Matthew 5:31-32 (Divorce)

Jason Hare parousia_occ at yahoo.com
Thu Feb 24 04:32:32 EST 2000


<< The passage means that if the woman commits "prostitution" -- literally 
PORNEIA refers to prostitution, but it is possible that PORNEIA is here 
being used as a derogatory term of abuse for some activity other than 
prostitution.  >>

Don't you think that PORNEIA refers to sexual immorality of any kind?  I 
don't know that this deals only with prostitution.  PORNH may be a 
prostitute, but what of a PORNOS?  It is generally a "fornicater" or 
someone who is "sexually immoral."  Can not this be the same of a female... 
one who is a PORNH?  In not just "prostitution terms."

Jason Hare

On 02/23/00, "Steven Craig Miller <scmiller at www.plantnet.com>" wrote:
> To: Jason Hare,
> 
> =AB{31} ERREQH DE: hOS AN APOLUSHi THN GUNAIKA AUTOU, DOTW AUTHi APOSTASION.=
> =20
> {32} EGW DE LEGW hUMIN hOTI PAS hO APOLUWN THN GUNAIKA AUTOU PAREKTOS LOGOU=
> =20
> PORNEIAS POIEI AUTHN MOICEUQHNAI, KAI hOS EAN APOLELUMENHN GAMHSHi,=
>  MOICATAI.=BB
> 
> I would translate this passage as:
> 
> "31 And it was said: Whoever divorces his woman, let him give her a written=
> =20
> notice. 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his woman, except for=
> =20
> the reason of prostitution, forces her to live in adultery; and whoever=20
> marries a divorced woman lives in adultery" (Mt 5:31-32 MOT).
> 
> << Does this mean that the divorcee has been noted as committing adultery=20
> or the one divorcing her/him? Does it mean that if a man commits adultery,=
> =20
> he has the right to divorce his wife (for her sake) or that if she commits=
> =20
> adultery, he is free to divorce her. >>
> 
> The passage means that if the woman commits "prostitution" -- literally=20
> PORNEIA refers to prostitution, but it is possible that PORNEIA is here=20
> being used as a derogatory term of abuse for some activity other than=20
> prostitution -- the man will not cause her to live in adultery, presumably=
> =20
> because she is perceived to be already in a worse (or perhaps merely=20
> equivalent) state.
> 
> Matthew 5:31-32 should be compared to Mt 19:9, which I would translate as:
> 
> "And I say to you that whoever divorces his woman, except for prostitution,=
> =20
> and marries another lives in adultery" (Mt 19:9 MOT).
> 
> A number of participants would strongly disagree with various aspects of my=
> =20
> translation. If you will search the B-Greek archives you will find lively=20
> debates on this and related passages presenting a number of different=20
> interpretations.
> 
> -Steven Craig Miller
> Alton, Illinois (USA)
> scmiller at www.plantnet.com
> FWIW: I'm neither a clergy-person, nor an academic (and I have no post-grad=
> =20
> degrees).



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