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Study Guide for The Bible on Divorce and Remarriage

October 15, 2015

This study guide is a work in progress. Anyone who has further notes to add to the study, please send them to [email protected] so others can benefit from your study.

Chapter 1

Read the following verses and answer these questions as you read. After each verse write in your own words what the verse seem to be saying.
Questions 

  • Ask yourself who is it speaking to?
  • What are the exceptions?
  • Who was the author?
  • Is there any permission from God?
  • What is the basic idea of the passage?

Verses 

  • Matthew 5:32
  • Matthew 19:4-6 and 9-12
  • Romans 7:1-3
  • 1 Corinthians 7:15-17 and 27-28
  • Matthew 19:4-6
  • Deuteronomy 24:1-3
  • Numbers 15:32-36
  • Acts 10:12-15
  • Leviticus 1:17
  • Leviticus 11
  • 2 Timothy 2:15
  • Genesis 2:22-24
  • Genesis 24:67

Write a brief summary of Chapter 1.
 

Chapter 2 - Moses Grants

  • What is the exception Moses grants?
  • How has this been misused?
  • What is an abomination?
  • What is the abomination stated concerning marriage and divorce?
  • What did you learn from Chapter 2?

 

Chapter 3 - Jesus’ Position

Read Matthew 19:3-12.

  • What is the temptation the Pharisees throw at Jesus?
  • Rephrase in your own words Jesus’ answer?
  • What does the word Suffer mean in this passage?
  • What’s a eunuch?
  • Why is this verse included in this subject?

Read Romans 7:1-3.

  • What is the context in which Paul is writing? What is his main subject matter?
  • How evil is adultery in God’s eyes?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:16. Write a short summary in your own words of this chapter.
 

Chapter 4 - Paul Grants Divorce

Chapter 4 is divided into 2 studies.

Study One

  • Read 1 Corinthians 7:27-28.
  • Why does the conditions of divorce and remarriage appear to change?
  • What does “by permission” mean?
  • Why should it say that a virgin has not sinned? Everyone knows that? What?? Tangible
  • Write a short history of the city of Corinth. How would that relate to what Paul said?
  • Find the verse in Chapter 7 that says Paul is addressing this issue due to a letter they sent to him.
  • What do you think was the questions they ask Paul to answer?
  • Why do you think the scriptures says,  it is good for a man not to touch a woman?
  • Chapter 7 verse 2 gives us a good rule of thumb. Restate it in your own words.
  • Chapter 7 verses 3-5 discuss sexual relationships in marriage.
  • Does a spouse have a right to deny sex to their husband or wife if they are upset with them? In a bad mood? Have your mind on more pressing matters?
  • Read 2nd paragraph on page 38.
  • Ask yourself: Is it important for you to have a spouse?
  • Is it important to your spouse for you to be generous in love-making?
  • Why is it important to keep a regular flow of sexual relationships?
  • Would this make your marriage healthier?
  • Are you willing to obey God in this matter.
  • Summary of these verses is: Marriage is a defense against fornication.
  • Verse 6 is the beginning of why Paul brings a new thought into the divorce/remarriage subject. In this section Paul restates several times God’s orginal intent for man and makes it clear that what he is about to teach is by permission.
  • Have you ever considered that God gives permission? Why?
  • God knows man’s weakness both physically and emotionally. He allows Paul to give a rule so that man can be happy. What’s the rule?
  • What was Paul’s gift?
  • Do you know people that are happy to minister as singles and really don’t care to marry?
  • Paul restates the law as God intended it to be. Summarize it.
  • The BIG issue starts in verse 12 (on the bottom of page 41) but does not get answered until verse 15. What was Paul allowed to say?
  • Who are the rest that Paul speaks to?
  • Paul is careful to repeat God’s perfect will before he declares the thing he has permission to share.
  • A sad but key verse in divorce is Chapter 7:14. How does divorce affect the children in the spirit world?
  • In verse 15 Paul finally states his clause of permission.
  • Summarize what he says in your own words.
  • Does this say this should be the rule of the church?

Study Two

Circumcision and Slavery

  • Subject changes but Paul appears to still be answering questions they sent to him.
  • His issue is to continue in whatever state you find yourself when you get saved.
  • How important did Paul list circumcision? Is that different than what is found in the Old Testament?
  • Servant is the term used that is reference being a slave.
  • What is Paul’s opinion of that?
  • What is the one concept that was repeated 3 times in this chapter (page 48)?
  • Paul has set the stage and is now ready for his conclusion found in verse 27.
  • Are you loosed from your spouse?
  • What is Paul’s first recommendation?
  • Verse 28 is his permission statement. Write it in your own words.
  • What two times in scripture did one of God’s servant write by permission? Who were they? What was the subject?
  • Paul states why he thinks it is best not to be married. Do you think you could continue in this state?
  • Verse 39 restates the law.
  • Verse 40 Paul restates his commitment to singleness.
  • Big surprise found in Matthew 5 and 19 teaching the guilty party is not free to remarriage. Were you the guilty party? Find these verses and record them.
  • What did you learn in this chapter?

 

Chapter 5 - God is Divorced

 

  • Have you ever heard this before? Does it sound off? If the word of God clearly teaches it are you prepared to believe it?
  • Read Hosea 2:2.
  • Read Jeremiah 3:14.
  • Read Ezekiel 23.
  • Read Hosea 3.
  • Why did God use earthly marriage as a picture of heavenly?
  • How does God handle his wayward wife?

 

Chapter 6 - Questions from Readers

First Question

  • In your opinion do women react differently to this than men do?
  • Does guilt affect women in a different way?
  • What can a man do to help his wife overcome this self-inflected guilt? (Ephesians 5:25-28)
  • According to Deuteronomy 24:1-4 should you leave your present spouse to go back to your first?
  • Read the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4:18).

Second Question: Should a divorced and remarried man not be allowed to minister?

  • Read I Timothy 3
  • Why was the subject covered in the scripture?

Third Question: Are you in continual adultery if you remarry? The key is to learn to read and study the whole subject and not just grab verses to establish law.

  • Notice what is written on page 65 about singular present tense. God cares about the smallest word and so should we. Read Matthew 5:18 and Revelation 22:18-19.

Next Two Questions: Should you forgive or divorce if your spouse is unfaithful?

  • God hates divorce. God love forgiveness but each person knows their limitations. Children should be the first concern.

The Question on page 69 has to do with a spouse being involved in homosexual behavior.

  • According to letters that come through our office women find it easier to tolerate their husband’s affair with a man faster than with another woman. It is based on not relating another man as competition. Therefore, their feelings rule rather than fact. This is a much graver offense and a dangerous one due to health risk of such filthy acts. If you have children then they are also at risk. Seek counsel.

Questions on pages 72 and 73 deal with how to go forward after making a bad decision.

  • If you are in this situation write out how God feels about it and how his forgiveness has set you free.

The last question needs careful reading. The spouse writing is disobeying God’s word.

  • Read I Corinthians 7:3-5. God clearly teaches women how they can win their unbelieving husband.

Chapter 7 - Licensed to Marry?

The state has made this a legal issue. You can make it a God issue if you are wise.
 

Chapter 8 - Reflections

Write your own reflections on this book.

  • Has the word of God been opened to you?
  • Have you seen anything with new eyes?
  • Are you considering forgiving your spouse and reconciling?
  • Have you been set free from guilt of the past?