You have ... problems with my interpretation of Paul’s statement that the one who has been deserted “is no longer enslaved” (1 Corinthians 7:15). You think this means that they can give up trying to be reconciled to the spouse who has already divorced them against their will, but it doesn’t imply any freedom to remarry. You reject my point that Jewish and Greek divorce certificates use the language of emancipation from slavery: “You are now free to marry any man you wish”. As you point out, Paul approves of this phrase when he applies it to widows (v. 39) but you think that Paul would not apply this until the former spouse had died. This assumption is, of course, a common and ancient one. I am merely pointing out that Paul could equally mean that they are free to remarry. And I argue that for a first century reader this is the more likely interpretation.
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Author: David Instone-Brewer
Keywords: Marriage, Divorce, Bill of divorcement, Certificate of divorce, Certificate of divorcement, Bill of divorce, any cause, Every cause, Divorce for any cause, Divorce of every cause, Rabbinic debate, Commits adultery, Continues to commit adultery, Remarriage, Divorcement, Exception clause, Except for fornication, Except for adultery, divorce and remarriage, divorce and marriage
Bible reference(s): 1 Cor. 7:15
Source: “Prof. David Instone-Brewer’s Response to My ‘Divorce and Remarriage-After-Divorce in Jesus and Paul’ and My Rejoinder,” May 2014.
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