Jesus and Divorce: The Problem With The Evangelical Consensus

[Ernie]

Someone recommend I read this book.

Jesus and Divorce: The Problem With The Evangelical Consensus
By Gordan J. Wenham and William E. Heth

The book is out of print but you can buy them online from used book sellers.

You may only post in this thread once you have read the preface, the introduction, and the first chapter and you are committed to finish reading the book.

This thread is for discussing this book. Not for promoting your alternative theory.

I hope some of you will join me.

[Ernie]

I'll post a few excerpts so that you know what the book is about.
 
An excerpt from the preface...

Our subject is an ever topical and sensitive one. Both of us were brought up in what we call the Erasmian tradition which holds that in certain circumstances both divorce and remarriage or are justified for Christians...

We are somewhat diffident about our attempt to defend the [early church] view because we realise that many of our readers will have been taught that the Erasmian approach is the only tenable one...

We would echo Wilberforce's pleas to the House of Commons when he introduced measures to abolish the slave trade:

"I only ask for their cool and impartial reason... I mean not to accuse anyone but to take the shame upon myself, in common indeed with the whole Parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty - we ought all to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others."

So we beg you to read what follows not simply as an interesting piece of theology, but prayerfully...

[Ernie]

From chapter 1

We like the early Fathers, have been conditioned by the environment in which we live. We should do what we can to overcome the limitations that possibly may be influencing our exegesis of the biblical text.
Now in beginning with the views of the early church, we are not attempting to suggest that their interpretation has final authority. Only Scripture deserves that honour... So unless a practice or doctrine can be demonstrated from the Bible itself, it should not bind the Christian conscience...

[JohnH]

For those who are looking for an online copy of the book, you can find it here:

https://annas-archive.org/md5/8a62938b7 ... 61858ef097

The "slow" and free download makes you wait 4 minutes.

[Ernie]

The book is a very scholarly one that looks at all possible views on a particular verse, passage, or proposition and the authors identify which of the views they think hold the most credibility. The authors will suggest which one(s) they think are probable but let the reader draw their own conclusions. I really like this way of writing.