Objectives of Session 3 – Marriage in
Scripture
1) To recognize
the teaching of marriage present in the creation account
2) To be
able to account for polygamy and divorce in the Old Testament
3) To appreciate
the New Testament teachings on marriage and virginity
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Marriage,
In Scripture and in the Church
Session
3 – Marriage in Scripture, Old Testament and New
I. Review
of Last Week: Marriage and Family
A. Outline of Sessions:
1. May 1 – Introduction to
marriage, in nature and in the Church
2. May 8 – Marriage and family
life
[May 15 – NO SESSION]
3. May 22 – Marriage in
Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New
4. May 29 – Matrimonial Consent
and Indissolubility
5. June 5 – Celibacy and Marriage
6. June 12 – Modern objections to
the Church’s teaching, Review
B. Definition of marriage, Matrimony – Marriage ordered to family
C. The motives, blessings, goods
of marriage
II. The
Creation Narrative:
“Since God created him man and woman, their mutual
love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves
man.” (CCC 1604)
Questions
which may arise from the creation narrative.
1. Would there have been male and
female without the fall? Diverse answers
from the saints.
2. Would there have been sexual
reproduction without the fall? Again, diverse answers.
3. Did Adam and Eve’s children marry
one another? Brothers and sisters?
III.
Questions about matrimony in the Old Law: Polygamy
Many of
the patriarchs had multiple wives, and yet this does not seem to be considered
sinful.
St
Thomas, and the tradition, tell us that a special dispensation was given in
this case, to allow for the propagation of the nation. Or, some Fathers state
that the patriarchs were ignorant. In any case, we cannot accuse the patriarchs
of sin – consider how David repented in the one case in which he was lustful.
IV.
Questions about matrimony in the Old Law: Divorce
Divorce
was never lawful. However, in order to avoid a much greater evil (wife-murder),
God permitted this evil on account of the hardness of our hearts. Indeed, the
demands for a bill of divorce required the husbands to give some account for
their actions, and also avoided the great evil of throwing a wife off without
any reason at all. Likewise, forbid the evil of taking her back again (which
was causing women to be horribly used).
The bill
of divorce actually protected women, though it was only a step toward the
fulness which was to be revealed in Christ.
V.
Marriage in the New Testament
“In his
preaching Jesus unequivocally taught the original meaning of the union of man
and woman as the Creator willed it from the beginning: permission given by
Moses to divorce one’s wife was a concession to the hardness of hearts. The
matrimonial union of man and woman is indissoluble.” (CCC 1614)
“By
coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, [Christ]
himself gives the strength and the grace to live marriage in the new dimension
of the Reign of God … This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ’s
cross, the source of all the Christian life.”
(CCC 1615)
VI.
Virginity in the New Testament
“Both the
sacrament of Matrimony and virginity for the Kingdom of God come from the Lord
himself. It is he who gives them meaning and grants them the grace which is
indispensable for living them out in conformity with his will. Esteem of
virginity for the sake of the kingdom and the Christian understanding of
marriage are inseparable, and they reinforce each other:
“Whoever
denigrates marriage also diminishes the glory of virginity. Whoever praises it
makes virginity more admirable and resplendent. What appears good only in
comparison with evil would not be truly good. The most excellent good is something
even better than what is admitted to be good.” (CCC 1620)
Marriage
is good, even though celibacy is an higher vocation.
And yet,
marriage is the common theme by which the union of Christ and his Church is
expressed – even virginity is understood in “matrimonial language” (being wed
to Christ or to the Church).
