So what is "Marriage"? (Jesus, priest, rituals, tradition)

[wmam]

Marriage as described by Scriptures?

Most people believe it as what we see today with all the pomp and circumstance. Before there were magistrates or judges, ship captains, preachers and so forth to preform such rituals, what was marriage? Did man and woman just say........"Hey, we're married!"?

Oh ....... and as a disclaimer......... I know that there will be some that just have to attack me for saying certain things because they are either so PC that it would make you puke or they just don't have a life. I believe in marriage between a man and a woman only although I do know that not all hold the same belief. I do know that there are some that do not believe that you have to have any of those mentioned above to preform a marriage. Maybe someone or something else or nothing at all.

Let the games begin!

[michel]

From http://members.aol.com/kptacek/fscm.html (an Extract only)

The institution of marriage is found in all cultures and societies at all times in history. However, the definition of when marriage occurs varies from place to place and changes in history. By the standards of early medieval Europe the great majority of American marriages would be considered invalid given the absence of a dowry for the wife from the husband's family. With the development of the Roman Catholic idea of marriage as a sacrament, consecration by a priest became the defining point at which husband and wife were married. Unconsecrated marriage was recognized in certain cases, especially among the poor. (The ancient church did not view marriage as a sacrament.) In America the Puritans were the first to establish the current definition of the point at which the couple are married: issuance of a license by the civil authority signed by one of those given this power by the state, that is, the justice of the peace, minister, or ship's captain that heard the mutual consent of the bride and groom. Of course, a variety of ceremonies "solemnize" marriage. The basic American pattern with white dress, best man, bride's maids, ring(s), and the exchange of vows goes back to the customs of pagan Rome. (However, then walnuts, not rice, were thrown at the couple.)


The Biblical view of when marriage occurs is not found in these traditions. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with various traditions, unless they make religious claims contrary to Scripture, such as in the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament. However, there is a distinct Biblical teaching on what constitutes marriage in God's eyes, as opposed to the traditions of men. That teaching is cited in our text. It is specifically important for Christians because marriage was instituted to teach us about Christ and the church.



In verse 31 the phrase "For this reason" is part of the original quote from Genesis. In that passage Adam exclaimed after seeing the woman made by God from his rib: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Gen 2:23). The citation above is God's declaration in Genesis 2:24, which follows Adam's words. This verse is the commentary on the making of the woman from the man and Adam's response: it establishes the institution of marriage. This is Jesus's understanding of Genesis 2:24 (Mt 19:5; Mk 10:7-8).



There are three aspects of the Biblical definition of marriage. First, "a man shall leave his mother and father." The emphasis is on the man because he is the head of the family. Only in his father's house would another man hold that position. Jacob was his father-in-law's servant, however, when he returned to the country of Isaac, he did not live in his father's camp (Gen 33:17; 35:21,27). The word translated "shall leave," kataleipsei, involves explicitly a change of residence in certain passages (Mt 4:13; 21:17). Thus, the first phase of marriage involves the husband setting up his own household apart from his parents.



The second phase of marriage is expressed in the words "be joined to his wife" proskollethesetai. This translation does not give the strong sense of the original Greek. Today we might join a variety of organizations or clubs and never even meet another "member." However, this verb means joining together two persons or things so that they are in very close contact and virtually inseparable. Therefore, the second phase in establishing a marriage is the creation of a close relationship in which the husband and wife tend to stick together in various activities.

[wmam]

Originally Posted by michel

From http://members.aol.com/kptacek/fscm.html (an Extract only)

The institution of marriage is found in all cultures and societies at all times in history. However, the definition of when marriage occurs varies from place to place and changes in history. By the standards of early medieval Europe the great majority of American marriages would be considered invalid given the absence of a dowry for the wife from the husband's family. With the development of the Roman Catholic idea of marriage as a sacrament, consecration by a priest became the defining point at which husband and wife were married. Unconsecrated marriage was recognized in certain cases, especially among the poor. (The ancient church did not view marriage as a sacrament.) In America the Puritans were the first to establish the current definition of the point at which the couple are married: issuance of a license by the civil authority signed by one of those given this power by the state, that is, the justice of the peace, minister, or ship's captain that heard the mutual consent of the bride and groom. Of course, a variety of ceremonies "solemnize" marriage. The basic American pattern with white dress, best man, bride's maids, ring(s), and the exchange of vows goes back to the customs of pagan Rome. (However, then walnuts, not rice, were thrown at the couple.)


The Biblical view of when marriage occurs is not found in these traditions. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with various traditions, unless they make religious claims contrary to Scripture, such as in the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament. However, there is a distinct Biblical teaching on what constitutes marriage in God's eyes, as opposed to the traditions of men. That teaching is cited in our text. It is specifically important for Christians because marriage was instituted to teach us about Christ and the church.



In verse 31 the phrase "For this reason" is part of the original quote from Genesis. In that passage Adam exclaimed after seeing the woman made by God from his rib: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Gen 2:23). The citation above is God's declaration in Genesis 2:24, which follows Adam's words. This verse is the commentary on the making of the woman from the man and Adam's response: it establishes the institution of marriage. This is Jesus's understanding of Genesis 2:24 (Mt 19:5; Mk 10:7-8).



There are three aspects of the Biblical definition of marriage. First, "a man shall leave his mother and father." The emphasis is on the man because he is the head of the family. Only in his father's house would another man hold that position. Jacob was his father-in-law's servant, however, when he returned to the country of Isaac, he did not live in his father's camp (Gen 33:17; 35:21,27). The word translated "shall leave," kataleipsei, involves explicitly a change of residence in certain passages (Mt 4:13; 21:17). Thus, the first phase of marriage involves the husband setting up his own household apart from his parents.



The second phase of marriage is expressed in the words "be joined to his wife" proskollethesetai. This translation does not give the strong sense of the original Greek. Today we might join a variety of organizations or clubs and never even meet another "member." However, this verb means joining together two persons or things so that they are in very close contact and virtually inseparable. Therefore, the second phase in establishing a marriage is the creation of a close relationship in which the husband and wife tend to stick together in various activities.

Although this had little to do with Scripture and did not really answer the question at hand, I appreciate your effort.

[jeffrey]

Scripture.... Jesus says love everyone...The biblical Marriage, as written by... and then translated to fit an agenda... then retranslated again to fit another agenda... Think I'll stick with what makes sense. Christ said. love everyone. Using that definition, marriage is a rite between 2 people...(3 or more in some States. ) to become as one, with love being the bond.

[Buttons*]

I like to think that a guy and girl just said, "we're together now" and remain monogamous (sp?)
*sigh* it seems now meaningless to actually go though with a marriage ceremony. It's all really just paperwork. (although, i'm a girl of tradition and may wind up getting married in a church anyway...)

[wmam]

Originally Posted by Buttons*

I like to think that a guy and girl just said, "we're together now" and remain monogamous (sp?)
*sigh* it seems now meaningless to actually go though with a marriage ceremony. It's all really just paperwork. (although, i'm a girl of tradition and may wind up getting married in a church anyway...)

Remember, though, that men had more than one wife.

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by wmam

Remember, though, that men had more than one wife.

yeah, i know, which is one of the reasons i dont really enjoy abrahamic religions.

[Buttons*]

back then didnt marriage have to do with trade? Like, the father gave you his daughter for lands or for gold or something? Women were property

[Mike182]

i don't like the tradition of the farther walking the bride down the aisle, because it symbolises "giving the woman away" like property, and i don't believe women are property

[Aqualung]

Marriage is a sealing (done by a member of christ's priesthood) that binds a husband and a wife together for time and eternity.