And marries another : divorce and remarriage in the teaching of the New Testament

Once divorced, forever barred from church leadership--sometimes even from full fellowship. Isn't that what the plain sense of Scripture teaches? No, says Keener. In this compassionate and carefully documented study, he first explores how the early Christians would have understood the statements of Jesus and Paul on divorce and remarriage. Keener then builds a soundly scriptural view of divorce and remarriage--a view that reminds the church that all of its members are forgiven people. Table of Contents Preface WHY THE EMPHASIS ON CULTURE? HOW THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN The Introductory Question: The Relevance of this Book JESUS’ OTHER SAYINGS IN MATTHEW 5 EXAMPLE 1: ANGER AS MURDER EXAMPLE 2: LUST AS ADULTERY CONCLUSION Jesus on Divorce: Matthew 5:32 (“No Divorce, but...”) WHAT KIND OF SAYING IS THIS? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE EXCEPTION CLAUSE? CONCLUSION Jesus vs. the Pharisees: When Is Divorce Sinful? THE SCHOOLS OF HILLEL AND SHAMMAI GOD’S ULTIMATE PURPOSE: THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE WHY DID MOSES ALLOW DIVORCE? THE IMMORALITY EXCEPTION: TO ALLOW DIVORCE OR REMARRIAGE? “EUNUCHS FOR THE KINGDOM’S SAKE” CAN EITHER PARTY DIVORCE? CONCLUSION 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 DIVORCE IN ANTIQUITY THE SOURCE OF PAUL’S WISDOM THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DIVORCE THE SITUATION IN CORINTH: RELIGIOUSLY MIXED MARRIAGES “FOR THE CHILDREN’S SAKE” THE BELIEVER IS “NOT UNDER BONDAGE” BEING CONTENT WITH ONE’S SITUATION REMARRIAGE AND SIN CONCLUSION 1 Corinthians 7 and Marriage 1 CORINTHIANS 7 IN ITS CONTEXT SINGLENESS AND CELIBACY IN GRECO-ROMAN THOUGHT MARRIAGE AS NECESSITY IN EARLY JUDAISM SINGLENESS AND ABSTINENCE IN EARLY JUDAISM PAUL’S ARGUMENT IN 1 CORINTHIANS 7:1-7 CONCLUSION Can Ministers Be Remarried?— 1 Timothy 3:2 THE CONTEXT OF 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 A LIST OF QUALIFICATIONS “HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE” THE ONE-HUSBAND WIFE IN 1 TIMOTHY 5 THE ONE-HUSBAND IDEAL IN ANTIQUITY THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR LEADERSHIP WHAT SITUATION IS BEING ADDRESSED HERE? CONCLUSION Final Words WHAT ABOUT “OTHER EXCEPTIONS”? CONCLUSION INTERPRETATIONS OF MATTHEW’S LAW Appendix C: Glossary Abbreviations MODERN TEXTS ANCIENT LITERATURE EARLY CHRISTIAN AND OTHER EARLY JEWISH LITERATURE: OTHER GRECO-ROMAN LITERATURE: Endnotes NOTES TO PREFACE NOTES TO CHAPTER 1 NOTES TO CHAPTER 2 NOTES TO CHAPTER 3 NOTES TO CHAPTER 4 NOTES TO CHAPTER 5 NOTES TO CHAPTER 6 NOTES TO CHAPTER 7 NOTES TO CHAPTER 8 NOTES TO APPENDIX A NOTES TO APPENDIX B Bibliography of Sources Cited Index of Ancient Sources