Marriage Definition

[Iryssa]

One question....are you asking these questions because you actually want to know, or because you already know?

[firehill]

Ok, marriage is a covenant; but what is a covenant?

We've also had several good scriptures quoted, especially about husband and wife becoming one flesh. What does "one flesh" mean? This was actually a culturally specific, idiomatic phrase that meant "family". Unfortunately it's often translated to become like one person. I don't know about other couples, but my wife and I are not like "one person" in any way, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically (even when we're our most intimate). Please don't misunderstand me, in no way do I wish to demean the importance of unity in marriage. I'm just pointing out the ancient near-eastern cultural meaning of the the phrase "one flesh;" it meant "to become family". If you are of my "flesh" you are part of my family.

When a man and woman leave their immediate families and unite in marriage, they create a new family, the most basic unit of society. So if satan can destroy families, he destroys society!

I didn't know that 'one flesh' was a culturally specific idiomatic phrase... The meaning of 'one flesh' comes as a big surprise to me. I welcome knowledge. As i get more and more of an education my views keep turning and growing. This is so cool! Now you've got me thinking some more!

[Sherman]

One question....are you asking these questions because you actually want to know, or because you already know?

Hey Iryssa,

I already know a lot having studied it for years, but I'm also looking to learn a lot more. I sure don't think that I have the corner market on truth. I'm always amazed at whom God uses to correct me. A lot of times it's my kids; children have such a wonderful way of seeing through all the .... and gettin right to the point.

I love to wrestle over the word. I win whether I win or loose. If I win, I gain strength in my convictions and hopefully win a friend. If I loose, I gain even more because I gain the truth and am freed from error - hallelujah. See, I know I have blind spots, but I can't see my blind spots. So if others help me see my blind spots, then I gain sight, and I like to see. Do you see?

I could go on and on pontificating and teaching on the issue of marriage and divorce, that's why I wrote my book. But on this forum, I hope to discuss these issues. I especially love to discuss issues with others who are strong in the Word, strong in their convictions and beliefs, and are predisposed to radically disagree with me. I'm serious, I love a good wrestling match. It helps me grow in the Lord.

Thanks for your question. God is so good!!!

Blessings,

Sherman

[Sherman]

I didn't know that 'one flesh' was a culturally specific idiomatic phrase... The meaning of 'one flesh' comes as a big surprise to me. I welcome knowledge. As i get more and more of an education my views keep turning and growing. This is so cool! Now you've got me thinking some more!

Hey firehill,

Yep, it's a really cool concept and sheds a whole new light on other scriptures, especially the one where Paul talks about a man becoming one flesh with a prostitute, joining the family of God with the family of satan. Reading that passage in Corinthians under that light is awesome.

In in relationships we do "connect" emotionally and mentally. People often call these "soul ties". Those ties are very real and can be positive or negative. This is an interesting study too.

Firehill, thanks for your openness to new information. That's very Berean of you, an example to us all!

Blessings,

Sherman

[c7l14]

Marriage is a life choice taken by two people with the purpose of sharing their lives with each other in obediance to God's commandments.

[Openly Curious]

When a man leaves his father and mother to take a wife and he is joined (brought together to become a member of or partnership with) to a wife the word tells the man to leave and to cleave (to stick to closely and be faithful) unto his wife as they no longer in the marriage relationship are two seperate bodies but one.

It is like when one joins a church that particular person who joins the local congregation becomes one with that body a member in particular and is no longer alone but a member of the family of God and Christ's body the Church.

A marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman and all covenant's are sealed by blood as when a woman is a virgin then when the marriage is consumated their will be blood as the hymen is broken.

When a man takes a woman to be his wife he is no longer alone as the woman completes the man as woman was taken from the man so when a man and woman come together in marriage the man is thus completed in his flesh to have a woman by his side. This is how they become one flesh as it is not talking about being one person as that is not possible nor ever will be as we are two seperate and distinct creatures from one another as God created us that way.

It is Christ's blood that joined us unto His side and Jesus said in Colossians 2:9-- "and ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power" and Ephesians 5:30--"For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones."

Women were created from the rib of Adam therefore she is a member of his body so when the two are joined together in marriage the man's body is complete as they are "one" again in marriage no longer two seperate bodies but "one" as they are a partnership a union members of the same body. Just as we become members of Christ's body when we are saved or born again we no longer are twain but one with our Lord and members in particular within the Body of Christ as He is the Head.

