FAM:Marriage and Divorce outline (no divorce)  by Frank Eberhart

I.  Marriage is Blessed by God

  A. Seven Examples in Scripture - Gen. 2:18
     (God made a fit help and brought her)
    1. Gen. 2:24 - Two become one flesh
      a. God gave Adam no choices or alternatives
      b. Can't have many ONE FLESHES
    2. Ex. 20:14 - Command not to defile the marriage relationship
      a. God's judgment for Adultery - Lev. 20:10
    3. Matt. 19:6 - God puts together - Man cannot make separate = the
       2 Greek words UnXopos
    4. Eph. 5:25 - Comparison of Christ and thechurch.  "Becomes a Type"
    5. Deut. 17:17 - One man one wife, not many
    6. I Tim. 3:1-5 - Deacons qualifications echo God's monogamous plan 
       of Old Testament
    7. Eph. 5:23 - As preparation for eternity thus the picture of
       permanency in marriage Matt. 25: - The ten virgins show the coming
       of Christ as Bridegroom.

II.  Divorce was permitted by Man only

  A. Moses bill was a deterrent to Divorce
    1. Deut. 24:1-4 - Uncleanness very restrictive.  Could only be before
       the marriage is completed she was found to be in fornication.
       Deut. 22:13-21 - If falsely accused the man could not Divorce.  
       If found true the woman was to be stoned.
    2. Deut. 22:23-24 - Betrothal (promise or engagement was considered 
       marriage for the Jew)
    3. Mal. 2:14-16 - God hates for you to put away
  B.  Jesus gave four statements on Divorce
    1. & 2.  Matt. 5:32; 19:9 - Answer question of Jewish law seeming to
       permit divorce of married peoples.  Fornication there used as
       a general term; could not be made specific term adultery
      a. If Pornia = Adultery here - Lev. 20:10 Stoning was prescribed 
         not divorce.
      b. Scripture condemns Incest - I Cor. 5:1 and Lev. 18; marriage 
         between two men or two women Lev. 18:22; or Sodomy Jude 7
        1. Historically divorce for unfaithfulness was not considered
           till 15th century.
        2. Matt. 19:9 - The exception clause doesn't modify both phrases
           in the verse only the first
          a. Thus the verse does not teach remarriage to be permissible
             because of fornication.
          b. Thus remarriage for a divorced individual is considered
             adultery - Rom. 7:3
        3. Matt. 19:10 - Shows the strictness in and of the Apostles 
           reaction (the privilege of divorce in their eyes was taken 
           away, and the folly of the Pharisees was shown - to marry 
           without intending to stay so is useless and against God's plan.
      c. Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18 - Gives no allowance, each show only 
         God's original intent for marriage
    3. Marriage is not broken by Divorce Prov. 6:30-33 Adultery marks 
       your conscience and spirit.
       Hosea 2:19-21 - Betrothed forever
       Hosea 3:1-5 - Pictures God not Divorcing an Adulterous, not stoning 
       her; but winning her back
    4. Matt. 19:4-6 - Jesus shows Divorce disrupts the plan God had from 
       the beginning
      a. Shows hardness of your heart and unwillingness to accept God's 
         plan.
      b. Shows divorce is not for adultery
      c. Word Fornication shows this passage speaks to the Jews only as 
         a discussion of Mosiac law.
      d. Moses permission isn't God's law vs:8 "Moses...suffered you...but."
         But = Nevertheless.  Jesus said from the beginning God's command 
         hasn't changed

III.  How Long the Marriage

  A.  Till death
     1. Law is binding till death - Rom. 7:1-2 Marriage is binding till 
        death - Rom. 7:3
       a. No mention of Divorce or exceptions
       b. Thus no statement of remarriage
     2. God's plan Matt. 19:6 - man can't separate is the original 
        language
       a.  Hard sinful hearts asked for less
       b.  Jesus made it harder than Law
         1. Three steps in Jewish wedding 
            Betrothal = Engage = Fornication = Divorce
            Time for testing  Vows = Adultery = Stoning
            Consummation = Adultery = Stoning
     3. For the Christian and unbeliever I Cor. 7:13-15 - Christian not 
        under bondage = dedoulotai = subjection of the flesh as in 
        I Cor. 9:27 (binding the body)
       a. No question of remarriage because no ability to Divorce
       b. Still husband and wife in vs. 16
       c. God says stay where He has distributed (grace) and called you 
          (in your present condition) walk in peace with the Lord
          - vs. 17, 24
     4. Marriage is till Death Rom. 7:1-2, I Cor. 7:39 - Never a mention 
        of Divorce for Gentiles
       a. Yet Fornication is used in Acts 15:20
       b. Innocent party told to cleanse the adulterous wife - 
          Eph. 5:25-28, Hos. 3:1-5 not divorce her.

