| Subject: Divorce & Remarriage |
Author:
Theo Book
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Date Posted: 17:52:49 04/20/08 Sun
Author Host/IP: 79-188.187-72.tampabay.res.rr.com/72.187.188.79
The effect of "Xreematizw" on divorce and remarriage
MAN AND WOMAN ARE PART OF ONE ANOTHER:
"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." [Gen 2:23]
AND BECOME ONE IN A RELATIONSHIP WHICH IS CALLED "MATE:"
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." [Gen 2:24]
YOU ARE NO MORE TWO "FLESHES" SO DON'T THINK LIKE YOU ARE:
"And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 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? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." [Mat 19:4-6]
THE HEART IS THE SOURCE OF ADULTRY:
"Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:" [Mat 15:18-19]
IT WAS A "HEART CONDITION" THAT BROUGHT ABOUT DIVORCE IN THE BEGINNING
"He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so." [Mat 19:8]
HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH TWO MATES WHO ARE BOTH LIVING IS A "DEFILEMENT." IT DISQUALIFIES ONE TO RETURN TO A FORMER MATE.
"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife." 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
[Deu 24:1-4]
THE CRY OF "CHEAT" "CHEAT" RINGS THROUGHOUT THE LAND AS ONE MATE discovers that his/her treatment of his/her mate has driven that mate to the point of losing self-control, to express themselves in the evil of adultry. Let it be known, that person who refused his/her mate, the intimacy required in a marriage relationship, is as much a "cheater" as the mate that is driven by need, to commit adultry.
Each of you, male and female, has promised before God to serve as an outlet for the other, to love, and remove temptations of the world from the other. The marriage vow is "to have and to hold," not "to seduce and to promise, to not have and to withhold." Unless there is some medical reason for a woman to "withold" intimacy from her mate, she "cheats" on the vows by voiding their meaning, and places the relationship in jeopardy; for "she is the glory of the man" [I Cor 11:7]. And for a man to so treat his wife, is to place his relationship before God in jeopardy. For he must keep his vows before God, as "he is the image and glory of God [I Cor 11:7]."
"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God." [I Cor 11:7-12]
THE SECRET TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP IS TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD WITH ALL THE WARNINGS AND HELPS FOUND THEREIN.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." [Eph 4:31-32]
"TAKING ABUSE" IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD.
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." [I Pet 2:19-20]
OLD STANDARDS DO NOT RULE IN MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS
"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." [I Pet 2:25]
THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD IS ONE OF SUBJECTION, NOT WILFULNESS.
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." [I Pet 3:1-6]
"WOMEN ARE ALL ALIKE" - NOT!
Husbands are told to get to know who their wives really are; get to know them, their fears, their uncertainties, their concerns, their foibles and fancies. And love them for who they are, not for who you can change them to be. "According to knowledge" means get to know the real person. It is not a subtle reference to carnal knowledge as has been preached by so many ignorant preachers.
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." [I Pet 3:7-9]
SO WE UNDERSTAND that not only do adultry and fornication begin "in the heart," but divorce is also a "heart condition" being the product of "hardness of heart." A tender heart stands ready at all times to forgive, remembering how the blood of Jesus brought about the forgiveness which we have of God.
But there is another aspect that has been overlooked entirely whenever divorce and remarriage are the issues under discussion; and the other aspect is that of a warning from God himself, which becomes evident only through a word study of a pattern of warnings from God.
THERE IS A GREEK WORD "XREEMATIZW" MEANING "WARNED OF GOD"
A footnote concerning the use of the Greek word "Xreematizw" (Pronounced kreem-a-tids-zo) found at the bottom of the page of a reference to Heb 11:8 in the Greek Interlinear New Testament tells us "by God" must be understood to be part of the meaning, as "Xreematizw" always "references a divine communication."
Let us first examine a word closely related; "Xreematismos," which references the "content of what God makes known" in his responses to man's questions.
