Proposition: In the
New Testament, the apostle Paul teaches that all competent adults, including
the divorced, may marry.
I am happy to join with my
friend, J.T. Smith, in this discussion of Paul's teachings that relate to who
has a right to have a marriage. I
believe if it were not for misinterpretation of Jesus' teachings, and the
consequent obligation to "harmonize" Paul's teachings with what some
assume Jesus taught, brethren generally would have no
problem with Paul's precept to let the “unmarried” marry. Remember, in our
previous debate, after I brought up some of Paul's teachings, brother Smith
refused to answer because Paul’s teachings did not relate to the proposition at
hand. That was fine, but will he need
you, the reader, to assume he won that debate as he explains Paul’s
teachings? Will he be forced to use what
he believes to be Jesus' teaching as a foundation, which does not relate to the
proposition at hand, to explain Paul’s teaching? I predict that he will.
In at least three epistles
Paul gives information that should help us fully understand the answer to the
question, “Who may marry?” We shall show that the gist of Paul's teachings is
"Let those who need marriage to avoid fornication, or who are burning in
lust, marry if they are of age" (1 Cor 7:2, 9, 36). Paul's teachings are easily understood and
easy to obey once a person learns that the errant view teaching that Jesus
changed the Law allowing the divorced to marry (Deut. 24:1-2), is neither
scriptural nor acceptable. Which is easier,
doing nothing or “forbidding to marry”? The latter results in disaster for families, individuals, churches
and those who are guilty of this unscriptural doctrine that benefits only Satan.
1 Corinthians 7
Paul addressed questions
regarding who may marry. We might find
some misunderstanding of Jesus' teachings to Jews regarding a specific and
unique problem, but now Paul is addressing Christians. Christians today have the same responsibility
to hear and obey Paul, who wrote by inspiration, as did the Corinthians.
Things to Observe
First, we must keep in mind
that nowhere in Paul's teaching is he saying marriage is not good. Such would contradict God who said, "It
is not good that man should be alone."
Paul also said, "Marriage is honorable…and the bed
undefiled..." Thus, statements that
might appear to be to the contrary must be understood in light of the context
and the situation, which he describes as "the present distress."
Therefore, we must understand that Paul gives advice that is applicable during
the time of the “present distress” that was not intended to be applicable for
all time, such as, “I would that all men were even as I.” This is evident by the fact that he goes on
to say that if marriage is needed to avoid sin, a person is to be allowed to
marry.
Second, nowhere in Paul's
teachings does he even hint that a divorce has to be for fornication before it
frees the parties to marry. This is
something that has been presumed that Jesus taught. But such teaching has Moses against God,
Jesus against Moses, Paul against Jesus, Paul against himself and Christians
teaching an unjust doctrine. If God had
intended for us to understand that only those who initiate divorce for
fornication may marry another, would he not have inspired Paul to teach the
same in no uncertain terms? In view of
the fact that such teaching encourages a race to the courthouse, can we not see
the imprudence of it, and therefore understand that it is not from God?
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
"Now
concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to
touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid
fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own
husband."
In the above text, Paul not
only commands any who would object to a man or woman’s having a spouse not to
do so, but he also gives the reason this is necessary, which should help us to understand
and accept the command. Also note that
the text says "every man." Thus,
Paul does not exclude anyone who needs marriage "to avoid
fornication" and he is very specific in his command.
Verses 7-9
"For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after
this manner, and another after that. I
say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide
even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to
marry than to burn."
Paul acknowledged that some
do not have the gift of celibacy as he did, and therefore he commands any who
would object to a man or woman’s marrying to "let them marry." And, once again, he gives the reason:
"for it is better to marry than to burn in lust."
Now, notice whom is addressed: the "unmarried." Unless divorce does not do what God intended
it to do, divorcees are “unmarried,” i.e., they are “single” and without a
spouse.
Verses 27-28
"Art
thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art
thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou
marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned.
Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you."
Paul advises those who are
bound unto a woman (meaning married) to seek not to get a divorce (regardless
of what the spouse may have done), and if you are loosed (divorced according to
law) seek not to take another wife. But
if you do (because of needs previously discussed) you do not sin in marrying,
even though you could be spared trouble by remaining single.
Verse 36
"But
if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely
toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let
him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry."
Once again, Paul stresses the
importance of marriage and the reason for it. Also note that he said "any
man"--not just those who have never married, or those who divorce their
spouse for some particular reason that is absent in Paul’s writings.
1 Tim. 4:1-4
In this text Paul warns that in
the future some would be guilty of "forbidding to marry,"
which would be a sinful activity. To
whom this prophecy refers is not as important as the fact that anyone, from
that point forward, who refuses people (who need marriage) the right to marry is committing the same sin.