Biblical interpretation is important‼️Romans 7:2-3 says nothing about divorce and remarriage ‼️
Posted : 11 Apr, 2025 07:25 PM
By Never Thirsty
Bible Question:
Does Romans 7:2-3 prohibit divorce and remarriage?
Bible Answer:
Confusion exists about the meaning of Romans 7:2-3. This occurs because an important principle in biblical interpretation is not always followed. That principle will help us understand, “Does Romans 7:2-3 prohibit divorce and remarriage?”
Does the Bible Prohibit Divorce?
Believers Are Freed from the Law
Beginning in Romans 6:19-20, the apostle Paul states that before a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, he or she was a slave to sin. But when an individual believes in Christ, he or she died in Christ and was freed from sin (Romans 6:6-8). The result is the person is no longer bound to sin. In Romans 6:12 believers are urged to not allow sin to reign in their bodies again or get back on the throne in their lives. So, at the moment of saving faith, a person is freed from slavery to sin.
Then beginning in Romans 7:1, Paul begins to show that just as believers are freed from slavery to sin, they are also freed from the Mosaic Law. Verse 1 states,
Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? Romans 7:1 (NASB)
Then in Romans 7:2-3 the apostle illustrates his point using the marriage relationship. He states that according to the law, a married woman is bound to her husband while he is alive. But after he dies “. . . she is released from the law concerning the husband.” He said,
For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Romans 7:2-3 (NASB)
But if she marries another man while he is alive, she commits adultery and becomes an adulteress. When he dies, she would not be an adulteress should she marry another man. Paul’s message is that the marital relationship is broken when a spouse dies.
Then in Romans 7:4, Paul summarizes his point that when we died in Christ, we were not just freed from sin but also from the Mosaic Law. We died to the Law too!
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4 (NASB)
Paul’s message is simple. Salvation is not obtained by keeping the Law but by being joined to Christ. That is, believers have been freed from the Law and joined to Christ by faith (Romans 7:5-6).
This helps us understand that Paul only used the marriage relationship in Romans 7:2-3 to illustrate his conclusion that believers have been released from the Law (Romans 7:6). Salvation is not by keeping the Mosaic Law. He was not trying to give us new instruction about marriage. Paul ignored Mosaic Law instruction which is explained in the next section.
Principle about Lifetime Marriage
The Old Testament repeatedly teaches us that an adulterer or adulteress was to be put to death. If a man or woman had sexual relations with someone who was not his or her spouse, that person was to be stoned to death.
If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 (NASB)
If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel. If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl, because she did not cry out in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. Deuteronomy 22:22-24 (NASB)
In addition, Numbers 5:12-31 outlines a test which an Israelite could request to be performed by the priest to determine if a woman was suspected of committing adultery. These verses clearly establish an unstated principle that marriage is between two people and not more. Consequently, the “law” that Romans 7:2 refers to is a principle embedded in the Mosaic law.
Jesus reinforces this principle in Matthew 19:3-9 when He says that from the beginning “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” This principle was established in Genesis 2:24. Here Jesus is in a discussion with the Pharisees.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Matthew 19:3-9 (NASB)
Jesus indicates that the principle of lifetime marriage was an established principle from Genesis. Divorce was only permitted later due to the hardness of man’s heart. He reveals remarriage is allowed when adultery has been committed.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is the passage that Jesus referred to in Matthew 19:3-9. It is part of the Mosaic Law. In this passage, Moses gives constraints about divorce and remarriage. Here is the passage.
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife . . . Deuteronomy 24:1-2 (NASB)
Moses acknowledges that divorce was occurring among the Israelites. But notice that he does not condemn it. Instead, he states a woman could become another man’s wife. Deuteronomy 24:4 is especially important since God also tells us that it is an abomination if she marries another man and later wants to remarry her first husband. But God never calls her divorce and remarriage an abomination.
. . . then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance. Deuteronomy 24:4 (NASB)
Then in Matthew 19:7-8, Jesus confirms that Moses allowed divorce. Notice that Deuteronomy 24:1-4 limits divorce. The passage does not command divorce. So, Paul was referring to the principle embedded in the Law and established in Genesis in his teaching in Romans 7:1-4.
Teachings of Jesus and Paul
Both Jesus and Paul fulfilled and broadened the Mosaic Law regarding marriage. Early in Jesus’ ministry, He told us that He did not come to abolish the Mosaic Law but to fulfill it.
Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 (NASB)
Then fourteen verses later, Jesus abolished the death penalty for adultery from the Mosaic law when He does not command that a spouse be put to death for committing adultery. Instead, He says this,
“It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:31-32 (NASB)
It is clear from the passage that Jesus allows a “divorced woman” to marry another man. She was not killed. Jesus repeats the same message in Matthew 19:9. But the most important principle to notice is that Jesus does not disagree with Moses’ instructions in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 about divorce. Jesus agrees with Moses’ limitations on divorce; but Moses’ limitations do not prevent divorce. This helps us understand that Deuteronomy 24:1-4 modified the principle regarding lifetime marriage. Remember that Jesus said He did not come to change the Law but to fulfill it. Other passages in the gospels about divorce can be found at Mark 10:5-12 and Luke 16:18. Please read “A Biblical Divorce.”
Paul also permitted divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16. He instructs us that if an unbelieving spouse wants a divorce, the believer is to allow them to leave. Then he adds that the believer is no longer under bondage (1 Corinthians 7:15). Please read “What is the meaning of the word “bound” in 1 Corinthians 7:15?”
Therefore, under the New Covenant, which was enacted by Christ, He and Paul permitted divorce. Romans 7:2-3 is not a treatise on marriage and divorce but simply an accurate teaching that believers are no longer bound to keep the Law. Believers are free from sin and the Law and bound to Christ. We must remember a very important principle in biblical interpretation. The Holy Spirit wrote all of Scripture. If Jesus and Paul permitted divorce and remarriage in a number of different and inspired passages, why should one passage in the New Testament become more important than all of the others? Romans 7:1-3 does not override the other passages.