"God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith THE ANSWER OF GOD (Xreematismos) unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." [Rom 11:2-4]
Look now at how "Xreematizw" is used in scripture;
"And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; for he is meditating, or else perhaps he is PREPARING AN ANSWER (Xreematizw), or perhaps he is asleep, and is to be awakened." [I Kings 18:27][Sept]
"Thus said the Lord; stand in the court of the Lord's house, and thou shalt declare to all the Jews and to all that come to worship in the house of the Lord, all the words which I COMMANDED THEE TO SPEAK (Xreematizw) to them; abate not a word." [Jer 33:2][SEPT]
"Because of the iniquity which they wroughtin Israel and because they committed adultry with the wives of their fellow citizens, and spoke a word in my name which I did not COMMAND THEM TO SPEAK (Xreematizw), and I am witness, saith the Lord." [Jer 36:23]]SEPT]
"Thus speaks the Lord of Israel saying, write all the words which I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEE (Xreematizw) in a book." [Jer 37:2][SEPT]
We see that in the Old Testament "Xreematizw" was always used to reference a communication directly from God. Let us now examine its use in the New Testament to see if its meaning has changed, and to see how it is used in address to Christians today.
"And being WARNED OF GOD (Xreematizw) in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." [Mat 2:12]
"But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being WARNED OF GOD (Xreematizw) in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." [Mat 2:22-23]
"And it was REVEALED UNTO (Xreematizw) HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." [Luke 2:26]
"And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was WARNED FROM GOD (Xreematizw) by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee." [Acts 10:22]
"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were (CALLED OF GOD) (Xreematizw) Christians first in Antioch." [Acts 11:26]
I believe a concistant translation REQUIRES it to read "The disciples were CALLED OF GOD Chistians first in Antioch." He was warning them of a danger and a blessing; blessed in wearing the name of Christ, but a danger in being identified with the name "Christ" in a Christian hating world.
This is consistent with Isaiah's prophecy - "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." [Isa 62:2]
Look now at how the word is used elsewhere in the New Testament -
"...Moses was admonished (Xreematizw)of God..." [Heb 8:5]
"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that WARNED THEM (Xreematizw) (spake) on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that WARNS (Xreematizw) (speaketh) from heaven:" [Heb 12:25]
The final verse to consider is the one verse that ties the danger of divorce to a warning from God himself. I shall present the warning passage as it comed from God instead of as it passes through the hands of translators who ignore the significance of language. I offer an Interlinear translation for consideration.
"Are ye ignorant brothers, for to ones knowing law I speak, that the law rules over the man over such time as he lives? The woman married to the living husband has been bound by law. But if the husband dies, she has been discharged from the law of the husband. Therefore, while the husband lives, an adultress she will be (called) WARNED OF GOD (Xreematizw) if she becomes to a different husband. But, if dies the husband, she is free from the law, so that she is not to be an adultress, having become to a different husband." [Rom 7:1-4][Interlinear Translation]
The foregoing references Paul's application of the law of Moses to Jews who remarried; because Christians of today are not under Moses' law, nor are they to cater to hardness of heart. The question then becomes one of properly identifying the law of marriage as given by God to mankind, prior to Mosaic law; and THAT takes us back to Eden's garden and the references found at the beginning of this study.
It must be understood however, that Christians do not insist upon justice in this life, but mercy, both for self and others; even those against whom we may arguably have a righteous cause for vengeance. "Hardness of heart" has no place in a Christian's character; therefore, no "cause for divorce" based upon an Old Testament example.
"Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." [Heb 10:30] For this reason if for no other, we must forever stand ready, nay, stand eager to forgive those who trespass against us with evil. Perhaps they will accept with humility the judgment of God which is against them and repent of their evil; and walk as brethren before God once again.
Paul put it this way - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." [Gal 6:1-2]
So it is that a man with his wife, or a wife with her husband, should always seek opportunity to forgive, in order for us as the spouse of Christ, to emulate Christ who died for us.
As for the children of such a union, they are never a concern in the scriptural doctrines of divorce nor remarriage. They in fact are given no consideration whatsoever in a second marriage; because they were not considered in the first union, they cannot serve to excuse in a second union.
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