GUIDE TO THE BOOK
Marital crises! Divorce appropriateness! Remarriage decision!
Marriage, divorce and remarriage are topics which understanding impacts the life of every individual. The understanding may be formed through experience, trivial dialogue, informative reading and scientific research. The established view shapes every dimension of one’s life. The outcomes may be positive or negative. It is not the positive outcome which verifies the correctness of the viewpoint. But a correct viewpoint should lead to a content and productive lifestyle. This book endeavours to contribute to a formulation of an accurate understanding of the subjects of marriage, divorce and remarriage.
The book develops the topics of marriage, divorce and remarriage through several areas of research:
Methodological: establishes the most coherent method for analysis of the relevant texts through a combination of the narrative, historical and grammatical methods for critical analysis of the biblical texts.
- Narrative-critical approach: preserves the unity of the text.
- Historical-critical approach: keeps the text historically grounded.
- Grammatical-historical approach: takes in consideration all textual elements.
This combination of methods is defined as establishing to most holistic approach to the New Testament texts.
- Why are these methods chosen for dealing with the NT texts?
- What are the values of these methods?
- Why the established methodology is formed as a combination of these methods?
Conceptual: defines the conceptual framework – marriage as a covenant relationship.
- Covenant: it is an agreement between two parties to preserve and fulfil the convent stipulations.
- Contract: defines the nature of the covenant as contractual.
- Covenant and contract: Was there any difference between these two concepts within the context of marriage during biblical times?
Exegetical: analyses the most relevant texts to formulate the NT teaching on the subject.
- Mark 10:2–12 and Matt 19:3–12: how should one understand the exception clause (“except for unchastity”) in Matt 19:9 in light of its absence in Mark 10:2-12?
- Matt 5:31–32 and Luke 16:18: Did Matthew and Luke interpreted Jesus’ saying on divorce and remarriage differently due to their audiences?
- 1 Cor 7:12–16: How did Paul deal with Corinthians’ marital problems using Jesus’ tradition?
Ecumenical: examines the matrimonial teachings of the main Christian traditions dealing with their agreements and disagreements.
- Catholic view: Indissolubility of marriage in theory and practice.
- Orthodox view: Marital death providing divorce and remarriage grounds.
- Protestants views: Multiplicity of views all biblically argued.
- Is there agreement on the matters of marriage, divorce and remarriage between the main Christian traditions?
- May the disagreement between them be resolved?
Pragmatic: identifies the pluralistic context and applies the theological conclusions in real life.
- Covenant solutions for external marriage crises: May the covenant understanding of marriage resolve the marriage crises in the contemporary society?
- Covenant solutions for internal marriage crises: How does the covenant notion of marriage deal with the issues of domestic violence?
- Covenant solutions for Christian communities: May the covenant concept of marriage provide a solution of marital crises of Christians from all traditions and denominations?