What does the Bible say about if pastor gets a divorce and remarried?
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The Bible teaches that divorce is a grievous breaking of the marriage covenant, and remarriage after an unbiblical divorce may be sinful; therefore a divorced and remarried man should be examined carefully before serving as pastor. Jesus permits divorce on the ground of sexual immorality (Matthew 19:9), while Paul addresses abandonment by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15) and urges reconciliation where possible (1 Corinthians 7:10-11). Since overseers and elders must be above reproach and “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6), churches should ordinarily require a clear, faithful marital record. Yet Christ forgives repentant sinners, and each case requires wise, truthful pastoral judgment.
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- 1 Timothy 3:2
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
- Matthew 19:9
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."
- Titus 1:6
if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.
- Luke 16:18
Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
[10] But to the married I command--not I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband [11] (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
- Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
- Malachi 2:16
For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!' says Yahweh of Hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously.
- 1 Corinthians 7:15
Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
- 1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 3:12
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
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