Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage: In Their Historical Setting
What did Jesus really say about divorce and remarriage?
Challenging the evangelical near-consensus that Jesus permitted divorce and remarriage in certain circumstances, Gordon Wenham argues that while Jesus permitted separation in cases of sexual immorality, he did not permit divorce and remarriage.
Presenting a revisitation and expansion of several decades of thought and debate on the topic, Wenham builds his case from a close reading of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, showing how his teaching pushed against the culture of his day. In addition, Wenham brings in insights from ancient Near Eastern marriage laws, the Old Testament, the writings of Paul, and the earliest Christian interpreters of the Gospel divorce texts.
Readers will be challenged by a careful biblical argument that provides a counterpoint to the majority view. No study on divorce and remarriage will be complete without considering Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage.
Praise for Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage
This book should be essential reading for any Christian concerned about divorce. Although hard to swallow today, Gordon Wenham bases his message, “Jesus did not allow remarriage after divorce,” upon years of study of ancient marriage practices and careful exegesis of the Gospel passages. He shows it was also the early church’s view. As in his earlier works, he is aware of the pastoral implications, but, as an experienced biblical scholar, concentrates upon the meaning of Scripture.
–Alan Millard, Rankin Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and Ancient Semitic Languages, University of Liverpool
Top Highlights
“It certainly shows how marriage was viewed not as a private arrangement between two individuals but as something that involved the extended family and potentially the larger clan.” (Page 9)
“In traditional societies, marriage involves the union of two tribes or families, whereas in today’s society it is seen essentially as a link-up of two individuals: the implications of their alliance for society as a whole tend to be regarded as of little importance.” (Page 8)
“In biblical times, marriages were frequently arranged for the bride and groom by their parents.” (Page 9)
“Thus in allowing divorce for ‘sexual immorality’ (Greek porneia) to escape censure, Jesus is not breaking with Jewish tradition. It is in his expanding the notion of adultery to cover divorce for other reasons that Jesus is being original and radical. His new definition of adultery that included divorce in all situations except where the wife was guilty of immorality was a huge innovation. This ruling threw out the husband’s age-old right to divorce his wife for any cause. It also introduced the idea that husbands could be guilty of committing adultery against their own wives; until then adultery was just seen as an offense against the husband, never against the wife.” (Page 63)
“It is important to underline that I think Jesus does not allow divorce; he permits only separation.” (Page 120)
Contents
- Introduction
- The World of the Bible
- Marriage and Divorce in the Old Testament
- Later Jewish Attitudes to Divorce
- Matthew 1 on Divorce
- Matthew 5:31–32 on Divorce
- Jesus versus the Pharisees in Matthew 19
- Divorce in the Other Gospels
- Paul on Jesus and Divorce
- The Oldest Interpreters of the Gospel Divorce Texts
Product Details
- Title: Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage: In Their Historical Setting
- Author: Gordon J. Wenham
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2020
- Page Count: 128
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 5x8
- ISBN: 9781683593287
About Gordon J. Wenham
Gordon J. Wenham (PhD, Cambridge University) is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Studies at the University of Gloucestershire. He has written or contributed to many books, including Story as Torah, Remarriage after Divorce in Today's Church: 3 Views, and (with William Heth) Jesus and Divorce. He has also written commentaries on Genesis (Word Biblical Commentary), Leviticus (New International Commentary on the Old Testament), and Numbers (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries).
