[PeterG]

Originally Posted by bearbear

Yes, Dr. McFall's point is that we have moved off of Erasmus Greek text for English translation with the exception of Matthew 19:9 which is inconsistent.

1. μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ = “not for fornication”
μὴ is a negative particle meaning “not.”

This phrase limits or qualifies an action:

“Whoever divorces his wife, not for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.”

It excludes fornication as a valid reason to remarry:

Even if you divorce not for fornication (i.e., for any other reason), remarriage is adultery.

εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ = “except for fornication”
εἰ μὴ means “if not” or “except.”

This creates an exception clause, meaning:

“Whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.”

This reading permits divorce and remarriage if the divorce was because of fornication.



It's important to get this right depending on your soteriology because Paul says adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Again:
μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ = "except porneia" and the same as: εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ
"even for porneia" would be: ἐάν τε ἕνεκα πορνείας