Divorce and Re-marriage

Is there any biblical precedence for re-marriage, other than the death of a spouse ?

None.
Unless your talking about remarrying the spouse you are divorced from.

Edited to add:
Dean Taylor has a great series of articles that goes into great depth on this.

[url=http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/2007/May/theremnant-May2007-covenant.a5w]Article 1[/url]
[url=http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/2007/July/theremnant-July2007-one-flesh.a5w]Article 2[/url]
[url=http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/2008/1Q/theremnant-2008-1Q-exception-clause.a5w]Article 3[/url]
[url=http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/2008/2Q/theremnant-2008-2Q-bondage.a5w]Article 4[/url]
[url=http://www.charityministries.org/theremnant/2008/3Q/theremnant-2008-3Q-divorce.a5w]Article 5[/url]

These have been a great blessing to me. God lead me to these after He had lead me to understand this concept through much searching through scripture.
End edit:

Jason
~Who is still standing for his broken marriage and waiting upon God to save the soul of his prodigal spouse. 1yr, 10mo, 8days and counting.

[u][b]Mark 10:11-12 (NKJV)[/b][/u]

11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Adultery is sin. Divorce is sin. Jason is correct. Unless it is remarring your spouse, there is no grounds for a biblical remarriage to another after a divorce.

But, are all our sins forgiven past,present,future if we have been saved? not that Mr. Bill is worried about this, he has been happily married for 35 wonderful years, my wife deserves the highest man made metal or honor for putting up with me for 35 years. :-P

thanks for this post , good enfo. , and well said .. Clint

Thanks Jason and the rest of the team. You guys have answered my question.

joeSOC asks,

"Is there any biblical precedence for re-marriage, other than the death of a spouse?"

The biblical answer is a resounding and a glorious - YES!.

Man was not made for marriage but marriage for man. The reversal of these leads to bondage,sin and unbiblical conclusions.

One such unbiblical conclusion being that marriage between a man and a woman is indissoluble.This view is held by some. But this is not the biblical teaching regarding MDR*.

The 5 article series posted by utilizer001 by Dean Taylor promotes this unbiblical view. The movement he(Dean Taylor) belongs to leans heavily in that direction.MDR has been a divisive issue among some within their ranks. Much harm has been caused by this teaching and has caused not a few to part with the movement which goes by the name of the website those 5 articles are found on.

Such view being unbiblical, may be called the traditional or Roman view, also known as the 'sacramental view'.

An old Roman Catholic person I know well told me that, "Even though I have been divorced from my spouse for almost 40 years now I still think I am still married to this person." This person was taught this throughout the years spent in Catholic school as well as in the Catholic church. This persons spouse left them with their children and married another person which they had been having sexual relations with. The one (the Roman Catholic who holds to this view of sacramental marriage)left with the children also remarried in spite of their beliefs. They view themself as living in adultery.

Marriage is not a sacrament as Rome teaches. Marriage is a covenant as the Bible teaches.

A biblical and therefore lawful divorce ends the marriage covenant. The christian man who compiled the english dictionary in his 1828 edition states under 'divorce', " 1. A legal dissolution of the bonds of matrimony, or the separation of husband and wife by a judicial sentence. This is properly called a divorce, and called technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii...4. The sentence or writing by which marriage is dissolved." Mr. Webster did not come to his conclusions rashly as he was a studious man who searched both the scriptures and also the meanings of words from their roots. He also checked several other languages which had translated a word before giving it its definition.

A covenant entered into by marriage may be broken and lawfully dissolved by divorce.

Deut. 22:13-19 and Deut. 22:28,29 are the only two circumstances in the law where a man was prohibited from divorcing his wife.

"Faithful" Abraham (Gal. 3:9) divorced his wife at the command of God.(21:10-14 and Gal. 4:30).

If divorce is sin as Miccah asserts, God Himself would not regulate such cases as He does in His own Law in His Word. Even God is said to have, 'given her a bill of divorce' (Jer. 3:8). He goes on to say of her that, 'she is not my wife,neither am I her husband' (Hosea 2:2).

And God(the Son) in the flesh did not come to abolish His Father's Law either.

True it is that divorce is the result of sin.
But it is not true to say that divorce is sin.

True it is that death is the result of sin.
But none would argue that death is sin.

Lev. 21:10-14 tells us that it was forbidden for the High Priest to marry a widow or a divorced woman.

According to II Sam. 14:5 and 20:3 one may be considered a widow not only due to the death of a husband but also while the husband is yet living.

There are but two states persons are known to be in in the Bible where this issue is concerned. One is either married or unmarried.

