Jesus and Divorce: The Problem With The Evangelical Consensus

Is there a New Testament position on divorce and remarriage? Do the Gospels speak definitively to this question? It seems that many studies only add to the confusion about this difficult and controversial issue. Heth and Wenham have sliced through the rhetoric in this careful book on the gospel pronouncements concerning the marriage union. JESUS AND DIVORCE combines a rigorous commitment to scholarship as well as a keen sensitivity to the emotional and pastoral implications of this painful topic. While emphasizing Jesus teaching in the book of Matthew the authors also provide a detailed survey of relevant Scriptures. True to Scripture this analysis takes into account the views the Church has held throughout history. Seven major positions are summarized and evaluated: --The Early Church View --The Erasmian (Reformation) View --The modern Erasmian (Evangelical) View --The Unlawful Marriages View --The Bethrothal View --the Preteritive View and --The Traditio-Historical View. After rejecting the evangelical and reformation interpretations of the Matthew 19:9 exception clause Heth and Wenham conclude that "It is always wrong to divorce what God has joined together; what is more divorce except for unchastity is tantamount to committing adultery; and remarriage after divorce is always so." JESUS AND DIVORCE also offers practical sensitive advice to pastors counselors and couples and it points readers to scores of other books and articles on the subject.