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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Divorce based on lack of support? | 2 Cor 6:14 | SgtMac | 69715 | ||
I have a friend who is in the middle of a divorce. They are both Christians. He is involved with a business venture that takes a lot of his time. She does not believe that it will work and has stated so in several, some heated, arguments. He believes that God has called him to be in this business. (He believes VERY strongly.) Therefore, he says, since she doesn't believe in what he is doing, that they are "un-equally yoked" and that he can divorce her. He feels that he has the biblical right to divorce. Does he have any ground to stand on. Biblically the wife should support the husband. He has final say. | ||||||
2 | Divorce based on lack of support? | 2 Cor 6:14 | leabeater | 69716 | ||
The "unequal yoke" in 2 Corinthians 6:14, as in any other passage, has to be seen in its historical and grammatical context. To say that Paul is using the term "unbelievers" to include those who disagree with our occupation or "calling" has no biblical precedent. The form of the adjective used for unbelievers (apistois) is only used 4 times in the NT. In all four cases it refers to non-believers. Further, Paul's argument in the latter verses of 2 Corinthians 6 uses comparisons (e.g. light and darkness), which support polar opposites, not simply differing opinions over non-essentials. An inductive approach to the question on a broader plane demonstrates that marriage to non-Christians, or non-believers, is addressed in several other passages of the Bible as well (e.g. 1 Cor. 7:39). So, to broaden the meaning of the word "unbelievers" here to include those who disagree with our calling or occupation lacks objectivity. Marriage, in the Lord's view, was always thought of as indissoluble except in a very narrow band of circumstances (e.g. adultery or "fornication" in Matthew 19:9). Yet, even in this circumstance, the Bible indicates forgiveness is the preferred route (Hosea 3:1-2). The Matthew 19 passage takes a very dim view of those who divorce outside of these circumstances stating that those who divorce outside of those conditions are themselves adulterers. I do not wish to make light of your friend’s dilemma. Ideally a wife should submit to her husband in matters such as this: “But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:4).” Yet I am sure there is a reason why she is so adamant about her husband’s choice. The first order of behavior, in my opinion, falls on the leader. Yet, by the same token and in this case, the wife finds herself on much more precarious grounds. I can see the husband’s argument (though I strongly disagree). How does she justify her lack of submission? Understand that I do not know the entire circumstance; nevertheless, my thinking is that the judgment bar will find the husband falling far shorter in his justifications for divorce than his wife’s objections to his calling and failure to submit. |
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