IV.  Objections Examined

  A. Bound and Loosed - I Cor. 7:25-27 some say loosed = free or 
     unmarried.
    1. I Cor. 7:10-11 - Allow departure only to be reconciled
    2. Paul was not divorced, I Cor. 7:6-8 speaks to the unmarried and 
       widows
      a.  Paul could not consider himself unmarried if Divorced Rom. 7:1-2
  B. Isa. 50:1 - God did not put away Israel, but asked where is the 
     divorcement you (Israel) says has put you away.
    1. Isa. 49:3 - God glorified in Israel
      a. vs. 8 - Promises preservation
      b. vs.13 - God was comforting His people
    2. vs. 14 - Because Israel sinned they were in distress and blamed 
       God for forsaking them  
      a. vs. 15-16 - God could not put away
      b. They were graven on Christ's hands      
    3. Put away = TLSH = put away corruption punishable by death, NOT 
       Divorce
  C.  Jer. 3:8 "I had PUT HER AWAY" = TLSH SAME AS Isa. 50:1 not divorce
    1. Context tell us:  (Jer. 3:)
      a. vs. 1 - Once put away Israel could not return Deut 24:1-4
      b. vs. 1 - Yet God says return - thus she could not be divorced
      c. vs. 14 - She is still married to the Lord, in spite of her 
         adultery 
      d. vs. 22 - She will come = swiftly return 
      e. Jer. 31:31-33 - Israel broke their covenant but God was their 
         husband at the time

V.  I Cor. 7 - Paul's Teaching

    vs. 8-9 - Statement to UNMARRIED & WIDOWS  - better to marry than burn.

  A. To the Married The LORD'S Command:
     vs. 10-11 - You should not leave your spouse if you do remain 
     unmarried or be reconciled vs. 39-40 - Married till death
    1. Then and only then is remarriage mentioned
  B. Mixed Marriage
     vs. 12-14 - The believer is not to leave if the unbeliever be 
     pleased.  There is a godly influence with the believers present
     vs. 15 - If unbeliever departs = 
      1. You are still married - terms wife and husband are still used 
         vs. 16
      2. There is nothing you could have done so be at peace vs. 15
      3. Prior directive stands - separate if no other way but remain 
         unmarried vs.11
      4. You may still see the Unbeliever saved vs.16 - so don't destroy 
         God's first and only plan (Matt. 19:6) by remarriage
      5. vs. 17 - Walk where you are and remain there vs. 18-19
        a. You can't get uncircumcised or unmarried 
        b. Gentiles have NO need to seek circum. so don't.
        c. Physical states - marriage - circumcision etc. are not as 
           important as obeying God's command vs. 19
      6. Through the section No remarriage is ever mentioned
  C.  Difference between Virgin and Married vs 32-35
    1. It is profitable for those married to try to please each other 
       vs. 35
      a. Eliminate temptations
      b. Learn to attend to Christ without distraction - I Pet. 3:7

                   Questions to Ask

Is there really an innocent party - II Cor. 13:1 must prove by witnesses.  
Then no mention of this part in the scripture.

Is divorce of God or world? - What does it do to my testimony?

A. Does Jesus then break or contradict his own law as he stated it?
    
B. Such provision was unnecessary - Deut. 22:13-21, Lev. 20:10.
   If true, Scripture teaches divorce on an easy ground adultery which 
   could take place in the heart and never in the flesh.

Ps. 19:7-8  If the law is perfect then there can be no exception to it.

       Arguments Against Divorce and Remarriage

1. God says he hates it even though we will tolerate it.
2. The person daily and utterly must depend upon God each day of their 
   life - strength and deliverance.
3. The testimony of suffering for Christ will strengthen the brethren.
4. They gain patience and Godliness in trial.
5. The marriage partner may come to Christ and be reconciled - 
   I Cor. 7:10-11 thus uniting the family in Christ.
6. They can be used to comfort others in the trial - II Cor. 1:4.
7. Self-denial is only a part of discipleship - Luke 9:23.  If divorced 
   God can give grace to overcome your flesh.

   for more information, contact:

   GOSPEL OUTREACH
   Box 7078 Phila., PA 19149
   (215)831-1122
