The following is a list of all the bible verses that make a provision for a husband and a wife to separate whilst they are married,

Now that we have covered that, lets discuss some other verses on the topic,

• 1 Corinthians 7: 10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband, But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
• Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
• 1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

There are many Christian websites that promote separation from marriage to fix marital issues. I struggle to even find the concept in the word of God, let alone a verse making such an allowance.  Rather a married couple who are having issues should present themselves to the church leaders for guidance and counselling. As we have found, all issues of turmoil within the marriage can be attributed to one or both parties not fulfilling their biblical gender roles.

The Extremes

What then do we do with extreme situations? Serious violence or physical harm against either spouse? Whilst the word of God makes no specific allowance for separation, but it does open the door for it as an allowance, not a recommendation. I would recommend immediate and brief separation in such cases, under the careful guidance of the church elders. If a husband is at fault, he should be chastised by the male elders of the church and held to account against the word of God and his requirements to love his wife. If the wife is at fault, she should be chastised by the church female elders about her servant role within the marriage also according to the word of God. In any case there is no basis for long term separation due to these issues, other resolutions such as daily visits with church members, and biblical counselling on the topic until the at fault spouse has adjusted their boundaries is appropriate prior to the parties reconciling.

Unsaved Offending

It is rare if not nonexistent that you will find a genuine saved husband or wife seriously physically harming their spouse, their compass is the word of God, and this does not allow such actions. In the case that a saved spouse is being harmed by an unsaved spouse, we must act differently as the unsaved spouse will not adjust themselves, or live in general according to the word of God. Long term and / or immediate separation in such cases could be appropriate.

Conclusion

Society does not follow the word of God, and we find dramatically different views in general on the topic of marriage separation. God holds marriage to a significantly higher standard than the world does, as Christians we must also hold these values. Gods word is clear that the wife is to remain married to the husband, and if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or reconciled to her husband.