Permissibility of divorce and remarriage
Whether divorce is permitted, and on what grounds, and whether remarriage is permitted while a former spouse lives. Christ teaches restrictively on this (Matt 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12). Catholic and Orthodox traditions are most restrictive (annulments only / pastoral economy). Most Protestant traditions allow divorce on grounds of adultery or desertion. Some mainline / evangelical churches have become broadly permissive. "Affirms" = restrictive historic view (only adultery + desertion, lifelong covenant); "denies" = broadly permissive. Look for "biblical grounds for divorce", "covenant marriage" vs. no teaching + permissive remarriage practice.
This doctrine distinguishes traditions but is not a boundary of orthodoxy.
Who binds this
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 1Cor 7:10 — And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
- 1Cor 7:11 — But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
- 1Cor 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.
- Deut 24:1 — When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
- Luke 16:18 — Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
- Mal 2:16 — For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
- Mark 10:11 — And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
- Mark 10:12 — And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
- Mark 10:2 — And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
- Matt 19:3 — The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
- Matt 19:6 — Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
- Matt 19:9 — And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
- Matt 5:31 — It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- Matt 5:32 — But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
- Rom 7:2 — For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 24.3 — Of Marriage and Divorce
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 24.6 — Of Marriage and Divorce
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion Article 32 — Of the Marriage of Priests
- Lutheran Augsburg Confession Article 23 — Of the Marriage of Priests
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion Article 34 — Of the Traditions of the Church
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 25.1 — Of the Civil Magistrate
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
"Sir, if any one has a wife who trusts in the Lord, and if he detect her in adultery, does the man sin if he continue to live with her?" And he said to me, "As long as he remains ignorant of her sin, the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But if the husband know that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman does not…
Concerning chastity, He uttered such sentiments as these: "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart before God." And, "If thy right eye offend thee, cut it out; for it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of heaven with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast…
And concerning chastity, the holy word teaches us not only not to sin in act, but not even in thought, not even in the heart to think of any evil, nor look on another man's wife with our eyes to lust after her. Solomon, accordingly, who was a king and a prophet, said: "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight…
A person should either remain as he was born, or be content with one marriage; for a second marriage is only a specious adultery. "For whosoever puts away his wife," says He, "and marries another, commits adultery;" [Matthew 19:9] not permitting a man to send her away whose virginity he has brought to an end, nor to marry again. For he…
Now that the Scripture counsels marriage, and allows no release from the union, is expressly contained in the law, "Thou shalt not put away thy wife, except for the cause of fornication;" and it regards as fornication, the marriage of those separated while the other is alive. Not to deck and adorn herself beyond what is becoming,…
But another reason, too, conspires; nay, not another, but (one)which imposed the law of "the beginning," and moved the will of God to prohibit divorce: the fact that (he)who shall have dismissed his wife, except on the ground of adultery, makes her commit adultery; and (he) who shall have married a (woman) dismissed by her husband, of…