I’ve tried to fix using Roman numerals. Please let me know whether I’ve managed to outfox Biblefox.

Some of your links(scripture-titled links) in this series are sending me to biblefox verses rather then the post.:)

Thank you very much for clearing up my misunderstanding.

Blessings,
Rich

Romans … 1 Corinthians. Same difference. I mean, they're right next to each other!

Sorry. On the road working on an itty bitty netbook during breaks, exegeting from memory. Let's see …

(Rom 7:1-3) Do you not know, brothers–for I am speaking to men who know the law–that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

I didn't deal with this in the book because it's just such a non-argument on MDR.

Paul is not discussing MDR but grace. MDR is just an example and so he is speaking in general terms only.

He says that ”a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive" — so there are no grounds for divorce at all? Some say so. They are plainly mistaken for reasons argued in this "MDR" series.

He then says that "if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress." Again, if she hasn't been divorced, this is unquestionably true. But everyone (nearly) agrees that there are grounds for divorce. Plainly, Paul means "unless she is divorced."

Now, we can and do argue about what constitutes a valid divorce, but we agree that if she is truly divorced, she can remarry — at least in some circumstances.

Now, some argue that no one who is divorced can every remarry, even if divorced for fornication, and they rely on this verse — which is mistaken but at least consistent with what is said here (but not with what is meant and not with other passages).

Those who believe that at least some divorces permit remarriage (nearly all think this) see divorce or some divorces as an implicit exception. And you can't argue from this passage that my view of what are good grounds for a divorce are better than your view. Those come from other passages, which is where the argument should be made.

Thank you for the reply, however, it appears that you analyzed the application of 1 Cor 7:1-3 to MDR, whereas, my question concerns Romans 7:1-3.

If possible, I would appreciate your thoughts on the application of Romans 7:1-3.

Thank you and Blessings,
Rich

(1 Cor 7:1-3) Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Do people actually use this in defense of the traditional view of MDR? If so, it’s a desperate argument. Let’s see …

V. 1 is consistent with the theme of the chapter, which is times are tough and it’s better not to marry. Recent scholarship argues that this is due to drought and other local conditions. I think that’s from After Paul Left Rome, but I’m away from my library so I may remember wrong.

V 2 is simply a statement, consistent with later verses, that you should marry if necessary to avoid immorality. And it’s a teaching on monogamy (Following Matt 19, I think).

V. 3 follows long-standing rabbinic teaching based on Ex 21:10 — husbands and wives must not deny “marital rights” to one another.

So, yes, spouses should be faithful to each other and Paul opposes polygamy (by implication). But he speaks very specifically on divorce later in the chapter, and we should let him speak for himself.

Your study on MDR has been very educational for me and is EXCELLENT!

If possible, I would appreciate your thoughts on the application of Romans 7:1-3 to MDR, as I have read elsewhere that it is just another proof text whcih forbids remarriage.

Blessings,
Rich

Anyone who will spend years traveling from church to church preaching the gospel of grace and the indwelling of the Spirit is a hero.