Expert: Joe Norman - 2/3/2009

Question
Joe...I have read all of your comments on this subject and agree 100%. My question is can you provide web sites or other sources that have the same opinion as you do. I know there are other people out there, just don't know how to find them.

Answer
Hi Shane,

I have changed my position slightly just recently. After much more study, I no longer believe that "apoluo" never means full divorce. It's literal meaning is not divorce, but sometimes it seems pretty clear that the word is referring to full divorce. Here is one example:

Matt.19:7,8
7 They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. (ASV)

But I still do not believe Jesus' words about divorce and remarriage were directed to Christians nor do I believe He meant what many seem to think He meant.

I can clarify my understanding of what Jesus said and meant another time if you are interested, but for now, I will just focus on providing other sources that generally agree with me.

The best site I have found on divorce and remarriage that is run by a preacher of a church of Christ is called total health.

Here is the web address:

http://www.totalhealth.bz/index.htm

He has links to other sites that he thinks has beneficial information on divorce and remarriage. The man who runs the site is Robert Waters. He has become a friend of mine and I have learned much from him. He holds to the belief that "apoluo" never means full divorce. although I no longer agree with him on this point, I agree with him overall.

Divorcehope is not run by anyone in the church of Christ that I know of, but they hold the same view as Robert Waters - at least as far as I can tell. I have met others online who basically agree with me and/or Robert Waters but I do not have a list of sites that teach similarly on divorce and remarriage. I might do some searching to see what I find and make a list to refer others. I am aware of a man who is very knowledgeable and I believe he is a minister in the church of Christ as well. His name is Olan Hicks. His lessons and debates are online and I believe Robert Waters learned much from him, but differs with Hicks on just a few areas...one of which is the meaning of "apoluo".

Thank you for your kind words and I hope that I have helped you in some way. May God bless you!

In Christ, Joe Norman