Quote 2363

Remarriage Divorce

Jesus teaching in both Mark and Luke would have been taken as shocking, countercultural, and absolute. These authors would have needed to provide their reading indication that divorce would be acceptable in certain instances. After the absolute statements, the readers could not be expected to assume it.

Remarriage in Early Christianity, 104, Eerdmans

A. Andrew Das

For its original audience, Luke 16:18 would have made clear that there was to be no remarriage for either partner of a divorce, without exception.

Remarriage in the Early Church, 102

A. Andrew Das

despite the almost universal tendency on the part of NT exegetes to explain Jesus' prohibition of divorce against the "background" of the debate between the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel, this tendency may actually be a prime example of the anachronistic use of later texts to explain earlier ones. That is, a text written down for the first time at the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. (the Mishna) is called upon to educate a teaching of Jesus reaching back to the early part of the 1st century A.D., with written attestation in the 50s by Paul and ca. 70 by Mark. Considering the dearth of any clear attestation of the dispute over the grounds of divorce between the Houses in the pre-70 period, we would do well, at least initially, to explain Jesus' teaching on divorce soley in light of what is truly prior to and contemporary with the Palestinian Judaism of the 1st century A.D.

Law and Love, 95

John P. Meier

In a world of widespread divorce and remarriage, Paul's Jesus taught that the marital bond had long-term implications. If divorced, remarriage was not an option.

Remarriage in Early Christianity, 67, Eerdmans

A. Andrew Das

if a strict view on divorce and remarriage were taught in our churches, there would be fewer divorces among believers. Marriage would be entered into with more caution, and marriage partners would seek to preserve that union at all cost, for there would be no second chance. If for no other reason, a husband's sexual needs will motivate him to maintain the marriage in a healthy condition, for if he fails he will be left to a single life!

Divorce Myth, 123-124

Since the God-ordained marriage union is lifelong, to marry a divorced person would be to enter into an existing marriage and hence, to commit adultery.

Divorce Myth, 121

God's commands are His enablings! If you are single due to divorce, know that God will sustain you and minister to you as a single. Don't compromise the teachings of the Bible to justify remarriage just so you can be "fulfilled." Know that the single life can be a fulfilling experience for you as you obey God and trust Him to enable you to live for Him.

Divorce Myth, 111

Divorce Singleness

Since God's "divorce of Israel" is metaphorical, there is no implication that a divorced believer would be biblically qualified for the office of pastor/elder or deacon.

Divorce Myth, 106

Now, how does Ezra 9-10 relate to the issue of divorce and remarriage? This passage of Scripture records a unique situation in which divorce occurred and was in fact commanded when backslidden Jews married Gentile idolators. Such marriages violated the prohibition recorded Deuteronomy 7:1-4, and the situation could be remedied only by separation. This was a unique attempt on the part of the leaders of the restoration community to keep the messianic line pure and the Hebrew faith uncontaminated as a result of mixed marriages with idolatrous heathen.

The Divorce Myth, 40

Divorce Ezra

Frequently a young pastor will perform a wedding for a divorcee before he has thoroughly considered what the Bible says about the subject. Then some time later the young pastor sits down to examine the teaching of Jesus on the matter of divorce and remarriage. Typically, he will assume he is right until proven wrong, so he concludes that divorce and remarriage is permitted under certain circumstances. His only other alternative is to admit his error and recognize its consequences in the lives of those whose wedding he performed.

The Divorce Myth, 12-13

Remarriage

The United States Census Bureau reports that in 1920 there was one divorce for every seven marriages, in 1940 one divorce for every six marriages, in 1960 one divorce for every four marriages, in 1972 one divorce for every three marriages, and in 1977 one divorce for every two marriages.

The Divorce Myth, 12