Under What Condition Does God Permit Divorce in the New Testament?
1) Direct answer
Only one condition: fornication. The Lord permits putting away “except it be for fornication.” Outside of that, from the beginning it was not so.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Jesus said, “Moses suffered you to put away… but from the beginning it was not so… whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery” (Matthew 19:8–9; see also Matthew 5:32).
- The Bible shows what that exception looks like: Joseph, being espoused to Mary and not yet come together, “was minded to put her away privily,” thinking she had been unchaste before they joined (Matthew 1:18–20). That’s the very setting—betrothal/at the start, before consummation.
- Once joined, the Word says a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives (Romans 7:2–3). If she departs, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled; and the husband is not to put away his wife (1 Corinthians 7:10–11). If an unbeliever departs, the brother or sister is “not under bondage” to force the cohabitation, but this does not cancel the life‑bond (1 Corinthians 7:15 compared with 7:39).
3) Simple clarifying logic
- From the beginning God made them one flesh. You don’t break what God joined by later sin; you deal with it by repentance and forgiveness. That’s why Jesus did not say “except for adultery,” but “except for fornication”—uncleanness discovered at the start, which shows the union was not cleanly entered.
- So the only God‑given ground to put away is fornication discovered at the beginning. Otherwise, no divorce, and no remarriage while the spouse lives.
4) Reinforcing statement
Now notice, the Bible says it plainly. One exception—fornication at the start. Beyond that, remain as you are or be reconciled.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 1:E-44
The people knew He was a Prophet. They knew the sign of the Messiah which could come only through the prophet. John 1:44-51, "Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of Whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an I...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 6:E-17
The pure Gospel that was preached by Columba and his fellow workers spread over the whole of Scotland, turning it to God. It also overflowed into Ireland and over Northern Europe. His means of spreading the Gospel was one wherein perhaps twelve men under a leader would go into a new area and literally build a Gospel-- centered town. Amongst these twelve men would be carpenters, teachers, preachers, etc., all wonderfully versed in the Word and holy living. This little colony was enclosed by a wall. Soon this enclosu...
Marriage and Divorce
65-0221M §108
May we go in peace, happy, rejoicing, because the God of creation has showed us since the beginning, and has extended to us in our mess that we're in, His grace again in this last days. Oh, great and eternal God, how we thank You for it. And may our hearts be so happy that we'll never have another desire to sin against You. In Jesus' name. Amen. I love Him (Why shouldn't you love Him!) I love Him, Because He first loved me, And purchased my salvation On Calvary's tree. I say it now so the ministers will understand:...
All Things
62-1124E §52
It reminds me of an article I read not long ago (in closing). There was a man and his wife going to separate. They began fussing, spatting, quarreling at one another. They just couldn't get along. They couldn't hardly live in the same house together. So they decided to divorce, and they applied for the divorce. Then they made agreement they'd meet at the house, and would divide their things so it wouldn't have to go through the court. And they met in one room, and divided what was in that room; and the next room, d...
The Inter-veil
56-0121 §60
Notice, you put a new spirit. God has to give you a new spirit, or you couldn't even get along with Him. You can't get along with yourself, that old devil-spirit you had in you. So He's got to put a new spirit in you so you can get along with His Spirit. Amen. "I will put a new spirit in them. And I will put My Spirit in them," He said, after He has give you a new spirit; that's you. Don't get it confused with God's Spirit, it's not. It's your new spirit, so you can get along with the Holy Spirit if He ever gives i...