Study Reformed

24.1. Of Marriage and Divorce

Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband; at the same time.

Proof texts

Gen. 2:24 — [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Matt. 19:5, 6 — [5] and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? [6] So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Prov. 2:17 — [17] who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;

For discussion

The Assembly cited Gen. 2:24 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q70 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q71 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q70 · WSC Q71 · WLC Q137 · WLC Q138 · WLC Q139 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): Marriage is an ordinance of God, designed for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the honourable propagation of the human race, and for other important purposes connected with the comfort and improvement of the species. It jyas instituted before the entrance of sin, and must, therefore, be a holy ordinance, and no hindrance to men in the service of God. The Lord saw that "it was not good for Adam," even in Paradise, " to be alone," and that " there was no help meet for him" to be found among all the other creatures. He was therefore pleased to form the woman from his side, as " bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh," and…

24.2. Of Marriage and Divorce

Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the Church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness.

Proof texts

Gen. 2:18 — [18] Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Mal. 2:15 — [15] Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
1 Cor. 7:2, 9 — [2] But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. [9] But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

For discussion

The Assembly cited Gen. 2:18 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q70 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q71 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q70 · WSC Q71 · WLC Q137 · WLC Q138 · WLC Q139 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 25.1 · 1689 25.2 · 1689 25.3 · 1689 25.4 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 25.1 · SD 25.2 · SD 25.3 · SD 25.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): Marriage is an ordinance of God, designed for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the honourable propagation of the human race, and for other important purposes connected with the comfort and improvement of the species. It jyas instituted before the entrance of sin, and must, therefore, be a holy ordinance, and no hindrance to men in the service of God. The Lord saw that "it was not good for Adam," even in Paradise, " to be alone," and that " there was no help meet for him" to be found among all the other creatures. He was therefore pleased to form the woman from his side, as " bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh," and…

24.3. Of Marriage and Divorce

It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet is it the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord: and therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.

Proof texts

Heb. 13:4 — [4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
1 Tim. 4:3 — [3] who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
1 Cor. 7:36, 37, 38 — [36] If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry — it is no sin. [37] But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. [38] So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
Gen. 24:57, 58 — [57] They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” [58] And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”
1 Cor. 7:39 — [39] A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
Gen. 34:14 — [14] They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
Exod. 34:16 — [16] and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.
Deut. 7:3, 4 — [3] You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, [4] for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.
1 Kings 11:4 — [4] For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Neh. 13:25, 26, 27 — [25] And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. [26] Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. [27] Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”
Mal. 2:11, 12 — [11] Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. [12] May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
2 Cor. 6:14 — [14] Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

For discussion

The Assembly cited Heb. 13:4 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
12 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q71 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WLC Q139 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q71 · WLC Q139 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 25.1 · 1689 25.2 · 1689 25.3 · 1689 25.4 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 25.1 · SD 25.2 · SD 25.3 · SD 25.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

24.4. Of Marriage and Divorce

Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden by the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife. The man may not marry any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own; nor the woman of her husband’s kindred nearer in blood than of her own.

Proof texts

Lev. 18 — [1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. [3] You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. [4] You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. [5] You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. [6] “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD. [7] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. [8] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness. [9] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. [10] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. [11] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister. [12] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative. [13] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's relative. [14] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. [15] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. [16] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness. [17] You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. [18] And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive. [19] “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. [20] And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. [21] You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. [22] You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. [23] And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion. [24] “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, [25] and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. [26] But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you [27] (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), [28] lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. [29] For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. [30] So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.”
1 Cor. 5:1 — [1] It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
Amos 2:7 — [7] those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;
Mark 6:18 — [18] For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”
Lev. 18:24, 25, 26, 27, 28 — [24] “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, [25] and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. [26] But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you [27] (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), [28] lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
Lev. 20:19, 20, 21 — [19] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to make naked one's relative; they shall bear their iniquity. [20] If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. [21] If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.

For discussion

The Assembly cited Lev. 18 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q71 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WLC Q139 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q71 · WLC Q139 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 25.1 · 1689 25.2 · 1689 25.3 · 1689 25.4 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 25.1 · SD 25.2 · SD 25.3 · SD 25.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In the Mosaic law marriage was expressly forbidden within certain degrees of consanguinity or affinity (Lev. xviii.); and by the laws of our country the prohibition is extended to the same degrees. Marriages contracted within these degrees are in themselves justly deemed invalid, and may properly be dissolved. Moses permitted the Jews, " because of the hardness of their hearts," to put away their wives, to prevent greater evils; but in the ^'ew Testament a divorce is only permitted in case of adultery, or of wilful and obstinate desertion. There can be no question that adultery is a just ground for " the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and, after the divorce, to raarry another, as if the…

24.5. Of Marriage and Divorce

Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce: and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.

Proof texts

Matt. 1:18, 19, 20 — [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. [20] But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 5:31, 32 — [31] “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ [32] But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matt. 19:9 — [9] And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Rom. 7:2, 3 — [2] For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. [3] Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

For discussion

The Assembly cited Matt. 1:18, 19, 20 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
BC 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
BC 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 25.1 · 1689 25.2 · 1689 25.3 · 1689 25.4 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 25.1 · SD 25.2 · SD 25.3 · SD 25.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In the Mosaic law marriage was expressly forbidden within certain degrees of consanguinity or affinity (Lev. xviii.); and by the laws of our country the prohibition is extended to the same degrees. Marriages contracted within these degrees are in themselves justly deemed invalid, and may properly be dissolved. Moses permitted the Jews, " because of the hardness of their hearts," to put away their wives, to prevent greater evils; but in the ^'ew Testament a divorce is only permitted in case of adultery, or of wilful and obstinate desertion. There can be no question that adultery is a just ground for " the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and, after the divorce, to raarry another, as if the…

24.6. Of Marriage and Divorce

Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage: yet nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage: wherein, a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it not left to their own wills and discretion, in their own case.

Proof texts

Matt. 19:8, 9 — [8] He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. [9] And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
1 Cor. 7:15 — [15] But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
Matt. 19:6 — [6] So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Deut. 24:1, 2, 3, 4 — [1] “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, [2] and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, [3] and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, [4] then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

For discussion

The Assembly cited Matt. 19:8, 9 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
BC 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
BC 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 25.1 · 1689 25.2 · 1689 25.3 · 1689 25.4 · SC60 8.1 · IAR 6.12 · SHC 10.1 · SHC 10.2 · SD 25.1 · SD 25.2 · SD 25.3 · SD 25.4

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the divine law of marriage as to incest and as to divorce. 1st. Incest consists of sexual intercourse between parties forbidden by the divine law to marry, because of their relationship. Marriage between these parties is impossible; and no matter what may be the provisions of human laws or the decisions of human courts, such pretended marriages are void ab initio — invalid in essence as well as improper and injurious. Since the degrees of relationship within which marriage is excluded differ in nearness, so the crime of incest differs, according to these varying degrees, from the highest to the least measure of criminality. The obligation to avoid intermarriage between near blood-relations is a dictate of nature…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): In the Mosaic law marriage was expressly forbidden within certain degrees of consanguinity or affinity (Lev. xviii.); and by the laws of our country the prohibition is extended to the same degrees. Marriages contracted within these degrees are in themselves justly deemed invalid, and may properly be dissolved. Moses permitted the Jews, " because of the hardness of their hearts," to put away their wives, to prevent greater evils; but in the ^'ew Testament a divorce is only permitted in case of adultery, or of wilful and obstinate desertion. There can be no question that adultery is a just ground for " the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and, after the divorce, to raarry another, as if the…