[mariemay]

Are there ANY exceptions to staying married in the bible besides infidelity? Is verbal, emotional abuse of me and the kids enough, according to God's word?

[Camborio]

I think any abuse is enough to get out verbal and emotional is sometimes worse than physical. If you stay with him, your kids are going to have self esteem issues etc... it is better to get out and start over. There are a lot of organizations out there that help victims of abuse.

[adam7gur]

First of all protect yourself and your kids , and let God take care about your marriage.If you have to , leave , but give God time to handle your marriage.Let Him decide!

[Fr_Chuck]

You may separate, but if you are asking about divorce, yes that is the only thing in the bible that is a reason. Now of course if you separate from them, often they will then latter cheat giving you that reason.

So first protect yourself and children, then see if they will go to counseling for their problem

[revdrgade]

When Christians try to replace the Jewish law with "Christian" laws, we get into trouble. Jesus only "new" law was that we love God above all things and our nieghbor as ourselves. I write this because you are looking for a law to cover your situation. But we are to walk by the Spirit in discerning God's will in any and all matters. This is not as easy a task as having laws which seem to exonerate us before the eyes of others.

Under the Law a person could just get a "certificate of divorce":

Deut 24:1-2
24:1 If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce , gives it to her and sends her from his house,
NIV

But at the same time, God says of ALL divorce:

Mal 2:16
16 "I hate divorce ," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the Lord Almighty.
NIV

So we know that even though God hates all divorce (and seeing the pain which divorce cuases to all the people involved, we can see why He hates it) and yet still allows it.

Even in the NT we have hints of God's permissive will because we can't stand the situations that we get into. One concerning divorce is if we are married to a an "unbeliever".

1 Cor 7:15-16
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
NIV

If they are a "believer" and abusive then the abused person should "take it to the church" in order that peace can be brought about by the repentantance of the sinner. This part is too often overlooked by both the one wronged AND by the church:

Matt 18:15-17

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church ; and if he refuses to listen even to the church , treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
NIV

This is as strong a message from God as God's hatred of divorce... and by going to the church, you may even get your spouse to repent and walk with God.

James 1:19-24

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
NIV