Divorce, and what it means and doesn't mean

[Vic]

Quote: [grafted] Mark 10:1-12
So if a person is divorced, even though they were not the one who filed, they are still guilty of adultery if they ever remarry?

Mar 10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
Mar 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
Mar 10:3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
Mar 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
Mar 10:5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mar 10:10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

[sheep wrecked]

Just throwing some questions and observations out there that I have run across in regard to divorce:

* 1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

G1402 - bondage
δουλόω
douloō
Thayer Definition:
1) to make a slave of, reduce to bondage
2) metaphorically give myself wholly to one’s needs and service, make myself a bondman to him

Does this mean that if the brother or sister are no longer married, but are free to remarry if the spouse leaves and divorces?

* Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement [G647]
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away [G630] his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced [G630] committeth adultery.

G647
ἀποστάσιον
apostasion
Thayer Definition:
1) divorce, repudiation
2) a bill of divorce

G630
ἀπολύω
apoluō
Thayer Definition:
1) to set free
2) to let go, dismiss, (to detain no longer)
2a) a petitioner to whom liberty to depart is given by a decisive answer
2b) to bid depart, send away
3) to let go free, release
3a) a captive, i.e. to loose his bonds and bid him depart, to give him liberty to depart
3b) to acquit one accused of a crime and set him at liberty
3c) indulgently to grant a prisoner leave to depart
3d) to release a debtor, i.e. not to press one’s claim against him, to remit his debt
4) used of divorce, to dismiss from the house, to repudiate. The wife of a Greek or Roman may divorce her husband.
5) to send one’s self away, to depart

So why the two different words? Is one just kicking the wife out, without a bill of divorcment [putting away], making her an adultress if she remarries because she is not legally divorced? or does Jesus leave room for remarriage if one is legally divorced?

* Mar 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away [G630] his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
Mar 10:12 And if a woman shall put away [630] her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Again, the question is, this is not a legal divorce, it is sending her away. If a divorce degree is given, are they free to re-marry?

* 1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Does this passage actually say that if a man is loosed from a wife, he should not seek another, BUT if he marries, he has not sinned? In other words, it is better if he doesn't remarry, but it is allowed?

[Izzy]

Here's another question for you that has been pondered by many.

When someone enters into a marriage under false pretenses and outright lies about who they are and what their lifestyle is/will be - is it actually a marriage in the first place?

[Mark]

My wife was married previously. Her husband walked out one day and never came back. She filed for divorce a few months alter. He never showed at court so the divorce was granted.
Neither of us were living for the Lord when we were married and after we began a walk with God, this topic came to us. We asked our apstor at the time if we were guilty of adultery. He told us it is a complicated issue, but if we have asked for forgiveness and were sincere, that we would be forgiven and our marriage would not be wrong. Any truth to this? Anyone else have a similar situation?

[sheep wrecked]

(08-11-2009 11:36 AM)Mark Wrote:  My wife was married previously. Her husband walked out one day and never came back. She filed for divorce a few months alter. He never showed at court so the divorce was granted.
Neither of us were living for the Lord when we were married and after we began a walk with God, this topic came to us. We asked our apstor at the time if we were guilty of adultery. He told us it is a complicated issue, but if we have asked for forgiveness and were sincere, that we would be forgiven and our marriage would not be wrong. Any truth to this? Anyone else have a similar situation?

Are there any sins that so bad they cannot be forgiven, if one confesses them before God? Divorce is not the unforgivable sin - only blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from *all* unrighteousness.

1Jo 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1Jo 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

My personal opinion is that far too much pressure is put on those who divorce. It happens. Many times there is no choice. Yes, some people divorce as if it is nothing and for the sake of convenience. But to label people as continual adulterers if they remarry, especially when it is obvious that 2nd marriages can be viewed as blessed by God, seems to be a rather harsh attitude and I cannot rectify the "persecution" by the Christians in this regard.

I think the church literally "crucifies" the divorced and the remarried. God is gracious and forgiving and those whose hearts are turned toward Him can expect mercy and grace. Why can't we do the same?