What does the Bible say about divorce and remarry?

Marriage was the first institution established by God in the book of Genesis, chapter 2. It is a holy covenant that symbolizes the relationship between Christ and his Bride or the Body of Christ.

Most Bible-based Christian faiths teach that divorce should only be viewed as a last resort after any possible effort towards reconciliation has failed. Just as the Bible teaches us to enter marriage carefully and reverently, divorce must be avoided at all costs. Honoring and respecting marriage vows brings honor and glory to God.

Different positions on the problem
Unfortunately, divorce and new marriage are widespread realities in the body of Christ today. In general, Christians tend to fall into one of four positions on this controversial issue:

No divorce - no new marriage: marriage is an alliance agreement, designed for life, so it must not be broken under any circumstances; the new marriage further violates the covenant and is therefore not allowed.
Divorce - but do not remarry: divorce, although not the desire of God, is sometimes the only alternative when all else has failed. The divorced person must remain unmarried for life thereafter.
Divorce - but remarrying only in certain situations: divorce, although not the desire for God, is sometimes inevitable. If the reasons for the divorce are biblical, the divorced person can remarry, but only for a believer.
Divorce - Remarry: Divorce, although it is not God's desire, is not unforgivable sin. Regardless of the circumstances, all divorced people who have repented should be forgiven and allowed to remarry.
What does the Bible say?
The following study attempts to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about divorce and new marriage between Christians from a biblical perspective. We would like to thank Pastor Ben Reid of True Oak Fellowship and Pastor Danny Hodges of Calvary Chapel in St. Petersburg, whose teachings have inspired and influenced these interpretations of the scriptures related to divorce and new marriage.

Q1 - I am a Christian, but my spouse is not. Do I have to divorce my unbelieving spouse and try to find a believer to marry? No. If your unbelieving spouse wants to marry you, stay true to your marriage. Your unsaved spouse needs your continued Christian testimony and could probably be defeated to Christ by your divine example.
1 Corinthians 7: 12-13
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. (NIV)
1 Peter 3: 1-2 Le
wives likewise submit to your husbands so that if any of them don't believe the word, they can be conquered without words by the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your life. (NIV)
Q2 - I am a Christian, but my spouse, who is not a believer, left me and filed for divorce. What should I do? If possible, try to restore the marriage. If reconciliation is not possible, you are not obliged to stay in this marriage.
1 Corinthians 7: 15-16
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do it. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, if you save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, if you save your wife? (NIV)

Q3 - What are the biblical reasons or reasons for divorce? The Bible suggests that "marital infidelity" is the only scriptural reason that guarantees God's permission for divorce and new marriage. There are many different interpretations among Christian teachings regarding the exact definition of "marital infidelity". The Greek word for marital infidelity found in Matthew 5:32 and 19: 9 translates to any form of sexual immorality including adultery, prostitution, fornication, pornography and incest. Since sexual union is such a crucial part of the marriage covenant, breaking that bond seems to be an acceptable biblical reason for divorce.
Matthew 5:32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, apart from marital infidelity, makes her become an adulteress, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (NIV)
Matthew 19: 9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, apart from marital infidelity, and marries another woman commits adultery. (NIV)
Q4 - I divorced my spouse for reasons that don't have a biblical basis. None of us have remarried. What should I do to show repentance and obedience to the Word of God? If possible, seek reconciliation and reunite with your ex-spouse.
1 Corinthians 7: 10-11
I give the spouses this command (not me, but the Lord): a wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain celibate or reconcile with her husband. And a husband doesn't have to divorce his wife. (NIV)
Q5 - I divorced my spouse for reasons that don't have a biblical basis. Reconciliation is no longer possible because one of us has remarried. What should I do to show repentance and obedience to the Word of God? Although divorce is serious in God's opinion (Malachi 2:16), it is not unforgivable sin. If you confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness, you are forgiven (1 John 1: 9) and you can go on with your life. If you can confess your sin to your ex-spouse and ask for forgiveness without causing further harm, you should try to do so. From this point forward you should strive to honor the Word of God relating to marriage. So if your consciousness allows you to remarry, you should do it with care and reverence when the time comes. Marry only one fellow believer. If your conscience tells you to stay single, then stay single.

Q6 - I didn't want a divorce, but my ex-spouse involuntarily forced it on me. Reconciliation is no longer possible due to mitigating circumstances. Does this mean that I can't get married again in the future? In most cases, both parties are responsible for the divorce. However, in this situation, you are biblically considered the "innocent" spouse. You are free to remarry, but you should do it carefully and reverently when the time comes, and marry only a fellow believer. In this case the principles taught in 1 Corinthians 7:15, Matthew 5: 31-32 and 19: 9 apply.
Q7 - I divorced my spouse for non-biblical reasons and / or remarried before I became a Christian. What does this mean for me? When you become a Christian, your past sins are blotted out and you get a fresh start. Regardless of your marital history, before you are saved, receive God's forgiveness and purification. From this point forward, you should strive to honor the Word of God relating to marriage.
2 Corinthians 5: 17-18
Therefore, if someone is in Christ, it is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has arrived! All this comes from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (NIV)
D8 - My spouse has committed adultery (or another form of sexual immorality). According to Matthew 5:32, I have reason to divorce. Do I have to get divorced because I can? One way to consider this question would be to think of all the ways in which we, as followers of Christ, commit spiritual adultery against God, through sin, abandonment, idolatry and apathy. But God does not abandon us. His heart is always to forgive and reconcile with him when we go back and repent of our sin. We can extend this same measure of grace to a spouse when they have been unfaithful, yet have come to a place of repentance. Marital infidelity is extremely devastating and painful. Trust takes time to rebuild. Give God plenty of time to work in a broken marriage and to work in the heart of each spouse before continuing with the divorce. Forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration of marriage honor God and testify of his extraordinary grace.
Colossians 3: 12-14
Since God has chosen you as the holy people he loves, you must put on sincere mercy, kindness, humility, sweetness and patience. You have to take mutual blame into account and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord has forgiven you, so you have to forgive others. And the most important item you need to wear is love. Love is what unites us all in perfect harmony. (NLT)

Note
These answers are simply intended as a guide for reflection and study. They are not offered as an alternative to biblical and divine counseling. If you have serious doubts or questions and are facing divorce or considering a new marriage, we recommend that you seek advice from your pastor or a Christian counselor. Furthermore, it is certain that many will disagree with the views expressed in this study and therefore readers should examine the Bible on their own, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost and follow their conscience on the matter.