There has been a discussion on one of the groups of which I am a member about those who are departing from “the faith.” 1 Timothy 4:1. Some doctrinal issues have been discussed such as the 70 AD doctrine, divorce, premillennialism, and some others. One point was made about “Bible Scholars Disagree.” Their point was, “how can one know the truth if such knowledgeable people cannot understand these issues.” My first reaction was, “how can one be judged by the word of God if we cannot understand the word of God?” Jesus said, “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” According to John 16:13, the Father and the Son told the Holy Spirit to tell Paul to write to the Ephesians, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)…” Ephesians 3:3-4.
Bible Scholars disagree on the reason for divorce. This was true during the time of Moses. In Matthew 19, the Pharisees came to Jesus tempting him and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife FOR EVERY CAUSE.?” What does Jesus do? He goes back to “the beginning” and not to the Law of Moses. Verses 4, 8. Then inverse 9, Jesus gives the only exception, “except it be for fornication….” The Greek word porneia (πορνεία) means “prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse” [BAGD, p. 693]; “ properly of illicit sexual intercourse in general” [Thayer,p. 532] “originally meant ‘prostitution,’ ‘fornication,’ but came to be applied to unlawful sexual intercourse generally.” [Moulton & Milligan, p. 529] “fornication, whoredom, concubinage, adultery, lewdness, uncleanness, put symbolically for idolatry” [Moulton, Harold K., p. 337]. It is translated in the KJV as “fornication” 26 times. Strong says, “1 illicit sexual intercourse. 1A adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 1B sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18. 1C sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11, 12. 2 metaph. the worship of idols. 2A of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols.” This is the only exception given for divorce according to Jesus. If “Bible Scholars” say something else, they disagree with the Son of God, our Savior, and Judge!
Bible Scholars disagree on Matthew 5:28 where Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Some use this verse to say that pornography (literature/films) would be a cause for divorce. The Greek word for “adultery” here is μοιχεύω and it means, “to commit adultery with, have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife….” (Thayer, p. 418). There is a distinction between porneia (fornication) and moicheia (adultery). It lies in the fact that moicheia is the specific act of illicit, unlawful sexual activity between a married man and a woman, not his wife or between a married woman and a man, not her husband. Porneia is all inclusive of every kind of sexual immorality. Pornography would fall under the word aselgeia (ἀσέλγεια) as found in Mark 7:22. “Thayer states that is, “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence:…” (p. 79). “Ἀσέλγειαis thus a comprehensive expression for evil and perversion. It is one of the vices that destroy an individual from within (Mark 7:22)…4).” (Balz, Horst; Schneider, Gerhard, p. 169). The use of pornography certainly can constitute “adultery” in the heart. It should also be said that masturbation would also be considered under the term “lasciviousness.” This practice cannot be indulged without thoughts of sensuality or “lasciviousness.” It is a self-centered and enslaving practice. Oral sex would be considered under the term “porneia” because it involves unlawful sexual activity/behavior.
It is amazing how that some members of the church are looking for something that the Bible does not say! “Bible Scholars,” say many things that cannot be found in the Word of God. Would one believe all that they say or just some of the things they say that the people want to hear? Total Depravity, i.e. born a sinner, is held by “Bible Scholars.” “Bible Scholars” believe baptism can be sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. “Bible Scholars” believe that you can give a woman a microphone to participate in a “praise team” or preach a sermon and she has not violated 1 Timothy 2:12.
Let us hear and follow the word of God, which will judge us in the last day. John12:47-48. Bobby D. Gayton