MANIPUR THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
KANGPOKPI, MISSION COMPOUND, 795129
Subject: Introduction to Christian Social Ethics (BTE01)
Topic: Marriage and Divorce
Presenters: Paogunmang Haokip & Thanpam Kasar
Respondents: Suresh & Sibuibou
Moderator: Rev. Vipunii Ass. Prof. MTC
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. Understanding the term Marriage and Divorce
2. Biblical Understanding of the term Marriage
3. Christian Ethical view upon Marriage
4. Biblical Understanding of the term Divorce
5. Christian Ethical view upon Divorce
6. Implication to the Church
Conclusion
Bibliography
Webliography
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Introduction
In our context, marriage often takes place and we hardly see couples being divorce. But in other
nations like the United States and other developed countries, divorce seems like it is easier
because an individual rights are safe guarded. Marriage takes place when two individual have an
equal, mutual affection towards each others. Which they believe to live and have a happy life but
divorce can take place when a spouse felt it will not work out anymore, thinking and believing
that one would waste a life (worth living). And in this paper we would like to include the ethical
view and response of marriage and divorce of the Christianity.
1. Understanding of the term Marriage and Divorce
In simple way, we can define marriage when the legally or formally recognized union of two
people as partners in a personal relationship (historically and in some jurisdictions specifically a
union between a man and a woman). We can also say that it is a legally and socially sanctioned
union, usually between a man and a woman, which is regulated by laws, rules, customs and
beliefs. And etymologically the word marriage is derived from the Middle English 1miriage,
which first appears in 1250-1300 CE. And later from the Old French word marier (to marry), and
ultimately Latin, maritare or maritari meaning to provide husband or a wife or to get married.2
Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or
marital union. And we can say that divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or
other competent body. In simple words, to end the process of being married couple officially or
legally. Etymologically the word divorce comes from the Latin word divortium which simply
means separation. This word was traced in the late 14th century 1350-1400 CE.3
2. Biblical Understanding of the term Marriage
In Genesis 1:27-28, the creation of humankind as male and female is immediately linked with the
blessing that we are to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have
dominion over it”. That is to say, the first way in which marriage leads to the service of God is
through procreation. God instituted the husband-wife relationship with Adam and Eve (Genesis
2:24) as they become one flesh. Marriage is first instituted by God in the order of creation, given
by God as an unchangeable foundation for human life. Marriage exists so that through it
humanity can serve God through children, through properly ordered sexual relationships. This
1
Middle English (ME) was a form of the English language spoken after the Norman Conquest (1066) until
the late 15th century. The Oxford English dictionary specifies the period of the Middle English as being from 1150-
1500 CE.
2
R. Rajkiandris, “Marriage-Wiktionary”, https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/marriage (accessed on 12 th
August 2022).
3
Adrienne Anderson & Loretta Golding, “History of Divorce, Origins and Meaning”,
https://phillyesquire.com (accessed on 12th August 2022).
2
union is patterned upon the union of God with His people who are His bride, Christ with His
church.4
3. Christian Ethical view upon Marriage
Marriage belongs to the natural order and is common to call irrespective of religious faith. It is to
view Christian marriage as a sacramental significance. It is sacramental because it symbolises the
relationship between Christ and the church. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians describes the
relationship between husband and wife to the mystery of the relationship between Christ and the
church (Eph. 5:21-33).5Marriage implies a deep spiritual relation because it is a triangular
relation between man, wife and Christ.
4. Biblical Understanding of the term Divorce
In Malachi 2:16 God clearly says that He hates divorce. Literally it means that, God does not
hate divorced people, He hates what divorce does to people. For it causes emotional pain,
confusion, frustration. In the same way God hates sin because of what it does to people but not
the people. In the Old Testament God does allow and permit divorce but it is not God’s perfect
will. We can also take a peek on Ezra 10:3, that after the return from the exile in Babylon, Ezra
along with the leaders required everyone to divorce their foreign wives and children. This was to
ensure purity of the Hebrew religion, which would be tainted by the influence of the foreign gods
and pagan practices that other nations had. Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians
chapter 7 verses 15 stated that, “If the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so.”It is pretty clear
that Paul is saying that, if only the unbelieving spouse is willing to leave, let them go. Adultery
and abandonment are the two New Testament biblical grounds for divorce.6
5. Christian Ethical view upon Divorce
Christian ethicist who interprets divorce as marital failure might use the language of broken
covenant or of sin. While failure is included in the breaking of covenant and sinning, that failure
is imbued with a much more serious metaphysical, spiritual implication. Historically, both
Catholic and Protestant scholars have articulated that marriage is an eternal bond that seals the
two parties in a sacramental covenant with God. Marriage is ideally; forever God hates divorce,
as He hates all sins. One thing we should know and remember is that God allows or permitted
divorce only on some conditions, like if the spouse has been guilty of sexual immorality and
when a Christian is deserted by an unbelieving spouse for religious reason.7
4
J. Russell Chandran, Christian Ethics (Delhi: ISPCK, 2000), 111.
5
Otto A. Geiseman, “Premarital Counseling”, Helping Families Through the Church, edited by Oscar E.
Feucht (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1960), 181.
6
Vlad Savchuk, “Divorce and Remarriage According to the Bible”.
https://youtu.be/JvklCld88wQ (accessed on 12th August 2022).
7
Michael P. Andrus, Biblical Ethics of Divorce and Remarriage (Kansas: FEFC, 2014), 2-3.
3
6. Implication to the Church
As a Christian, an individual must have a mutual relation emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And must be able to set up a good relationship with each other and perform the holy matrimony.
A mutual love and affection between couples is the beginning of oneness. As a Christian, being
in one flesh is also a kind of commitment, loyalty and faithful to God’s commandment. As we
can see from the book of Genesis 2: 24, Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and
clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And looking upon divorce, it depends upon the
situation of an individual. If the spouse is a non-Christian and does not want to change its faith,
the Bible clearly tells us that we must leave them. The best thing that the church can do is giving
them a hope for life, strength to move on and an encouragement to the person. A minister or the
church can console them and comfort them, we cannot say that a Christian must completely
avoid divorce and like we can see from the Bible that divorce can take place on various situation
or issues (Matt 5: 31-32, Luke 16:18, Ezra 10:3).
CONCLUSION
The above presentation is mostly focused from the view of Christianity and we can see that,
marriage is a kind of gift that God gives us. Where two individual becomes one and being a
believer the presenters would like to convey the need and importance for performing the holy
matrimony. We would like to conclude that divorce can be accepted on various situation faced
by an individual or the spouse. And same thing goes to the unmarried individual, (1 Corinthians
7:8) where the person, if he could only control himself (emotions and feelings). And it is the best
for a person to get married and live a happy life with the family without getting divorce no
matter how hard life gets.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrus, Michael P. Biblical Ethics of Divorce and Remarriage. Kansas: FEFC, 2014.
Chandran, J. Russell. Christian Ethics. Delhi: ISPCK, 2000.
Geiseman, Otto A. “Premarital Counseling”, Helping Families Through the Church, edited by Oscar E.
Feucht. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1960.
WEBLIOGRAPHY
Adrienne Anderson & Loretta Golding, “History of Divorce, Origins and Meaning”,
https://phillyesquire.com (accessed on 12th August 2022).
R. Rajkiandris, “Marriage-Wiktionary”, https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/marriage (accessed on 12 th
August 2022).
Vlad Savchuk, “Divorce and Remarriage According to the Bible”.
https://youtu.be/JvklCld88wQ (accessed on 12th August 2022).
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