Jesus and Divorce [Paperback]

Gordon Wenham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2000

Divorce and remarriage in the church have been subjects of debate and controversy for centuries. With conflicting messages coming from different branches of the church, many Christians are confused. Heth and Wenham explore the different schools of interpretation and present a fresh consideration of the various statements of Jesus and Paul, drawing on linguistic and contemporary cultural evidence. They closely criticize the view that allows remarriage after divorce on the grounds of immorality, widely held by evangelicals today. Instead the authors turn to the Early Church, which permitted divorce but not remarriage. Written with clarity and careful consideration, this book encourages us to apply the Bible's teachings to our lives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Challenges the view of marriage, divorce and remarriage that is held widely by today's Evangelical churches. Contains an analysis of the Church Fathers' beliefs through the first five centuries.

Well-researched, and thoroughly documented and supported. Provides an important contribution to the ongoing debate on divorce. Biblically and historically coherent.

About the Author

Professor Gordon Wenham works in the Department of Religious Studies at Cheltenham and Gloucester College. Dr. William A. Heth received his masters and doctoral degrees in New Testament Literature and Exegesis from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas and resides in Upland, Indiana where he teaches Greek and New Testament at Taylor University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Paternoster (December 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842271318
• ISBN-13: 978-1842271315
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars indispenable reference with so much confusion today, November 2, 2006

By 

kleytos "kleytos" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus and Divorce (Paperback)

David Engelsma, author of another book on marriage, writes, "In a scholarly work that ought to have had the effect of a bombshell on the playground of American evangelicalism, William A. Heth and Gordon J. Wenham showed that Jesus and the apostles teach marriage as an unbreakable bond for life."

Today there are nearly an innumerable number of books on the subject of divorce and remarriage. The church today has largely gone with a view penned by Erasmus at the time of the Renaissance, which allows for divorce and remarriage after adultery.

In this book, Wenham and Heth do a great service for the church. They argue forcefully for a view of marriage that is permanent, which thus prohibits remarriage after divorce, so long as the former spouse is living.

Wenham and Heth first survey the views of the church fathers, showing how different the view of the early church (no remarriage) was compared to the modern more permissive stance. They then give a very fair representation to the "Erasmian" view but proceed to show its flaws, clearly and systematically. They spend a great deal of time (several chapters) dissecting exactly what Matthew's exception clause, "except for sexual immorality" really means. They do so in a fair and evenhanded fashion.

The book is very technical at places, but the authors do a good job at trying to make it accessible for ordinary readers. After studying at Cambridge University, Wenham did his PhD on the book of Deuteronomy. He has written a number of fine scholarly books on the Old Testament. He also was a translator of the English Standard Version. Thus, he is an able guide to take the reader through the relevant biblical passages on this subject.

Don't be fooled by the modern views that allow for remarriage. This book will clearly show you why those views compromise the bible and Jesus' teachings.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book that needs to be seriously considered, July 29, 2003

By 

easternsemgrad "easternsemgrad" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus and Divorce (Paperback)

The authors review the history of the exegesis of the New Testament divorce texts, critique contemporary exegesis, and present their own. Quite comprehensive AND uncompromising (it is not uncommon these days for authors on a subject like this to bend the truth - sometimes unconsciously - in the name of compassion and have the effect - if not the intention - of enabling people to fulfill their sinful desires with a cleaner conscience; these authors are not guilty of this).
Cultural background is very fashionable these days. Yes, it does provide important insights, but it is not as determinative as some are inclined to think! Two things to keep in mind in this regard: 1) 2 Timothy 3:16 states that Scripture was inspired by God, not by the cultural enviroment; 2) It is impossible for any contemporary mortal to know for sure how something would have been understood 2,000 years ago (even with all the ancient literature and inscriptions that we have). This book is by serious scholars doing serious analysis (who do consider cultural background).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough review of biblical theology and history on Jesus' teaching on divorce, November 25, 2011

By 

Watchman on the Wall - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jesus and Divorce (Paperback)

For any born again Christian contemplating a divorce who takes Bible Scripture seriously, this book is a "must-read." Not for the faint of heart or light reading. The book reads like a seminary textbook and is a bit challenging to follow, but the authors' carefully researched and analyzed conclusions are clear and concise Moreover, in today's world of "anything goes as long as it makes you happy," the authors' conclusions ought to make any Christ-centered, Scripture-based follower of Christ think very carefully about dividing that which God has put together. Its findings are likely to challenge and provoke the reader to comprehend more thoroughly Gods' design for lifelong marriage between one man and one woman for life and why He designed it this way.

If you are seeking the truth of God's will concerning divorce, this is a valuable tool in that quest. If you are seeking to have a book tickle your ears with what you may want to hear, this book is likely to sorely disappoint you.