Early Church Fathers on Divorce and Remarriage

 

The following article is to help people see through the lies of the   anabaptist theology on divorce and remarriage. As a general rule; anabaptists teach a unbiblical one marriage for life doctrine (marriage permanence) and NO remarriage ever under any circumstance until the partner is dead. We are all for one marriage for life but; sin has corrupted much and our gracious God made allowances for it or; we all would be dead!

Note: The anabaptists also teach that pre conversion divorce and remarriage is ALWAYS sinful and that is refuted in my links at the end of this article. In those articles I show both in holy scripture and in men like Menno Simmons who did NOT teach as they do today; as  he allowed for pre conversion divorce or remarriage based on the NEW creation 2 Cor 5:17   

Back to early church fathers:

The anabaptist's today will often say that the most all of the early church fathers agree with them on marriage permanence and NO remarriage ever is allowed. I am here to tell you that what they say; it is a lie! I am about to show you a snap shot view of various early church fathers beliefs that had varied views and there was no wide spread agreement at all in on one direction on marriage. 

For the record, I am only showing you these ECF men to prove to you the anabaptists error. I do not lift up these men or go by their teachings as often they were into heresy. Jesus commanded I go by holy scripture in Matthew 4:4 and I cling to that in my walk, not other uninspired men. 

Below I will list some ECF bullet points and I encourage you to do your own research. These blurbs will show you the ECF men were all over the map on divorce and even on theology. I have the citations and books referenced for myself but; I want you to go and do your own research on this; if you are that interested.

Lets move on to some ECF men and their teachings.

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Hermas 125

This ECF writer was said to believe in divorce due to fornication but in order to allow repentance, the man should not remarry. He never says it would be sinful to remarry after fornication. He also in heresy believed in angels visiting him and you could only repent once after baptism.   

Athenagoras 133 to 190

He wrongly believed even after death of a spouse to remarry was adultery. He also (in a weird idea) believed sex was NEVER to be enjoyed and it was only for procreation. 

 Clement of Alexandria 135 to 215 

He said to remarry while a spouse lives was not a sin per the Apostle but; it was better then to burn with lust. 

Tertulian 155 to 220

He believed that fornication rightly dissolved the marriage and you could remarry. He also taught woman (who either are widows or divorced) should remarry only in the Lord. He also allowed for pre conversion marriages under the NEW creation in Christ. To show you the confusion of ECF's; later he went into strange beliefs (montanist) and believed even widows could NOT ever remarry. 

Origen 185 to 253

He mentions other church leaders allowing remarriage while a partner lives and he may not have liked it but; he says it was profitable as compared to other worse things. Note: Origen also spoke about fornication dissolving he marriage union and how God divorced Israel and remarrying the Gentiles

Irenaeus 185

This ECF wrote against divorce but many believe he was only against wrongful divorce not so much biblical divorce. He was not clear on remarriage  

Lactantius 240 to 320

He taught that adultery breaks the marriage bond and a man could remarry after the happened. 

John Chrysostom 344 

He was totally against remarried after divorce and called for celibacy

Ambrosiaster 366

He was totally for the man to remarry after fornication then divorce and he allowed remarriage after abandonment


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Clearly the ECF's are NOT unanimous on marriage at all.

Keep in mind if you want to hang your theology hat on these ECF men; they were the ones that eventually took the world closer into heretical Roman Catholic ways via Bishops ruling in big regions, baby baptism, mystical Lords supper theology, clergy control, pagan holidays, building centered ritual religion and many other unbiblical ways. 

Apostle Paul warned when he left wolves would come in and they did!

For I know this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29

Today; be warned of the great danger of anabaptists of that will destroy godly marriages over pre conversion issues and counsel you to divorce and go back to old spouses.  God called that an abomination in Deut 24 / Yet these anabaptists; they themselves live in great sin and hypocrisy on going via their many false ways. Do not hearken to their false teachings/traditions of men.

Note: We also have no evidence (major writings of anyone in the early church) people ever denied entrance into the Lords body via pre conversion divorce and remarriage issues. Nor do we see instruction to put away second marriages; once you are in the Lord as modern anabaptists do teach. (Tertulian and Menno allowed for it)   

We would all be better served eternally by sticking to the holy scriptures and not these obviously untrustworthy often unbiblical men. I myself need only the scriptures to clearly show me that:

* God does want marriage to last a life time but; sin has come in.

* God Himself called for divorces (see Ezra 10)  

*God allowed divorce with Moses see (Deut 24)

*God divorced Israel, twice (Jer 3)  

*Jesus allowed for divorce/remarriage over fornication (Matt 19)  

*Paul allowed for preconversion divorce / remarried saints and for divorce on biblical grounds (fornication) as well as some remarriage. (see agamos 1 Cor 7) 

I encourage you to be studied to be approved and rightly divide for truth always. Unless you do that; surely you will be deceived. 

See my many articles to help you in the Lords truth here vs the  heretical home wrecking anabaptist's of today:

http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/search/label/Divorce%20and%20Remarriage

See anabaptist's exposed here with many articles: 

http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/search/label/Anabaptist%27s%20Exposed

See the gospel below and test yourself will you? 

God be praised

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Here is the biblical gospel:


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