Tag Archives: Divorce

Are Biblically Divorced Persons Allowed To Remarry?

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Are Biblically Divorced Persons Allowed To Remarry? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 10:29am QUESTION. I agree that the Bible permits divorce under certain circumstances, but it seems to me that it does not permit the divorced person to remarry. What do you think? ANSWER. I answered this question once, in a note from October 2010. I will answer it again here, and will include the material from Guy Duty’s book that was only mentioned in passing in the former note. For the sake of this question, we are assuming that there are two Biblical grounds … Continue reading →

Are Christians Forbidden To Marry Non-Christians?

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Are Christians Forbidden To Marry Non-Christians? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 2:05pm QUESTION: Does 2 Corinthians 6:14 mean that Christians are not allowed to marry non-Christians? ANSWER: The answer to this question must begin with a look at the nature of marriage. One of the crucial aspects of marriage as described in the Bible is that it is a covenantal relationship. We conclude this from the way the Bible often compares the husband-wife relationship with the relationship between God and his people. In fact, the relation of God to his people is often described in … Continue reading →

Books By Jack Cottrell

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BOOKS BY JACK COTTRELL by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 1:35pm Someone asked me recently to make a list of my available books. I thought some of you may be interested in the list, so I am publishing it here, mostly as written for another purpose. I, Jack Cottrell (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary), have taught theology at Cincinnati Christian University for 43 years. During this time I have written 20 books, 16 of which are still in print. The following is a list of these available books. The first seven are available from College Press Publishing … Continue reading →

More on Remarriage after a Non-Biblical Divorce

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More on Remarriage after a Non-Biblical Divorce by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 2:10pm QUESTION: You have said that in a new marriage after a non-Biblical divorce, the new spouses initially commit the sin of adultery, but that this is not an on-going sin. The new marriage is a valid marriage, and the husband and wife are not “living in adultery,” even though Matt. 19:9 uses the present tense for “commits adultery.” Therefore this marriage should not be broken up so that this couple may attempt to return to their original spouses. But does not the … Continue reading →

Can the Guilty Party Remarry after a Divorce?

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Can the Guilty Party Remarry after a Divorce? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 11:02am QUESTION: In a Christian marriage which dissolves due to marital unfaithfulness, is the guilty party not allowed to remarry? And would this be the case even if the guilty party under the leadership of the elders tried everything possible to save the marriage? In view of 1 Cor. 7:9, would remarriage in such a case—even if it is a sin—be the “lesser of two evils”? ANSWER: First, let’s get this straight: 1 Cor. 7:9 does not apply to this issue in … Continue reading →

Divorce and Church Leadership

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Divorce and Church Leadership by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8:58am QUESTION: What is the meaning of the expression, “one-woman man” (“mias gunaikos andra”), as it applies to elders and deacons, in 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 and Titus 1:6? This phrase is often translated, “the husband of one wife.” Does it mean that a divorced man can never hold one of these church offices? ANSWER: There are several different views of this phrase. Some have said that it simply requires than an elder be married. (I will speak only of elders, understanding that the phrase is … Continue reading →

Divorce and 1 Corinthians 7:15

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Divorce and 1 Corinthians 7:15 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 8:12pm QUESTION: I have some questions about the meaning and application of 1 Cor. 7:15, which says, “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace” (NKJV). First question: If the unbeliever leaves, and the believer is not bound, does that give the believer the freedom to secure a divorce and then marry a committed Christian? Second question: A Christian is married to a person who begins … Continue reading →

Divorce, Remarriage, and Church Offices

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Divorce, Remarriage, and Church Offices by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 12:48pm ANOTHER QUESTION ON DIVORCE: How does Scripture apply to a man who was married and divorced as a non-believer, then has married again as a believer? How this would apply to his qualifications for church leadership as defined in 1 Timothy 3:2, 12? MY ANSWER: If a man was BIBLICALLY divorced as a non-believer, then he was morally free to remarry (regardless of who was the guilty party), either before or after becoming a Christian. Thus his present marriage is the only legitimate and … Continue reading →

Divorce and Remarriage in Light of 1 Cor. 7:10-16

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Divorce and Remarriage in Light of 1 Cor. 7:10-16 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 10:37am QUESTION: I am trying to help two believers who are in marriage counseling. She wants a divorce, but he does not. He wants to know what he is supposed to do if she divorces him. I told him that the Scripture that applies best to this situation is 1 Cor. 7:10-15. I suggested that even though she claims to be a believer, she is making a lifestyle choice that is contrary to God’s Word and therefore acting as if she … Continue reading →

The Levirate Law in Ruth

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The Levirate Law in Ruth by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 9:08am HERE’S A QUESTION: “We’re studying Ruth in our SS class. I need some insight into the Levirate law. Did this cause a man to commit polygamy? Was it only the firstborn son who belonged to the dead brother/relative? If so, why is Boaz mentioned as Obed’s father?” MY FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO ANSWER: This sort of question drives me to my handy Bible dictionaries, from which I have gleaned a few facts. First, “levirate” has nothing to do with Levi; this word comes from a … Continue reading →