Intercourse
1.4. Jesus Does Not Qualify Πορνεία with the Words Repeated or Unrepentant
1.5. ποιεῖ αὐτὴν μοιχευθῆναι = Makes Her the Victim of Adultery (Matt 5:32)
1.6. The Exception Clauses Also Qualify Marrying a Divorced Person (Matt 5:32; 19:9)
1.7. Divorce Is Not What God Originally Intended (Matt 19:4–6)
1.8. A Divorced Couple Is No Longer Married in God’s Eyes
1.9. Remarriage Is Illegitimate When the Divorce Is Illegitimate (Matt 19:9)
1.10. Πορνεία Is a Ground for Divorce Because It Breaks the Marriage Covenant
2. Mark 10:2–12 and Luke 16:18
3. Romans 7:2–3
4. 1 Corinthians 7:10–16, 39
4.1. The General Principle in 1 Cor 7 Is to Stay Where You Are
4.2. A Husband and Wife Should Not Divorce (1 Cor 7:10–11)
4.3. A Christian Should Not Divorce Their Non-Christian Spouse (1 Cor 7:12–14)
4.4. A Christian May Divorce Their Spouse If Their Spouse Deserts Them (1 Cor 7:15–16)
4.5. A Christian Who Divorces Their Spouse After Their Spouse Deserts Them Is Free to Remarry (1 Cor 7:15)
4.6. A Person Whose Spouse Dies Is Free to Remarry (1 Cor 7:39; cf. Rom 7:2)
4.7. Breaking the Marriage Covenant Is a Ground for Divorce (1 Cor 7)
4.8. Divorce and Remarriage Can Protect Innocent Spouses (and Children)
5. 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6 (Also 1 Timothy 3:12)
5.1. “The Husband of One Wife” = Faithful to His Wife
5.2. “The Husband of One Wife” ≠ Married
5.3. “The Husband of One Wife” ≠ Monogamous
5.4. “The Husband of One Wife” ≠ Not Divorced or Married to a Divorcée
5.4.1. The Character Qualifications Apply to All Christians (and Divorce and Remarriage Are Sometimes Legitimate for Christians)
5.4.2. Automatically Disqualifying Divorced/Remarried Men Unbiblically Stigmatizes Them
5.4.3. Many Leaders of the Early Church Were Unbiblically Ascetic regarding Sex
5.5. Therefore, Divorced/Remarried Men May Be Elders
6. Conclusion
* * * * * * *
