Abstract

Peter Bruns:
Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Ancient Church:
Historical Considerations
(FKTh 2017-2, p. 81–97)

This paper is dedicated to the primary patristic texts pertaining to divorce and remarriage and examines the teaching and practice prevalent in the early Church. It also discusses the pastoral practice of the Church within the various cultural contexts, Latin (Tertullian), Greek (Pastor Hermae and Hippolytus), and even Syriac (Bardaisan). It traces the Church’s centuries long struggle against the pagan mentality of bigamy, divorce and remarriage, especially in the context of the vexed question of Eucharistic communion (synod of Elvira in 304).