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The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Being Twice Married

Early Christian writings do not give one single rule on being twice married. Some writers, especially Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Hippolytus, and the Apostolic Constitutions, treat a second marriage as something that should limit church office or be viewed with suspicion, while others allow remarriage after a spouse dies and do not call it sin. The Bible passages most often used in this discussion are 1 Corinthians 7:39, Romans 7:2-3, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:9, and Mark 10:11-12.

So the early record is mixed: remarriage after death is often allowed, but second marriage is often discouraged for clergy and sometimes called sinful or adultery-like in strong ascetic writers.

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Key Passages

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How to Study Being Twice Married

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Scripture Map

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26 references

Supporting Passages

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Bible passage saying death ends the marriage bond

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Same teaching in shorter form

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Common passage for lawful remarriage after death

But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

Key Bible warning about younger widows

Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.

Widow list tied to being wife of one man

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Bible passage allowing younger widows to marry

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Bible passage for husband of one wife

And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Honour widows that are widows indeed.

Brief widow honor passage often paired with 1 Timothy 5

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

Used for remaining unmarried or reconciling after separation