Is Divorce Ever Permissible for a Christian?
The Christian view of divorce starts with God’s original intention for marriage and then considers the tragic reality of sin and human brokenness.
1. The Divine Ideal: No Divorce
Jesus reinforced the Old Testament teaching that marriage is a permanent, exclusive union intended to reflect God’s own commitment to His people. When questioned about divorce, Jesus pointed back to creation:
“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9)
This passage establishes the high, divine ideal: divorce is contrary to God's original will.
2. The Biblical Exceptions (The "Divorce Clauses")
While the ideal is clear, Scripture provides two primary conditions—often called the "exceptions"—under which divorce may be permissible for a Christian, recognizing that the covenant has been fundamentally broken by one party.
A. The Exception of Sexual Immorality (The "Matthew Clause")
The first exception is given by Jesus Himself, acknowledging that a spouse's unfaithfulness breaks the "one flesh" bond.
“But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:32; see also Matthew 19:9)
Sexual Immorality (porneia): The Greek word used here, porneia, is a broad term that includes adultery, fornication, and various other forms of sexual sin. Most biblical scholars agree that this exception permits divorce when a spouse breaks the marriage covenant through serious sexual sin.
B. The Exception of Desertion by an Unbeliever (The "Pauline Privilege")
The Apostle Paul provided a second exception regarding marriages where one spouse becomes a Christian and the other does not (or remains an unbeliever).
“But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15)
Desertion: If an unbelieving spouse unilaterally chooses to leave the marriage because their partner is a Christian, the believing spouse is "not enslaved" (or bound) to remain in the marriage and is free to divorce. This is an allowance for the believer to pursue peace when their core commitment to Christ is the cause of the separation.
3. The Issue of Abuse (A Point of Consensus)
While not explicitly named as a cause for divorce in the biblical exceptions, most contemporary Christian ethicists and pastors widely agree that cases of physical, emotional, or severe verbal abuse fall under the umbrella of a covenant violation that justifies separation and, potentially, divorce.
Violating the Command to Love: Abuse violates the command to love one's neighbor and the husband's command to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). When one spouse actively seeks to harm the other, the foundational covenant of safety and love is broken, and divorce may be necessary for the safety of the victim and children.
Conclusion
For a Christian, divorce is never to be taken lightly and should always be pursued only after extensive counseling, prayer, and efforts at reconciliation. It is permitted only under the conditions where the covenant has been gravely violated by sexual immorality or willful desertion (including the functional desertion that occurs through abuse), recognizing that divorce, even when necessary, is a painful consequence of living in a fallen world.
