Divorce Scenarios Addressed in the New Testament
As we noticed early in this study, the current controversy revolves around a certain divorce scenario. Can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause? The New Testament addresses a few different scenarios. Let's take a look at these and see if any match the question of this controversy.
Scenario #1: A man puts away his wife for fornication. This is mentioned in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. This is the only scenario that allows the one putting away their mate to marry another without committing adultery (Mt. 19:9).
Scenario #2: A man puts away his wife for a cause other than fornication. This is mentioned in Matthew 5:32, 19:9, Mark. 10:11, and Luke 16:18. Without fornication on the part of his wife, this man sins in putting her away. If he remarries, he compounds his sin by now committing adultery. Matthew 5:32 also teaches that he is guilty of leading her into adultery if she remarries. Why is her subsequent marriage in this context adulterous? Because she did not put her husband away for fornication per Matthew 19:9.
Scenario #3: A woman puts away her husband for a cause other than fornication. This is mentioned in Mark 10:12 and would be included in the situation described in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. Most of the passages that speak of one putting away their spouse speak of the husband putting away the wife. But these two passages describe the wife doing the putting away. If a woman puts away her husband for a cause other than fornication, she commits adultery upon remarriage just the same as a man would who put away his wife for just any cause. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 teaches us the woman who has left her husband has two options. Either she can go back and be reconciled to him, or she can remain unmarried. She does not have the option of marrying another. [Note that 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 describes a situation in which a woman leaves her husband. This does not necessarily mean she puts him away, but it certainly would include that.]
Do We Have a Match?
Does the question of our current controversy match any of the divorce scenarios described in the New Testament? The controversy has to do with one putting away their mate for fornication after their mate put them away for another cause and then be able to remarry. Do we see this described in any of the scenarios? No. The scenarios in which one put away their spouse for fornication, they had not previously been put away. (If they were, it is not specifically stated.) In the scenarios that described one who had been previously put away, no mention is made of this person putting away their mate for fornication. Thus, adultery is committed upon remarriage.
Let's be sure we understand this. In the scenarios described, the one putting away their spouse for fornication had never been put away themselves. Also, the ones who had been put away did not put away their mate for fornication. But in our question, the one putting away their mate for fornication had already been put away for some other cause. The scenarios are not the same.
Some try and use the scenario in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 to say the woman who has been put away has two options -- be reconciled or remain unmarried. This is not what the text says. These are the options given to the woman who leaves her husband, not the one who is put away by her husband. This scenario is not parallel either.
What shall we say then? Is the Bible insufficient to address this question? Certainly not. While it is true that the scenario described in the question that is at the heart of this controversy is not found in the New Testament, we can still ascertain God's will regarding it. Without specific examples or described scenarios, we must look at the principles God's word sets forth about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. When we do this with an open heart, I believe we can all come to an understanding of the truth.
