Indissolubility of marriage: An exegetical reading of Matt 5:31-32 cum its theological and pastoral implications

Mathew Bomki Laghai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Does Jesus Christ approve of divorce in Matt 5 :31-32? From a surface reading, a non-expert may say, “Yes”, but from an exegetical point of view,it is a radical “No” according to the author. Is πορνεία “adultery”, as the term is translated in many Bibles ? Not at all according to the author who uses the latest and most updated Biblical findings as well as a rigorous exegetical analysis of Matt 5 :31-32 to show that πορνεία has to mean“illicit marital union”. In illicit marital unions, such as the “incestuous marriage” which was sometimes the case among the Gentiles (Acts 15 :20), there is no marriage at all. “Divorce” is “possible”, then, only because a “marriage” has never existed. Hence, for the author, the indissolubility of marriage is therefore God’s original plan (Gen 2 :24; Mk 10 : 8).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)31-46
Number of pages15
JournalKanien
Volume9
Issue number1-2
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • divorce
  • adultery
  • marriage
  • indissolubility
  • law
  • mercy

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