2.the purpose of marriage in creation

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The Purpose of Marriage

in Creation

Genesis 2:18-25

18 The LORD God said: "It is not good forthe man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."

19 So the LORD God formed out of theground various wild animals and variousbirds of the air, and he brought them to theman to see what he would call them;whatever the man called each of them wouldbe its name.

20 The man gave names to all the cattle, allthe birds of the air, and all the wild animals;but none proved to be the suitable partner

for the man.



21 So the LORD God cast a deep sleep onthe man, and while he was asleep, he took

out one of his ribs and closed up its placewith flesh.

22 The LORD God then built up into awoman the rib that he had taken from theman. When he brought her to the man,

23 the man said: "This one, at last, is boneof my bones and flesh of my flesh; This oneshall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man'this one has been taken."

24 That is why a man leaves his father and

mother and clings to his wife, and the two ofthem become one body.

25 The man and his wife were both naked,yet they felt no shame.



Illustrated in this passage is the gift of

SEXUALITY from God

in answer to man’s

deep longing to be with

another of his own

kind, a companion.



To understand:

•God already loved man even beforehe came into being

•“Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh”means to become one flesh,

•Man and woman are essentially ofthe same in nature and equal indignity, could form the unity ofoneness, an indication of amonogamous union.

•Both man and woman have intrinsic

goodness in them in so far as theyreflect the divine image inthemselves.

•Man and woman are equal andunique



Marriage As Realized Among

the Chosen People

Old Testament:

•Women were subordinate.Primary function became that of

bearing children who wouldcontinue the male line.

•Procreation is the primary value,

sexuality was taken as a means bywhich couples became involved inthe creative and historical plan ofGod.



1. Polygamous relationships wereallowed. (until the monarchyperiod)

2. Divorce is initiated by the husbandonly.

3. Barrenness or the inability to havechildren was considered a disgrace

4. Concubinage was tolerated as a

means to find a substitute for thebarren wife

5. Levirate law, which obligated manto marry the wife of his deadbrother in order to raise a son or to

carry the deceased name and rightto family inheritance.



•Hosea was the first to see the

relationship of husband and wifeas a covenant, comparingmarriage with the covenant

between God and Israel.

•Procreation assured thecontinuity of the Jewishcommunity, fulfilling the

covenant for the people of God.



tensions

•

Patriarchal-genealogcalemphasis- where family line wonover love

•Prophetic-messianic emphasis-

where the wonder of love wasabove the obligation of servingthe species.



•Despite the tendency to valuerelationship, which demanded

monogamy, Pregnancy andchildbearing is seen, above all, asthe source of dignity of theconjugal union.

CHILDREN- considered the mostimportant goods of marriage-assuring the continuity of the

Jewish community.

2.the purpose of marriage in creation

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