Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 1

Introduction

Mark 6:17-19
This can be a very emotional topic!
John 12:48
I Corinthians 6:9-10 – Fornication and adultery can keep us out of heaven!
If you work hard enough, you will find someone who agrees with you on any topic. But we must follow God’s word.

The Bible doesn’t always use the word “married” to refer to marriage. If often uses a descriptive phrase.
- Deuteronomy 24:2; 7:3
- Ezekiel 16:8
- I Corinthians 7:2
- Romans 7:3
In Hebrew and Greek, there are no separate words for “husband” or “wife.” Context must indicate whether it is “man” or “husband.”
- Old Testament Hebrew:
  - is man or husband
  - issa woman or wife
- New Testament Greek
  - aner man or husband
  - gyne woman or wife
- issa – Genesis 2:22-3:2
- aner – John 4:16-18
Words can refer figuratively to the past or future.
- Figure of speech: prolepsis
  - Luke 2:11 – Jesus was not yet the Savior.
  - Deuteronomy 22:23-24
- Figure of speech: adjournment
  - Exodus 7:10, 12 – Aaron’s staff was now a serpent.
  - John 9:17
  - II Samuel 11:26 – Uriah was not still technically her husband.
  - II Samuel 12:10
  - Mark 6:17-19 – Herodias was not still technically the wife of Philip.

Paul’s main point is how a change of law works. He uses marriage as an illustration of this.
In Romans 7:2-3, the law under consideration is God’s law. The marriage and the bond are two different things. The woman is bound to one man and married to another, making her an adulteress.

If the divorce is due to sexual immorality, the innocent party is free to remarry. The guilty party is not free to remarry.

Divorcing a spouse except for sexual immorality “causes her” to commit adultery by putting the spouse in a difficult situation.