Does the Bible Say Women Should Suffer Abuse and Violence?
The Bible does not say that a woman must stay in an abusive marriage.
Tragically, at least one in four women experiences abuse from her partner at some point in her adult life. And tragically, that rate is no different in Christian homes. In fact, research shows that Christian women stay longer and suffer more severe abuse than their non-Christian counterparts. Biblical interpretation on the topic of divorce and separation can cause confusion and allow violence and abuse to continue.
Lindsey and I wrote this article for The Journal of Biblical Counseling. It is written both to the women who experience domestic violence and to those who know of the situation and can offer help: ministers, family, and friends.
For more on domestic abuse, check out Is It My Fault?: Hope and Healing for Those Suffering Domestic Violence.