Causes of Marriage Problems in the Bible and Modern Times

Marriage, divinely instituted at creation, is intended as a covenant relationship for the happiness of humanity, population increase, raising godly offspring, and preventing fornication ^{[1, 2]}. However, various factors, both ancient and modern, can lead to problems within this institution.

One significant cause of marital difficulty in biblical times was the departure from the original monogamous design. While marriage was instituted as a union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24), polygamy and concubinage became prevalent in the patriarchal age (Genesis 16:1-4; 22:21-24) ^{[1, 3]}. This deviation from the initial charter, later confirmed by Christ, introduced corrupt usages ^[3].

Divorce was another major source of marital strife and dissolution. The Mosaic law regulated divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), but it was often sought by Jews on "slight pretences" (Matthew 5:31; 19:3) ^{[4, 5]}. Christ, however, limited the permission for divorce to the single case of adultery (Matthew 19:9) ^{[1, 4]}. Augustine of Hippo emphasizes that while marriage binds individuals strongly, fornication is an exception that allows for divorce, because the unfaithful spouse "chose to be no longer wife in not preserving conjugal fidelity" ^{[9, 12]}. Other sins, such as unbelief, also have a special contrariety to the goods of marriage, though they do not necessarily dissolve the marriage tie itself once it is ratified ^[10].

Intermarriage with those outside the covenant community was a recurring problem in the Old Testament, as seen in passages like Ezra 9:1-2 and the prohibition in Exodus 34:16 against making covenants with the inhabitants of the land, lest their daughters lead one's sons astray ^[13]. This issue is echoed in the New Testament's admonition against being "unequally yoked" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) ^[13].

Beyond these specific biblical instances, other issues can contribute to marital problems. Thomas Aquinas discusses the "final cause" of marriage, distinguishing between its essential purpose (begetting children and avoiding fornication) and the accidental intentions of the parties involved ^[8]. If the accidental final cause is a "base motive," it can introduce problems ^[8].

In modern contexts, while the biblical principles remain, the understanding and application of divorce have evolved in some traditions. Charles Hodge, for instance, argues that death dissolves marriage because it is a "final separation," and he extends this concept to desertion, which he views similarly ^[11]. He distinguishes this from other issues like "incompatibility of temper, cruelty, disease, crime, insanity," which human laws might make grounds for divorce but are not necessarily inconsistent with the marriage relation itself ^[11].

The Bible also touches on the vulnerability of widows (Jeremiah 15:8) and the potential for younger widows to desire remarriage if they "grow wanton against Christ" (1 Timothy 5:11) ^{[6, 7]}. These passages highlight the social and personal challenges that could arise for individuals within the marital or post-marital state.

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divorce — The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Divorce — Law of marriage against -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:6. Permitted By the Mosaic law. -- De 24:1. On account of hardness of heart. -- Mt 19:8. Often sought by the Jews -- Mic 2:9; Mal 2:14. Sought on slight grounds -- Mt 5:31; 19:3. Not allowed to those who falsely accused their wives -- De 22:18,19. Women Could obtain. -- Pr 2:17; Mr 10:12. Could marry after. -- De 24:2. Responsible for vows after. -- Nu 30:9. Married after, could not return to first husband. -- De 24:3,4; Jer 3:1. Afflicted by. -- Isa 54:4,6. Priests not to marry women after -- Le 21:14. Of servants,”
Jeremiah “Jeremiah 15:8 (BBE) — I have let their widows be increased in number more than the sand of the seas: I have sent against them, against the mother and the young men, one who makes waste in the heat of the day, causing pain and fears to come on her suddenly.”
I Timothy “I Timothy 5:11 (Darby) — But younger widows decline; for when they grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement (Supplementum), Of the Object of the Consent, Art. 2: Article: Whether marriage can result from one person's consent to take another for a base motive? I answer that, The final cause of marriage may be taken as twofold, namely essential and accidental. The essential cause of marriage is the end to which it is by its very nature ordained, and this is always good, namely the begetting of children and the avoiding of fornication. But the accidental final cause thereof is that which the contracting parties intend as the result of marriage. And since that which”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XVI.--43. Here there arises a second question, when the Lord allows a wife to be put away for the cause of fornication, in what latitude of meaning fornication is to be understood in this passag (part 8): than that so great is the evil of fornication, that, while married people are bound to one another by so strong a 22 bond, this one cause of divorce is excepted; but as to what fornication is, that we have already discussed.[1]”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement (Supplementum), Of Disparity of Worship As an Impediment to Marriage, Art. 6: Article: Whether other sins dissolve marriage? I answer that, Bodily fornication and unbelief have a special contrariety to the goods of marriage, as stated above (Article [3]). Hence they are specially effective in dissolving marriages. Nevertheless it must be observed that marriage is dissolved in two ways. In one way as to the marriage tie, and thus marriage cannot be dissolved after it is ratified, neither by unbelief nor by adultery. But if it be not ratified, the tie is dis”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: Why does death dissolve a marriage? It is because it is a final separation. So is desertion. Incompatibility of temper, cruelty, disease, crime, insanity, etc., which human laws often make grounds of divorce, are not inconsistent with the marriage relation. A woman may have a disagreeable, a cruel, or a wicked husband, but a man in his grave, or one who refuses to recognize her as his wife, cannot be her husband. It is said, indeed, that this doctrine makes marriage depend on the option of the parties. Either may desert the other; and the”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER II. I-II. (part 2): cause of fornication. In His answer, if you remember, He said, "What God hath joined together let not man put asunder." [2] And they that are well instructed in the catholic faith know that God instituted marriage; and as the union of man and wife is from God, so divorce is from the devil. But in the case of fornication it is lawful for a man to put away his wife, because she first chose to be no longer wife in not preserving conjugal fidelity to her husband. Nor are those women who vow virginity to God, although they hold”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:16: 34:16 Intermarriage with pagans was a problem throughout the Old Testament (see Gen 24:3; Ezra 9:1-2; cp. 2 Cor 6:14-18).”

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