And Marries Another
Craig Keener's careful exegetical study emerged from the pressing pastoral reality that evangelical churches faced conflicting biblical interpretations on divorce and remarriage. Writing in 1991, Keener sought to move beyond the polarized positions that had hardened around either absolute prohibition or broad permissiveness, offering instead a thorough examination of what the New Testament actually teaches about marriage dissolution and subsequent unions.
Keener methodically examines each relevant New Testament passage, beginning with Jesus's teachings in the Gospels and extending through Paul's instructions to the Corinthians. He argues that Jesus's words about divorce must be understood within their first-century Jewish context, where the debate centered not on whether divorce was permissible but on what grounds justified it. Keener contends that Jesus permitted divorce in cases of sexual immorality while generally upholding the permanence of marriage as God's ideal. He then demonstrates that Paul's teaching allows for divorce when an unbelieving spouse abandons the marriage, but maintains that these exceptions do not diminish the fundamental call to marital faithfulness. Throughout, Keener insists that the New Testament's primary concern is not legalistic rule-making but the restoration of God's original design for marriage as a covenant relationship.
The work has remained influential in evangelical circles because it provides careful biblical scholarship without abandoning orthodox commitments to scriptural authority. Keener's balanced approach has helped pastors and church leaders navigate difficult pastoral situations while maintaining theological integrity. The book continues to be cited in contemporary debates about marriage and serves as a model for how rigorous exegesis can inform pastoral practice.
Pastors, biblical scholars, and serious students of New Testament ethics should read this work, particularly those wrestling with how to apply biblical teaching to complex marital situations. This is not intended for casual readers seeking simple answers, but for those willing to engage seriously with both the complexity of biblical interpretation and the weight of pastoral responsibility.