Note: All Scripture quotations found in this article are from the text of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
Many Christians today believe that if a man has ever been divorced, then he cannot serve in the ministry. This is far from the truth and will be proven with scripture. There are three reasons in the Bible where divorce is allowed.
One reason for divorce is if the other party departs according to the below verse. It goes on to say that the innocent party is not under bondage, which means they can remarry and it not be a sin.
1 Corinthians 7:15 “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.”
Remarriage is also allowed if the other party dies. The Bible says that the living party is not bound.
1 Corinthians 7:39 “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.”
Divorce and remarriage is allowed if the other party commits fornication.
Matthew 19:9 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
According to the next verse, a Pastor has to be the husband of one wife, but it does not say that a Pastor cannot be divorced. The only way for one to think such a thing is to misinterpret or add words to the verse. This verse is speaking of polygamy.
1 Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
Many people say that if a divorced man remarries, then he has two living wives, which makes him a polygamist. This is no where to be found in the Bible. When a man gets a divorce, whether it be for adultery, abandonment or death, he has zero wives. If a man is divorced, then the woman he divorced is no longer his wife according to our law and God, who gave reasons that allow divorce, without bondage.
Remarried man whose first wife died = Qualified
Remarried man whose first wife committed adultery = Qualified
Remarried man whose first wife left = Qualified
In conclusion, 1 Timothy 3:2 does not say a Pastor cannot be divorced, rather it condemns polygamy and adultery. Scripture has given three reasons a person can get divorced and remarried without it being a sin. Finally, I want you to leave you with a thought. What is the definition of marriage according to Bible?
Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Matthew 19:5 “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
Ephesians 5:31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
Especially think about this verse…
1 Corinthians 6:16 “What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”
