THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

[douge]

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

Question: "What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ?"

Answer: The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age. Her responsibility during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24). At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2).
In the eternal state, believers will have access to the heavenly city known as New Jerusalem, also called “the holy city” in Revelation 21:2 and 10. The New Jerusalem is not the church, but it takes on some of the church’s characteristics. In his vision of the end of the age, the apostle John sees the city coming down from heaven adorned “as a bride,” meaning that the city will be gloriously radiant and the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness. Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city. The city is called the bride because it encompasses all who are the bride, just as all the students of a school are sometimes called “the school.”

Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ, and we wait with great anticipation for the day when we will be united with our Bridegroom. Until then, we remain faithful to Him and say with all the redeemed of the Lord, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

https://www.gotquestions.org/bride-of-Christ.html

 

Edited December 9, 2020 by missmuffet

[David1701]

3 hours ago, douge said:

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Paul is admonishing the church for following other apostles and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

The bride of Christ is a city as seen by Revelation 21:9-10.

This is complete nonsense!  Of COURSE the Church is the bride of Christ.

The New Jerusalem is prepared LIKE a bride (this is simile, which, by definition, means that the thing compared (the New Jerusalem) is not that with which it is compared (a bride) but has some similarities).

[Justin Adams]

Bless and pray for him.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Justin Adams

[douge]

19 hours ago, David1701 said:

This is complete nonsense!  Of COURSE the Church is the bride of Christ.

The New Jerusalem is prepared LIKE a bride (this is simile, which, by definition, means that the thing compared (the New Jerusalem) is not that with which it is compared (a bride) but has some similarities).

Not just like a bride, but the bride:

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The bride is "that great city, the holy Jerusalem".

[douge]

20 hours ago, missmuffet said:

Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city.

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The bride is "that great city, the holy Jerusalem".

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, douge said:

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The bride is "that great city, the holy Jerusalem".

I do not support your theology.

[David1701]

4 hours ago, douge said:

Not just like a bride, but the bride:

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The bride is "that great city, the holy Jerusalem".

You do know that Revelation is full of imagery, don't you?  The holy Jerusalem is the Church, not a literal city.

Rev. 21:9-14 (WEB)

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.”
10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

Look at this, in conjunction with...

Eph. 2:19-22 (WEB)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. 

These are FIGURATIVE passages, not to be taken literally.

[Frits]

21 hours ago, David1701 said:

The holy Jerusalem is the Church, not a literal city.

I fully agree David, well said bro. The literal city Jerusalem in ME defenitely isn't holy.

God bless.

Edited December 11, 2020 by Frits

[Frits]

On 12/9/2020 at 4:50 PM, douge said:

Paul here is not saying the church, the body of Christ, is the bride of Christ. Paul is using espousal to illustrate the faithfulness and purity of the church unto Christ Jesus.

The relationship the church has with Christ is expressed by marriage. Christ is the head of the church just as the husband is head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23).

Thath's true douge, the church with her Lord Jesus Christ is expressed by marriage.

God bless you.