Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context

by David Instone-Brewer

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2002

Overview

To many, the New Testament’s teaching on divorce and remarriage seems both impractical and unfair. The plain meaning of the texts allows for divorce only in cases of adultery or desertion, and forbids remarriage until the death of one’s former spouse. But are these proscriptions the final word for Christians today? Are we correctly reading the scriptures that address these issues?

By looking closely at the biblical texts on divorce and remarriage in light of the first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, David Instone-Brewer shows that the original audience of the New Testament heard these teachings differently. Through a careful exploration of the background literature of the Old Testament, the ancient Near East, and especially ancient Judaism, David Instone-Brewer constructs a biblical view of divorce and remarriage that is wider in scope than present-day readings.

Key Features

• Analyzes biblical texts regarding divorce and remarriage
• Explores the background of these laws in the Bible, Judaism, and the ancient near east
• Presents a revised view of biblical teachings on divorce and remarriage

Contents

Top Highlights

“Joseph, the father of Jesus, was also planning to use a Hillelite ‘any matter’ divorce. Matthew records that Joseph wished to avoid bringing shame on Mary and to divorce her quietly (Matt. 1:19). An ‘any matter’ divorce required no public trial, no evidence brought by witnesses, and very little fuss. Matthew says that Joseph was planning this because he was a righteous man.” (Page 115)

“First-century Jewish readers would have mentally inserted the phrase ‘for any matter’ into the question that the Pharisees asked Jesus, whether or not it occurred in the text.” (Page 135)

“Paul cut through this legal problem by declaring ‘God has called us in peace.’ The pragmatic solution that he proposed is that all those who have been divorced against their will, and who therefore can do nothing to reverse it, should be regarded as validly divorced; they are no longer bound by their marriage contract and are free to remarry.” (Page 204)

“The main message of this chapter is that a believer should never cause a divorce, either by separating from his or her partner or by neglecting marital obligations, but if the marriage ends despite the best efforts, he or she is entitled to a divorce and is free to remarry.” (Page 212)

“It is possible that there is an indication in Genesis 2:24 that monogamy was the ideal for marriage in the Pentateuch. Yet whatever the original intent of this passage, it is unlikely that it was interpreted in this way until almost the time of the New Testament.” (Page 21)

Product Details

• Title: Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context
• Author: David Instone-Brewer
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2002
• Pages: 367
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Biblical Studies

About David Instone-Brewer

Dr. David Instone-Brewer graduated from South Wales Baptist College with the highest marks in that college’s history, and later earned his PhD from Cambridge University, where he studied early rabbinic exegesis. Dr. Instone-Brewer ministered at the Llanishen Baptist Church in Cardiff for five years, and is now research fellow and technical officer for Tyndale House, which is, arguably, among the three best libraries in the world for biblical studies.

Specializing in rabbinic studies, Dr. Instone-Brewer has been a regular contributor to Christianity magazine, and has written several books, including Traditions of the Rabbis from the Era of the New Testament.