OC

[Smalcald]

I didn't know that 'one flesh' was a culturally specific idiomatic phrase... The meaning of 'one flesh' comes as a big surprise to me. I welcome knowledge. As i get more and more of an education my views keep turning and growing. This is so cool! Now you've got me thinking some more!

Hey firehill,

Yep, it's a really cool concept and sheds a whole new light on other scriptures, especially the one where Paul talks about a man becoming one flesh with a prostitute, joining the family of God with the family of satan. Reading that passage in Corinthians under that light is awesome.

In in relationships we do "connect" emotionally and mentally. People often call these "soul ties". Those ties are very real and can be positive or negative. This is an interesting study too.

Firehill, thanks for your openness to new information. That's very Berean of you, an example to us all!

Blessings,

Sherman

Yes I think that is insightful. And it would make sense and does make sense both scripturally and historically and for our lives today. When we marry we create a family, and we also join two families, this occurs not only in the physical and emotional sense, but also in the legal, career and property sense, it is all encompassing. This would also tie nicely in with marriage as being much more than just two people, it is defining whole groups of relationships involving in-laws, property and future offspring, and of course is a promise of commitment made to God.

I think in the West today we focus almost solely on the two people in romantic love concept as if they were in a vacuum. I am not saying romantic love is not important, but it alone is not marriage nor will it alone sustain a marriage.

[Openly Curious]

I didn't know that 'one flesh' was a culturally specific idiomatic phrase... The meaning of 'one flesh' comes as a big surprise to me. I welcome knowledge. As i get more and more of an education my views keep turning and growing. This is so cool! Now you've got me thinking some more!

Hey firehill,

Yep, it's a really cool concept and sheds a whole new light on other scriptures, especially the one where Paul talks about a man becoming one flesh with a prostitute, joining the family of God with the family of satan. Reading that passage in Corinthians under that light is awesome.

In in relationships we do "connect" emotionally and mentally. People often call these "soul ties". Those ties are very real and can be positive or negative. This is an interesting study too.

Firehill, thanks for your openness to new information. That's very Berean of you, an example to us all!

Blessings,

Sherman

Yes I think that is insightful. And it would make sense and does make sense both scripturally and historically and for our lives today. When we marry we create a family, and we also join two families, this occurs not only in the physical and emotional sense, but also in the legal, career and property sense, it is all encompassing. This would also tie nicely in with marriage as being much more than just two people, it is defining whole groups of relationships involving in-laws, property and future offspring, and of course is a promise of commitment made to God.

I think in the West today we focus almost solely on the two people in romantic love concept as if they were in a vacuum. I am not saying romantic love is not important,

but it alone is not marriage nor will it alone sustain a marriage.

Wise words

oc

[Sherman]

Good evening everyone,

The best definition I've come up with for marriage is that the "Divine Ideal of marriage is a monogamous, exclusive, life-long covenant union of a man and woman in a healthy interdependent familial relationship."

I use the words Divine Ideal because there are marriages that do not fit this "Ideal" but are still marriages. In fact it is possible for there to be marriages that are not of God and against the Word of God. For example, let's say that homosexual marriages are legalized; the "couple" would be married, but it would be an unholy union. I believe this is implied in what Jesus said, "What God has joined together", that there are "marriages" that are not joined together by God.

Taking these things into consideration then, marriage is a social and cultural family relationship based on and established by covenant.

Sadly, there has been a lot of incomplete teaching in the church regarding the word "covenant". Covenant is a big word encompassing many types of formal relationships, everything from marriage to day labor covenants. Some are blood covenants, others are not. Some people make much about the hymen of a virgin being broken in intercourse and thus establishing the blood covenant of marriage, and virgins were considered to be more "valuable" than non-virgins, but marriage was not established by intercourse; it was established when the covenant was established. And in the ancient near-east the marriage covenant was established when money swapped hands, the bride-price, typically a year's salary. Once the covenant was established, even children born before the wedding ceremony were considered legitimate, and not illegitimate.

The strength of the marriage covenant is only as strong as the moral character of the covenantors.

Interesting huh!

Edited March 12, 2007 by Sherman

[JIME]

Hey everyone,

So what is marriage anyway? What is a good biblical understanding and definition?

I did a study about this and here is an exerpt from it:

The Sanctity of Marriage

Marriage is an establishment that is given and governed by God Almighty. Its ultimate purpose was to multiply the human race, but it was also for companionship.

(Genesis 1:26-28) Then God said,