Conclusion:
Those who claim that Romans 7:2-3 teaches God prohibits divorce have a major biblical problem. They have ignored the biblical principle that Scripture does not contradict Scripture! God the Holy Spirit, who wrote all of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21) does not contradict Himself. He is not a liar. Why would the Holy Spirit allow Romans 7:2-3 to contradict the teaching of Moses, Jesus and Paul permitting divorce? Why would Paul prohibit divorce in Romans 7:2-3 and then permit divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 since he is the author of both passages? The passages are not contradictory. The correct understanding of Romans 7:2-3 is that it does not prohibit divorce. But Moses, Jesus and Paul allow divorce when one spouse engages in sexual sin or an unbelieving spouse wants out of the marriage.
It is important to understand that God has given us the principles for a happy marriage in Ephesians 5:22-31. You are encouraged to read the studies at “Marriage In Splendor – God’s View.”
Biblical interpretation is important‼️Romans 7:2-3 says nothing about divorce and remarriage ‼️
Posted : 12 Apr, 2025 08:51 AM
Like you, I read the Bible in English. I do not read Hebrew, and I do not read Greek. I often read different Bible translations. All in English. Some translations I like more than others. Some translations I lean towards more than others. I prefer more literal, but am okay with some dynamic equivalents, but I avoid the paraphrases. The more accurate the translatios, the better. I am "Sola Scriptura" in opinion. I do not like attaching to scriptures other teachings. My view is that the Bible should be taught in church. But in church, we hear lots of things being taught that are not in the Bible. "It is what it is." My own view is not to go beyond what is written. (1 Corinthians 4:6) I believe the Bible is a Relational Guidebook to all relationships. I believe the Bible has an answer for everything. I believe on every subject, one should ask, "WHAT IS WRITTEN?" "WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY?" Then the answer should be, "IT IS WRITTEN." Then the reply should be "It is ALSO WRITTEN...." Then we should uphold the teaching "NOTHING BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN"
There will always be arguments.
We are to go to the Bible. The Bible is to have the answers. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
We often replace Bible teachings with other ideas. We often nullify the word of God with other teachings.
What teachings do you want to go by?
Not all of us are on the same page.
But some want to be on a Bible page.
Some are more closely on the Bible than others. Some are on scripture in one subject, then part from scripture on another. WE ARE NOT THE STANDARD FOR TRUTH. We go from right to wrong and wrong to right. Back and forth we go. We change our views. Anyway, my view is that the Bible is the standard for the church and the Bible teaches against divorce; and the Bibe teaches that any man that marries a divorced woman commits adultery, and the Bible teaches that a man causes his wife to commit adultery by divorcing her when she hadn't committed adultery, but then commits adultery in marrying someone else; and the Bible teaches that a divorced woman commits adultery when she marries someone else, and a man should not be divorcing his wife. Divorce is more of the Devil than it is of God. People can remain single after they divorce. But a man should not be divorcing his wife. Joseph thought to divorce Mary quietly when he found her to be pregnant and knew it wasn't his kid because he had not yet entered her. They were engaged and he thought to end the engagement. She was promised to him. He did not want to subject her to public disgrace or for her to be stoned to death. He had some love for her. Being a righteous man, he did not want ill on her. Not many are born by virgin birth, and most pregnancies are not that way. But no where in scripture does scripture advocate for divorce except in the Book of Ezra where there is an effort to return to God by placing away the foreign wives. But other places in scripture, foreign women are welcome into the fold. Ruth, Rahab, and more. I am not convinced that divorce is okay. My methodology is THE BIBLE ALONE.
Biblical interpretation is important‼️Romans 7:2-3 says nothing about divorce and remarriage ‼️
Posted : 16 Apr, 2025 05:47 PM
Yes, a guy can divorce his wife with justification, but it is not what Jesus teaches. It is what Moses teaches because hearts are hard. But it is not something we want Jesus to do to us, and it is not for government to decide nor a woman; it is for a husband only to write a certificate of divorce. Then it is adultery for the man to marry again after he has divorced his faithful wife. There are a number of scripture violations in the matters of divorce, and it is something that the Bible does not encourage even when adulteries are involved. Look at the book of Hosea. Hosea was commanded to take to himself an adulterous woman. Now though he was commanded this, I believe his wife was a virgin when he had married her, but that the land was so filled with lewdness that it did not take long for her to catch up. Yet Hosea was faithful to an unfaithful woman as Christ has been faithful to us, and God has been faithful to Israel. We do not want Christ or God to divorce us. GOD HATES DIVORCE. (Malachi 2:16) He hates the putting away. But a guy should be able to have more than one wife, especially when he is not getting the goods of marriage as it is part of the Bible for a man to have more than ome wife UNLESS he is a leader in the church. (1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:12, and Titus 1:6)
Biblical interpretation is important‼️Romans 7:2-3 says nothing about divorce and remarriage ‼️
Posted : 16 Apr, 2025 06:02 PM
In the Bible, a woman is not equal to a man. A man has greater rights. A man is to lead. In the Bible, a woman is not equal to a man, except that both maybe saved and both are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, but there will always be arguments among us, and the Devil wants to be in the details and to shake what can be shaken. He is pretty good at disrupting our lives. He had done pretty well in infiltrating the 12, and he has done pretty well in infiltrating the church. I think, he likes to enter most marriages as well. That is why it is better not to marry in the first place. (Matthew 19:10, 1 Corinthians 7:1 and 1 Corinthians 7:40) Yet singleness isn't for everyone.
