To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. (1Corinthians 7: 10-14)

Divorce was acceptable under Jewish law. It was common in Roman society. The teaching of Jesus against divorce (Matthew 5: 31-32) was a radical departure from accepted norms.

Paul extends this teaching even to marriages of believers and non-believers.

Human relationships are understood as sacred. The relationship that we each share with God has the potential to transform our relationships with one another.

Above is a Byzantine icon of Christ at a Wedding Feast.