Tertullian (160–230 A.d.), The Theologian Of ...

Tertullian (160–230 A.D.), the theologian of Carthage, wrote about heathen husbands being angry with their Christian wives because they wanted to kiss martyrs’ bonds, embrace Christians, and visit the cottages of the poor. Often when an unbelieving spouse wants to leave the marriage the believer has no control over the outcome. But Paul says that Christians should not even try to insist on the spouse’s staying if he or she is determined to go. If the unbelieving partner separants//leaves, let it be so///let him leave. If the unbeliever begins divorce proceedings, the Christian partner is not to contest. Again the word leave (chôrizô) refers to divorce.