The Bible & Divorce
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
Frequently Asked Questions
Used by permission by Author Curt Simmons
Let me say first that Broken Circle site was not designed to be a theological discussion area on the subject of divorce. We designed this site with the idea of providing encouragement and answers to common questions through the articles and other areas. This does not mean that we do not have firm beliefs about divorce, and in that light, there may be some opinions expressed on this page that conflict with your own beliefs. The basic advice I can give you is to study the Bible for yourself.
There are also other internet sites and books that are available that examine all of the issues presented in this FAQ in more details. You can view these links by going to "Cool Links." I will be happy to respond to e-mail questions concerning the content on this page. We are not "theologians", but we are sinners saved by grace who desire to know God's truth, so here are some common questions Christians in the throes of divorce frequently ask and our response with Biblical references to encourage you to self study.
Q: What does God think about divorce?
A: God hates divorce. The bible is very clear on this teaching. God's plan and design is for a male and a female to share life together and remain that way until "death do us part." This is God's plan, yet as we all know, God's design and plan often do not happen on this planet because of sin. God does hate divorce, but God loves divorced people. Romans 12:2, Matthew 19:4-6, Malachi 2:16
Q: Are there Biblical reasons to seek a divorce?
A: Yes. Although God never condones divorce, particularly between two Christians, God does allow divorce in a few circumstances. The first is adultery. Adultery, in its literal sense, refers to sexual immorality or unfaithfulness on the part of a spouse in a marriage situation. Although adultery literally refers to physical sins, adultery is actually a matter of the heart. The physical sin is usually a sign of of the unfaithful condition of the heart. Keep in mind that God does not command divorce in this situation, but only allows it. The Bible does not speak directly about physical or psychological abuse, but we can probably infer that divorce is allowed in these situations as well.
Paul also built on some of Jesus' teachings about divorce in 1 Corinthians where he examines "unequally yoked" relationships. An unequally yoked relationship is where one partner is a believer and the other is not. As Christians, Paul commands the believer to stay in the relationship, but allows divorce if the unbeliever chooses to leave. Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-15
Q: May Christians remarry after a divorce?
A: This is a sticky issue, and one I encourage you to study for yourself if you are interested in remarriage. In what circumstances can a Christian remarry? If your spouse was unfaithful to you (adultery), then you are Biblically released from the marriage and are free to remarry. This is still a complicated issue because we are back to the concept of what "adultery" actually is. Obviously, if your spouse has a sexual relationship with another, then adultery exists.
What if your spouse leaves the marriage for another person, but did not have a sexual relationship with that person while you were together? Is this adultery? By Biblical standards, I would say yes.
What if your spouse seeks a divorce but has no Biblical grounds, then begins a sexual relationship with someone else or even marries someone else before having a sexual relationship? Is this adultery. Yes. We do have to remember that just because the law of man says that you are divorced, God still sees the former relationship as "in-tact" if there are no Biblical grounds. I say all of that to simply say this - we believe that adultery occurs in many circumstances - it is a matter of heart. Carefully examine your situation and study your Bible and the linked sources for more information.
Secondly, concerning the "unequally yoked" situation, Christians who are divorced by unbelieving spouses are free to remarry without sin (but only to another believer). This provision is made out of God's graciousness to us and we believe is made very clear by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 when he says, "A believer is not in bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace." There are some who disagree with us and say that a Christian is not free to remarry in this situation, but we believe this approach is inconsistent with scripture. Again, this is a heated issue and one which you must pray and study about. Matthew 5:31-32; 1 Corinthians 7:10-15
Q: Does God still love me?
A: Of course! Although divorce is a terrible tragedy that has devastating consequences, we have found that God is able to do great works in the lives of people facing this tragedy if they will only turn to Him! Philippians 4:4-9, Psalm 73.
Q: Is my life over?
A: No. Although you will face many difficult days, God is able to work his plan in any circumstances. You will notice in the bible that God's people faced many difficult circumstances. No one says divorce is easy, but God can do a great work of faith in your life if you will allow him to. Ephesians 4:22-32, Psalm 46, Philippians 4:11-13
If you have a common question you feel we should post on this page, e-mail us with your suggestion. Or e-mail questions about your situation, and we will try to help you with particular areas you may be struggling with. We will not post any e-mail sent from this category of a personal nature. Talk to us, we care!
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