Category: Marriage

Does First Corinthians 7 Authorize Divorce for Desertion?

Some claim that First Corinthians 7:15 grants a deserted believer the right to divorce and remarry. A careful reading of the text in context does not support this conclusion. Paul upholds what Jesus taught: divorce is not permitted, “except it be for fornication” (Matthew 19:9; cf. 19:3-6). Nothing in First Corinthians 7 suggests that Paul added a second exception.

1 Corinthians 7:10–11

Paul opens this section with a direct command: “Let not the wife depart from her husband: but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:10–11).… Read more

Is a Wife’s Submission Shameful?

Many people today hear the word submission and immediately think of something degrading or humiliating. They associate it with weakness or inferiority, and thus the Bible’s teaching about a wife submitting to her husband is often quickly dismissed without proper consideration. The Scriptures present a very different picture, which is neither shameful nor demeaning. Submission is honorable, reasonable, and an example of God’s wisdom in designing the home. Any group of people requires leadership to be orderly and function properly.… Read more

It’s Called Fornication

Having sex outside of a God-approved marriage is called fornication: “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2). The Bible plainly says that those who commit fornication without repenting and becoming faithful to God will not be going to Heaven: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these…fornication…of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21; cf.… Read more

The King’s Law on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

Young people especially need to be taught Jesus’ law on marriage, divorce, and remarriage before they get themselves into regrettable, spiritually deadly situations. When God joins a man and a woman together in marriage, the only authorized reason for them to ever divorce is if one of them commits fornication (having sex with someone outside the marriage relationship). The original word translated as “fornication” means “illicit sexual intercourse,” according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon. The spouse innocent of fornication may then divorce the spouse guilty of fornication and remarry an eligible person of the opposite gender.… Read more