Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible by Jay E. Adams

Author:Jay E. Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub

Under circumstances where the unbeliever wants to get out of the marriage, Paul says, “let him separate” (v. 15). The clause (literally) reads, 44if the unbeliever is separating [chorizo = to separate by divorce], let him separate [chorizo].” The words 44is separating” (or, possibly,44separates”) show not only that the unbeliever has divorce in mind, but (at the very least) has taken the step of plainly declaring that he/she wants to dissolve the marriage. The words indicate that there is some movement in that direction. (Today, steps like seeing a lawyer6, etc., might also be included). The Berkeley version catches the idea in the words when it translates, In case the unbeliever wants to separate, let there be separation.

Here, the idea is that if the unbeliever is expressly desirous of separating (by divorce), the believer must not try to hinder him.7 There is no limitation of this passage to divorce after desertion, although (clearly) desertion would be an act evidencing a strong desire to separate. It would plainly imply lack of consent over continuing the marriage (vv. 12, 13).

So then, the general principle seems clear enough: where there is no consent (agreement) by the unbeliever to continue the marriage (vv. 12, 13) but (on the contrary) there is a desire to dissolve it, the Christian must not stand in the way of the separation. Paul uses a permissive imperative: “let him separate.” This is a command; it is the one instance in which divorce is required.

There is in verse 15 both a description of the state of the believer after the divorce, and a reason appended to the command to “let him separate.” Let us examine both.

1. The state in which the believer finds himself following such a divorce is defined: “Under these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound.”

All the bonds of marriage have been removed. He is released entirely from every marriage obligation, and is a totally free person. Nor is there any obligation to be reconciled in marriage.10 Paul expresses this idea later on in verse 27b when he speaks about being “released from a wife. The word released is luo, “to loose,’’ which in verse 27 is set over against deo “to bind” (which is used of being bound to a wife). The word deo again appears in verse 39 with the same meaning.

However, in verse 15 the word translated ‘ ‘bound’’ is douloo, an even stronger term that means ‘ ‘to enslave.’’ The idea is that when the bonds of marriage are broken, the believer is released from his marriage obligations to the unbeliever and from the burden of trying to maintain a marriage that the unbeliever doesn’t want. He is released from this slavery.

2. The reason appended to the command is: “God has called you to peace.”

This important consideration has been overlooked by a number of commentators. We must not do so, since it reaches to the bottom of the problem that Paul has in view. God doesn’t want any loose ends dangling about a Christian’s marriage; He wants problems in marriage resolved.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.