Divorce

Rating:
Summary: Intense
Review: Mr Murray's text is often quoted by others, which may serve as a recommendation in itself, but it is particularly intense and so other writers often take the opportunity of explaining it to mere mortals such as you and I. He takes the view that Deuteronomy 24 describes divorce rather than instituting it, and goes on to give the standard line that Jesus allowed divorce and remarriage for cases of sexual immorality. In other instances he regards the divorce as ineffective, and so remarriage is adultery. On the one hand he says that Jesus did not abrogate the Old Testament law, but on the other hand he says that Christ changed the penalty for adultery from death to divorce. This latter position is not consistent with the former and the idea that the law skirts around divorce without properly legislating on it is a strange view to entertain.

Rating:
Summary: Exegetical - Sound - Insightful
Review: The question of divorce and remarriage regularly comes up in pastoral counseling and local church ministry. With the growning divorce rate, the church is being forced to deal with divorce and remarriage more and more. Sound and clear Biblical thinking is required. This book by John Murray is both. This work is technical, written to deal with the original languages and does not avoid dealing with the hardest of questions concerning divorce and remarriage. It is not a quick read - it takes time and reflection - but it is worth every once of effort. As a supplement work - an more popularly written also consult Jay E. Adams' work "Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage." Murray's work covers the exegetical problems, while Adams' work is more pastoral. The two together will equip the reader with great insight and Biblical knowledge to counsel members of the congregation.