Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 69:1 (NA 2018)
Article: A Possible Scriptural Precedent For Paul’s Teaching On Divorce (And Remarriage?) In 1 Corinthians 7:10–15
Author: Brian Neil Peterson

TynBull 69:1 (2018) p. 43

A Possible Scriptural Precedent For Paul’s Teaching On Divorce (And Remarriage?) In 1 Corinthians 7:10–15

Brian Neil Peterson

(bpeterson@leeuniversity.edu)

Summary

This paper argues that in the same way Jesus’ and the Pharisees’ positions on divorce were rooted in the Torah, so, too, Paul, a man steeped in the Hebrew Scriptures, may have been influenced by the Torah when formulating his own teaching on a believer’s freedom to remarry when abandoned by an unbelieving spouse. Here it is argued that Paul may have drawn upon the marital life of Moses, who appears to have remarried a Cushite woman after being abandoned by his wife Zipporah due to his Abrahamic faith.

1. Introduction

When it comes to family relational issues within the body of believers, perhaps no other issue has created more angst for pastors and church leaders than the issue of divorce and remarriage.1 Scarcely is a single family within most churches unscathed by the heartache experienced by a divorce. With the passing of no-fault divorce in 1970 in California, the effects of this new civil policy quickly affected churches throughout America. Now, almost fifty years later, most denominations have attempted to formulate some form of ecclesial policy on how to minister to those who enter the church (or are already there) and find themselves in the unfortunate position of being in the class of ‘divorcee’. Inevitably, clergypersons of all stripes have appealed to the

TynBull 69:1 (2018) p. 44

teaching of Jesus and Paul for guidance, and rightly so. However, like many other controversial issues related to church polity, two main positions have emerged, often pitting believer against believer, pastor against pastor, or even denomination against denomination.2

In one camp, many argue that Paul not only agreed with Jesus’ instruction on divorce for those who had an unfaithful spouse, but that in 1 Corinthians 7:15 Paul moved beyond the instruction of Jesus when he opened the door for the possibility of remarriage for those who have been abandoned due to their Christian faith.3 Paul’s declaration that a believer is not ‘bound’ (δουλόω, douloō) when abandoned by an unbelieving spouse has offered comfort for the victims of abandonment in the possibility of remarriage.4 Yet those who adopt this understanding of 1 ...