Divorce

By Loraine Boettner

The subject of divorce and remarriage is a very difficult and complicated one, made so in part because of the great variety of human situations involved, but primarily so because the Scriptures bearing on this subject are not always as definite and clear-cut as we might like. Precisely what is commanded or what is implied in Scripture is in several instances a matter of dispute, not only between church members but also between theologians and even between denominations. The result is that this subject has become one of the seriously controversial issues of our day. Individual opinions tend to be formed, not only on the basis of what the Scriptures say, but also on the basis of past training and personal attitudes, so that some people are much more strict in their views than others. We must, therefore, take care that in any particular case we neither approve nor disapprove without making a careful inquiry into the facts.

CrossReach Publications

• Language: English
• Publisher: CrossReach Publications
• Release date: Sep 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9788829510252

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CrossReach

1. Statement of the Problem

The subject of divorce and remarriage is a very difficult and complicated one, made so in part because of the great variety of human situations involved, but primarily so because the Scriptures bearing on this subject are not always as definite and clear-cut as we might like. Precisely what is commanded or what is implied in Scripture is in several instances a matter of dispute, not only between church members but also between theologians and even between denominations. The result is that this subject has become one of the seriously controversial issues of our day. Individual opinions tend to be formed, not only on the basis of what the Scriptures say, but also on the basis of past training and personal attitudes, so that some people are much more strict in their views than others. We must, therefore, take care that in any particular case we neither approve nor disapprove without making a careful inquiry into the facts.

There has been a great increase, and from the viewpoint of the church an alarming increase, in the number of divorces in the United States in recent years. The following figures, taken from The World Almanac, 1972, shows quite clearly what the trend has been:

The peak came in 1946, shortly after the close of World War II, with a total of 610,000 divorces, when many hastily made war marriages were being broken up. The present rate of divorces to marriages is about one in four. (And while accurate figures are not available, the number of separations without divorce apparently is equally alarming.) This rapid increase has been due in large measure to the fact that over the years most states have gradually eased their restrictions. At one time it was practically impossible to secure a divorce except on the Scriptural grounds of adultery. Some church authorities understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as permitting divorce when a Christian believer is deserted by an unbeliever or by a professed church member whose action for all practical purposes are equivalent to those of an unbeliever. But in recent years the courts have come to recognize a number of other reasons, such as ordinary desertion, cruelty (physical or mental), non-support, drunkenness, sickness, crime, etc.

The principal Scripture passages dealing with, or at least having some bearing on, the subject of divorce and remarriage are:

Gen. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Deut. 24:1–4, When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2) And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3) And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house: or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; 4) her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah; and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Matt. 5:31–32, It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement; 32) but I say unto you, that everyone that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

Matt. 19:9, And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

Mark 10:11–12, And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: 12)