On Matt. 5:31,32 these comments are helpful,

"With respect to the translation of Christ's answer commentators differ rather widely, particularly with respect to the words generally translated 'causeth her to commit adultery' (A.V.) or 'maketh her an adulteress' (A.R.V.,R.S.V.). The reader must often have wondered how the act whereby the husband divorces his innocent wife could make her an adulteress! As if the disgrace of having been unjustly rejected by her husband and being forced to face the struggle of life alone were not enough, must she now in addition be branded an 'adulteress'? In reply, it is generally pointed out that the statement when thus read is being misinterpreted. It must be read proleptically [i.e. the anticipation and answering of an objection or argument before one's opponent has put it forward]: she is called an adulteress because she may easily become one. Will the average reader actually so interpret the words, `Every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress'? Is not the real solution a better rendering of the original? The Greek, by using the passive voice of the verb, states not what the woman becomes or what she does but what she undergoes, suffers, is exposed to. She suffers wrong. He does wrong. To be sure, she herself also may become guilty, but that is not the point which Jesus is emphasizing. Far better, it would seem to me, is therefore the translation, `Whoever divorces his wife except on the basis of infidelity exposes her to adultery,' or something similar." (Hendriksen)

R. C. H. Lenski's translation of the phrase is: "Brings about that she is stigmatized as adulterous; and he who shall marry her that has been released is stigmatized as adulterous."

The 'Certificate of Divorce' protected the woman from such stigmatization as well as making it lawful to be married to another man and not be an adulterous.

To those who say no re-marriage unless the first spouse be physically dead, do not know the Law of God nor His Christ.

They must answer the question, "What is a lawful divorce and what does it do?, which they're unable to do due to the unbiblical Roman sacramental view of indissolubility.

May those who have suffered divorce not be condemned by those who profess Christ and say the bible teaches such confusion.

According to I Timothy 4:1-3 "forbidding to marry" is a doctrine, not of Paul, but of devils.

It is a form of penance for past sins this view promotes. God forbid we return to Rome! It is an attempt of sorts to atone for the sins of the estranged mate. It is God, and God alone that forgives sins.

Do not be deceived thinking you're more spiritual because you're holding out due to a doctrine that is unbiblical.

If you choose not to marry so be it. But do not bind the consciences of others as you keep your tradition and neglect the command of God.

You are at liberty not to marry, but do not condemn others if they do so lawfully and in the Grace of the Gospel of God and His Christ.

*MDR = Marriage,Divorce and Remarriage

Savannah said -

According to I Timothy 4:1-3 "forbidding to marry" is a doctrine, not of Paul, but of devils.

I don't think Paul was quoting this within the context of divorce and re-marriage. The point of this post is to discuss this within the context of divorce and re-marriage as opposed to marrying "the first time" so to speak, which is the context Paul is talking about.

It seems to me that there are no absolutes here. Now there might be genuine reasons for separation such as abuse etc, and this may well lead to a valid reason for divorce according to my understanding. But I still cannot find a strong position for re-marriage.

To summarize.

Does a valid biblical reason for divorce (Adultery or Physical abuse) give a bible based "Green Light" for re-marriage.

I do see a clear instruction as seen below to stay unmarried.

(1Co 7:10 NKJV) Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

(1Co 7:11 NKJV) But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Even if I said it was ok to re-marry I cannot reconcile the above verses. This is my problem.

I used to think you could get remarried, after all, every pastor I know has ever preached that as long as the person committed adultery that is one reason why you can. Aren't we to follow our pastors? ("Church structure" teaches that--we are to follow our pastors, and I'm not against following authority.) Surely they cannot be wrong when they appear to be careful with God's word. Those same pastors were careful to say that you should make all attempts toward reconciliation. It's all I've ever been taught.

However, I've begun to question all my previous thinking about Christianity, including thoughts on remarriage. This is what I've seen in myself over the last 3 years: self-centered Christianity for most of my saved life. I never really heard the true gospel until this fall...and if you never heard the gospel, how can you really begin to know who God is? Nobody in church has taught me the gravity of my sin, or if they did, I must have minimized it in my fleshly mindset. I'm thankful for the Spirit's teaching, despite all this.

I see the scriptures that make it seem like remarriage is possible...the "except in the case of adultery" scriptures. That sure makes it confusing, if you ask me. By default, my flesh accepts the "sure I can get remarried, IF my spouse commits adultery" option. (I wonder to myself why God would not have been crystal clear, unless He has, and in my self-centeredness, I did not prefer it. Oh, how possible that is, I now see.)

These days I am highly suspicious that God does NOT want people to get remarried. I'm thankful to hear other viewpoints than the ones I've held previously. I mean, if you or I had offended God, wouldn't we want to know? Many will say, "But God forgives!"--of course He does; nobody is saying God doesn't forgive. But IF there are a lot of people who think other than what I think, it now makes me question my previous thinking. Everything is under scrutiny now, as I realize I've believed many lies or half-truths, based on my self-centered view of God.

Guys/Girls

What will you do if the man who God choses to led the next Move of God is married to divorcee?

Think about Hosea told to marry a Harlot.

What about David and Bathsheba For those of us who have experienced moral failure, divorce, or other such life experience, it is a message of hope, healing, and restoration that reminds us that God's agenda is not to crush sinners under his feet, but to heal them and restore their relationship with Him.

At the end of the day Christianity is not about rules or the law. We have all failed to come up to the standard that God has set we are all sinners. Jesus came so we can be free from sin. John 1:29.

