The Bible says that God hates divorce and abusive husbands (Malachi 2:16). However, the New Testament mentions two specific circumstances where divorce is allowed. In Matthew 19 the religious leaders asked Jesus if it was permissible for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus responded by saying, “What God has joined together, let man not separate.” The leaders in response mentioned the exception in Deuteronomy 24. Jesus replied, “I tell you that, except in the case of marital infidelity, he who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.”

Jesus used the Greek word “porneia” or fornication or sexual immorality. Some theologians say because he did not use the word “moicheia” or adultery, it means that the only reason for divorce is if it has been discovered that his spouse had sexual relations before marriage. That was the admissible reason for Joseph in Mary’s case (although she got pregnant by the power of God). In this case divorce is never allowed unless it is for unfaithfulness prior to marriage.

However, other theologians say that the word “porneia” includes adultery, so if a spouse is unfaithful to his marriage, he can divorce, as God divorced the people of Israel because of their unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 3:8). Other theologians allow divorce in cases of abuse. In any case, the greatest sin for God is adultery (Exodus 20:14). The seriousness of not getting divorced is reflected in the disciples’ words, “If such is the situation between husband and wife, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10).

The only other reason is given by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 7:15 when he says, “But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances: God has called us to live in peace.” This only applies to a believer who is married to an unbeliever. In this passage the goal of a believer is to win their spouse to Christ by their behavior (I Peter 3: 1). 

These difficulties would be avoided if a believer did not marry an unbeliever. God’s word says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. What fellowship ccan light have with darkness? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (II Corinthians 6:14)