Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 11:2 (May 1949)
Article: Divorce
Author: John J. Murray

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WTJ 11:2 (May 1949) p. 105

Divorce

Fifth Article

John Murray

VII Romans 7:1–3

IN Romans 7:2, 3 Paul adduces the law respecting marriage as an illustration by which to commend to the understanding of his readers the doctrine respecting the effect of the death of Christ upon the relation of the believer to the law and to Christ. It is not necessary for the purpose now in view to discuss the rather difficult exegetical question involved in the similitude Paul uses. Those acquainted with the exegetical literature on these verses know how interpreters have laboured with the question of determining what, in the doctrine Paul is enunciating, is parallel to the death of the husband in the similitude instituted. The relevance of this passage to the question of divorce need not be perplexed, however, by that other exegetical question. The question we are concerned with now is simply the bearing of this passage upon the matter of divorce.

In reference to this precise question it is of importance to note that Paul is not dealing here expressly with the question of marriage and separation as he is in I Corinthians 7:10–15. The subject with which Paul is here dealing is the expansion and validation of what he had stated in Romans 6:14 — that sin does not have dominion over the believer, for he is not

Correction. I regret that in preceding articles of this series when I quoted from and cited the article “Divorce” in The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. V, I gave the author as Walter George Smith. This was an error and was due to oversight. The name should have been Aug. Lehmkuhl. Walter George Smith wrote the latter part of the article on “Divorce” but was not the author of the part which was cited and from which quotation was given. Apology is hereby tendered to The Catholic Encyclopedia.

WTJ 11:2 (May 1949) p. 106

under law but under grace. The appeal to the law of marriage, specifically the law of marriage as it applies to the wife, is for the purpose of illustration. The death of the husband frees the wife from the law of her husband. So the death of Christ frees the believer from bondage to the law.

It is necessary to stress this only-too-obvious fact. While, on the one hand, we must not allow this consideration to obscure or rule out the significance of this passage as it bears upon the law of marriage, yet, on the other hand, we must not forget that the allusion to the law of marriage is incidental to Paul’s main purpose. We must not fall into the mistake of loading his il...

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