Week Three: Divorce

Question 1

Which is the basic unit of relationships in the bible?

Answer 1

The Family

Question 2

Was the crisis of divorce an issue in Christ’s day? + two main camps

Answer 2

Yes – two main camps were Shammai (conservative) and Hillel (liberal)

Question 3

Shammai’s perspective on divorce

Answer 3

Only thing is if she commits adultery

Question 4

Hillel’s perspective on divorce

Answer 4

anything that is unseemly (ugly bitch, burnt toast)

Question 5

Matthew vs Paul which camp are they more like?

Answer 5

Matthew is more like Shammai
Paul is more like Hillel

Question 6

Which gospels allow for divorce?

Answer 6

Matthew
Luke and Mark have no exceptions

Question 7

Which gospel implores women not to file for divorce?

Answer 7

Mark; written to the Romans where women actually could file for divorce

Question 8

Which chapters of Matthew show exception for divorce?

Answer 8

Matthew 5 and 19 show exceptions of sexual immorality

Question 9

What does Matthew make an exception for? Greek word + explanation

Answer 9

Porneia – unchastity
Unchastity – sexual immorality, what seems unseemly
Interpreted over years as adultery
Some cultures it meant pedophilia
Much broader

Question 10

Why did Jesus have so many prostitutes in his circle?

Answer 10

Many divorced women could only survive through prostitution, hence why Jesus had so many prostitutes around him

Question 11

Struggle in Adventist 1976-1977 Annual Council

Answer 11

church argued against extending divorce to cases of abuse, and stated that JUST adultery is the only reason for divorce.
If Jesus used porneia, and it is wider than just adultery, should it not mean more to us?

Question 12

What does the Adventist church in the GC 2000 extend divorce to? (two things)

When does the church/EGW allow for remarriage of divorcees?

Answer 12

GC 2000 in Toronto allowed divorce worldwide for both ABUSE AND ABANDONMENT by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor 7)

If the non christian spouse wants to leave, then let it happen

But the church will not allow remarriage for these, although it allows it for sexual causes

EGW seems to allow it for insanity

Question 13

What is the absolute/ideal for marriage?

Answer 13

NO divorce
But God seems to allow exceptions in a sinful world
What is the most redemptive action in the sinful world> Sometimes, it is divorce?