Topic(s): Christian Life, Divorce, Marriage

Bob Prichard

Divorce is one of the most serious problems of contemporary society. It causes pain and difficulties not only for the husband and wife, but also especially for the children. Despite the pain of divorce, many would ignore what the Bible says about divorce. Jesus said, “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). Later Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matthew 19:9). In these two passages, Jesus gave the only biblical ground for divorce. God allows divorce under certain conditions (fornication or adultery), but not under all the conditions of current law. A scriptural divorce complies with the Bible, as well as the law of the land.

The qualifications for deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The qualifications stress that he is to be a man of exemplary life, who is “grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre” (verse 8). He also must be “the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well” (verse 12). A man living in adultery, with two living wives, could hardly be considered to be the husband of one wife, or ruling well his own house. The qualifications for pastors (also called elders or bishops) are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-11. Like the deacon, the pastor is to be “the husband of one wife” and “of good behavior” and “one that ruleth well his own house. . . . Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:2, 4, 7). Many who claim the title of pastor do not meet these Bible’s qualifications, but the requirements still stand.

Timothy was not a pastor or a deacon. He was an evangelist, or preacher. Paul did give specific marital qualifications for the work of the evangelist, but told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” It was especially necessary for Timothy to be diligent in his preaching because Paul knew that men would “not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts . . . heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Men would rather “turn away their ears from the truth” than hear the truth of the gospel. Paul concluded, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Can a man living in adultery stand for sound doctrine and do the work of an evangelist? It is not possible.

God will forgive even the sin of adultery for the man who properly repents. He cannot, however, continue to live in sin and expect God’s forgiveness or to be used effectively in His kingdom in any leadership role.