Biblical Answer

What does the Bible say about divorce?

The Bible has a clear and consistent teaching on divorce. In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches that God's original intent was permanence in marriage (Matthew 19:3-9). He quotes Genesis 1:27 and 2:24 to emphasize that marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman. Jesus then says, "Whoever divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). This teaching is repeated in Matthew 5:31-32, where Jesus says that divorce is only permissible if the spouse has committed adultery.

The Bible also prohibits Christians from initiating divorce, even in the case of an unhappy or unfulfilling marriage. In 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Paul writes, "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife is not bound by law to her husband; but she is not free to marry again. Should she separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband—and that in the Lord." This passage makes it clear that Christians are not allowed to initiate divorce, even if the marriage is unhappy. Instead, they are called to remain faithful and work towards reconciliation.

In the case of an unbelieving spouse, the Bible allows a Christian to accept divorce if it is initiated by their spouse. In 1 Corinthians 7:15, Paul writes, "If the unbelieving partner separates from the believer, the believer is not bound. In such a case the brother or sister is not enslaved." This passage makes it clear that if an unbelieving spouse initiates divorce, a Christian is not bound by the marriage and is free to move on. However, it is worth noting that this passage does not condone divorce, but rather acknowledges the reality of the situation and provides guidance for how to navigate it.