I am guessing there were divorces back then.
Let's explore that.
I think we have a complete misunderstanding of divorce based on poor biblical translation.
Which has led to some holding a position that remarried men are disqualified for leadership.
Thus shooting ourselves in the foot.
Compare these two translations. The NIV and the KJV
The NIV reads "
sexual immorality" while the KJV reads "
fornication".
The term "fornication" is specific to sexual immorality BEFORE marriage. (not after)
And there is reference to this in the law. See below.
Matthew 5:32 NIV
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for
sexual immorality,
makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:32 KJV
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this case a man has falsely accused his new bride of fornication. (broken hymen?)
Deuteronomy 22:13-18 NIV
If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her
14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying,
“
I married this woman, but
when I approached her,
I did not find proof of her virginity,”
15 then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to
the town elders at the gate proof that she was a virgin.
16 Her father will say to the elders,
“I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her.
17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’
But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.”
Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town,
18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With all this in mind, what should we conclude about divorce
and remarried men are disqualified for leadership?
Jesus only allows divorce in the case of fornication.
Adultery is grounds for forgiveness, not divorce.
Just to be clear. I believe in fidelity in marriage.
I just celebrated my 44th anniversary. (to my first and only wife)
/