Human Relationships: Divorce

Question 1

What three verses in the Bible teach Christians about divorce?

Answer 1

• Mark 10:9 (“What God has joined together, let no man separate.”)
• Mark 10:11-12 (“Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and remarries, she commits adultery.”)
• Matthew 19:9 (“A man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery - unless his wife had been unfaithful.”)

Question 2

What does Matthew 19:9 teach Christians about divorce?

“A man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery - unless his wife had been unfaithful.”

Answer 2

If your spouse cheats on you then you can divorce her as she has already broken the bond between you.

Question 3

What does Mark 10:9 teach Christians about divorce?

“What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Answer 3

Divorce is wrong as it separates what God has joined together in marriage.

Question 4

What does Mark 10:11-12 teach Christians about divorce?

(“Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and remarries, she commits adultery.”)

Answer 4

It suggests that even if you divorce, you are still married to your first spouse in God’s eyes.

Question 5

What do most Protestants believe about divorce?

Answer 5

• Many accept divorce but do not encourage it

- Most will allow a divorced person to remarry in their church

Question 6

Since what year have Protestant vicars been allowed to marry people who are divorced (down to their own discretion)?

Answer 6

1987

Question 7

True or False?

Some Protestant vicars will not marry a couple if at least one of them have been divorced.

Answer 7

True, however the vicar may choose to give them a blessing rather than performing the marriage ceremony for them if he/she does not agree with it.

Question 8

What does the Church of England teach about divorce?

Answer 8

They believe that Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce in the New Testament shows the ideal lifestyle which Christians should aspire to. They accept, however, that humans fall short of this ideal as we live in a fallen world where people reject God.