When May the Divorced Remarry? 2 of 4

In the case of porneia

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to peace. - 1 Corinthians 7:15 HCSB

The Lord made sure that divorce would not be easy and that accountability would exist. A certificate of divorce citing specific transgressions was required. Outside authorities and witnesses had to be involved to ensure that the divorce was not enacted frivolously.[1]

Jesus conditioned the law of Deuteronomy 24:1 in the Sermon on the Mount citing the higher law of creation.[2] We infer from His teaching that a person can divorce (a) only for good cause; (b) the case must be brought before some public official; and (c) a legal document prepared and placed in the spouse’s hand.

Jesus further clarified God’s will saying that divorce was not permissible except in the case of porneia.[3] Porneia[4] was a very general term that included: harlotry, adultery, incest, indulging in unlawful lust of either sex, fornication, prostitution[5] and any illicit sexual intercourse in general.[6] The word is used in various ways throughout the New Covenant.[7]

At the time of these writings, the Roman Empire was already beginning its moral decline and the Gentiles considered divorce a negligible offense and entered into it very lightly. Paul’s response was that just because something is allowed doesn’t mean that it’s what’s best.[8]

In the Old Covenant, the relationship that existed between Jehovah and the people of Israel was described as a marriage. Porneia was used metaphorically of the worship of idols[9] and this same idea carried over into the New Testament.[10] In Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, porneia stands for, or includes, adultery; it is distinguished from it in 15:19 and Mark 7:21.

This way of interpreting the term porneia was understood and commonly used by the Jews of Jesus’ day and was reflected in Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees concerning their rejection of His message. In essence, He said that just as we are not to indulge in unfaithfulness to our spouses, we should not be unfaithful to our God. The Pharisees indignantly replied that they had not done so and overtly implied that Jesus (whose provenance was questionable since Mary had gotten pregnant while engaged) was an illegitimate child.[11]

To understand why Jesus made the porneia exception we must understand that fornication comes from an evil heart[12], but it is also sin against the body.[13] Sins against the body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) therefore lead to judgment from God.[14] It also disrupts Christian fellowship.[15] If habitually and unrepentantly practiced, it is evidence that one is excluded from God’s kingdom.[16]

Since the husband and wife become one flesh, if one sins against the flesh, then in essence, the sinning spouse forces the other to sin as well. This is not fair and just and thus God makes allowance for divorce in such a case.[17]

[1] Isaiah 50:1; Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 19:7-9; Mark 10:4-9
[2] Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9
[3] Matthew 5:31-32
[4] Strong’s 4202 from 4203 perneno to act the harlot
[5] i.e. Revelation 19:2
[6] Demosthenes 403, 27; 433, 25
[7] Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 7:2; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19
[8] 1 Corinthians 6:12
[9] Hosea 1:2
[10] Revelation 14:8; 17:2-4; 18:3; 19:2
[11] John 8:41
[12] Matthew 5:19
[13] 1 Corinthians 6:18
[14] 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
[15] 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
[16] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
[17] Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:15-17