But yet God tells us to be Holy as he is Holy 1 Peter 1:16. We are also told to be perfect Matthew 5:48. Are we supposed to find Holy perfection in following Rules and Laws. Heb 7:11

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

We will never ever find perfection in the flesh we will never in our own strengh be able to please God we must be led by the Spirit of God.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith in Jesus.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

When faith is come we are no longer under the school master(The Law). The laws purpose was to bring us to Christ. After meeting Christ we are to go to perfection. Heb 6:1 but that perfection is not found in the law Heb 7:11 but found in the spirit.

If your reading this post and your divorceed and remarried God does not condem you and neither do I. If anyone is applying pressure on you to leave your current Wife/Husabnd because you married before tell them to get on there bike and take a very, very long ride on it.

You begun in the Spirit, continue in the Spirit.

What will you do if the man who God choses to led the next Move of God is married to divorcee?

Question whether or not God really picked the man and wonder whether or not it is truly a move of God.

Miccah wrote:
[u][b]Mark 10:11-12 (NKJV)[/b][/u]

11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Adultery is sin. Divorce is sin. Jason is correct. Unless it is remarring your spouse, there is no grounds for a biblical remarriage to another after a divorce.

My friends. I am leaving this conversation with this final thought.

When I go to the Lord and stand in front of Him on that day. I am confident that I will stand before Him and will be able to say that, on this topic, in this post, I stood by His word and His word alone. If anything, I appologize for sounding harsh and uncarring. If I came off this way, I am sorry.

I did not place my own personal thoughts in place of scripture. I did not place my feelings about what I believe is fair and right, above scripture. But that I placed scripture above all else.

Blessings my friends. Follow the Word and the scriptures, not man's interpretation.

Tracy,

I wanted to say that your comment on the subject was very good and honest.

I've read through this discussion and have done my best to stay out of it but after this comment, I cannot...

HomeFree89 wrote:

murrcolr wrote:
What will you do if the man who God choses to led the next Move of God is married to divorcee?

Question whether or not God really picked the man and wonder whether or not it is truly a move of God.

Jesus also said we would know them by their fruits (Matt 7.16, 7.20) so I don't look to see if someone has or has not been divorced; what I look for is to see if they are humble and have any of the fruit listed below...

[i]The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence; good faith, meekness, self-restraint.[/i]
Galatians 5.22-23 WEY

How soon all the well people forget the hole from whence they were dug and that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4.6), whether they are divorced, adulters, murderers or not!

God did use a muderer ... The Apostle Paul. God has chosen the worst of the lot to be HIS saints.
But that does not give an excuse to go ahead and comit a murder or sin in any way.
We will regret if we give in to our longings and not take up the cross and die.
Often our question is "is this right or wrong?" and not "what should I do?" And we know when we have asked a question and we are looking for a specific "answer". And we will ask till we get it, almost like Baalam.
Jesus told us to love our wives as Christ has loved the Church, i.e me and you. Have I not played the harlot? Have i not failed HIM miserably.
When I ran away from the Lord, in all love He persuaded and called after me, but He did not force me. But waited in hope and love that I would turn back to HIM.
Them that are forgiven much loves much.
Yes it seems impossible, the pain is too hard to bear, the thoughts to hard to ignore, my rights to hard to give up. O this yoke too heavy to bear.
Jesus says "come to me and I will teach you. My yoke is light and my burden easy."

O let us look at HIM and get a glimpse of what He suffered for me and you and let us do the same for him or her for whom too JESUS has died.

Vakugal wrote:
God did use a muderer ... The Apostle Paul. God has chosen the worst of the lot to be HIS saints.

I personally feel he still does use the worst of the lot to be his saints, and some work so hard at being perfect, they work there way right out of Gods use. It's like if someone handed you a million dollars at birth, how much will you know about money compared to the ones that have had to work through many valleys in life to reach the top? Personally speaking, I don't want anyone counseling me that has not been there or done that, how would they ever know how you feel?

Lysa wrote:
How soon all the well people forget the hole from whence they were dug and that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4.6), whether they are divorced, adulterers, murderers or not!

This is so powerful, and so true, and I thank you so much for this statement, it has Blessed me so much, it made my day.
God Bless
Mr. Bill

My goodness, what a lofty statement. You seem pretty whole and holy and since Jesus said, "They that be whole need not a physican" (Matt 9.11-13), perhaps then you could miss it and not be a part of it - since you're so well and all. Just a thought.

No Sister, I trust there was no pride in that statement, I need Jesus as much as anyone. That truly would be my first response if there ever was a "move" like that. I would see it as God contradicting Himself.

Please bear with me. I know I am young, but this is how I see it in the Bible.

If God says that those who marry a divorced woman commit adultery (Matt. 5:32), do you really think He would use them to start a movement?

The Bible says in Romans chapter 7, "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." This appears to say that they are in a continual state of adultery.

Jesus also said we would know them by their fruits (Matt 7.16, 7.20) so I don't look to see if someone has or has not been divorced; what I look for is to see if they are humble and have any of the fruit listed below...

I would agree to a certain extent. Yes, we need to look and see if the person is humble, etc. However, even if they have all those fruits, it doesn't negate what is said elsewhere in the Bible about divorce/remarriage.

Edit: Check out Matthew 7:22-23, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

That sure would look like fruit, wouldn't it?