It's like stealing candy from a Huff-and-Puff Post reader...

... except it's actually from a Huff-and-Puff Post author.

In the Christian section of the Bible, Jesus and Paul disagreed about what marriage was supposed to be. The difference between them is striking: Jesus thinks of marriage as divinely sanctified while Paul thinks of it as an option for the morally weak who need to avoid fornicating. They lived around the same time, and both were Jews, so it's a bit puzzling why they differ so radically, perhaps as puzzling as why, today, some Christians vehemently oppose marriage equality while others like myself support it. Even evangelicals differ; poll data show that in 2008, 84 percent of those under age 30 supported same-sex civil unions or outright marriage equality while only 54 percent of their elders did.

That's an interesting way of putting it: "the Christian section of the Bible." Oh, that's right—her readers probably have no clue what the terms "Old Testament" and "New Testament" mean. But, hey, she's a bit clueless as well in what she says above. But don't take my word for it (although you should); you can read the Bible for yourself. And since I'm known for being helpful and kind, I've put together a little Bible Literacy Quiz that will show why the above statement is riper than fresh horse apples in a Nevada desert in July.

Okay, here goes. All you have to do is indicate if it was Jesus or Paul who was responsible for the following statements:

1). "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

2). "But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does."

3). "For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.  But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us to peace. Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?"

4). As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

5). "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."

6). "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

7). "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous."

8). "If any one thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry--it is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So that he who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God."

9). "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

10). "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.' They said to him, 'Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?'  He said to them, 'For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery.'"

Answers:

1). Jesus (Mk. 10:11-12)
2). Paul (1 Cor. 7:2-4)
3). Paul (1 Cor. 7:14-16)
4). Paul (Eph. 5:24-33)
5). Jesus (Matt. 22:29-30)
6). Jesus (Lk. 20:34-36)
7). Paul (Heb. 13:4; granted, Pauline authorship is disputable, but it's a great verse.)
8). Paul (1 Cor. 7:36-40)
9). Jesus (Matt. 19:12)
10). Jesus (Matt. 19:4-9)

Ephesians 5 is one of the most theologically profound passages about marriage in all of Scripture. And it's rather obvious that both Jesus and Paul had strong words about fornication and adultery. There are, of course, many other important passages about marriage and the marital covenant in the Bible. In fact, it can be rightly said that the marital covenant is an essential theological paradigm for comprehending the larger picture of Scripture and salvation history. Which is why, for example, the prophet Isaiah wrote passages such as these:

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. (Isa. 54:5-6)

You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My delight is in her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isa. 62:4-5)

And that understanding, found throughout the Prophets, provides an essential background for Paul's rhapsodic description of the mystery of marriage as reflecting the mystery of the divine marriage of God's new covenant, realized in the God-man, Jesus Christ, who died for his bride, the Church.

Related Ignatius Insight Articles and Book Excerpts:

• The Challenge of Marriage Preparation | Dr. Janet E. Smith
• Focus Groups and Marriage: A Match Made for Heartache | Mary Beth Bonacci
• Entering Marriage with Eyes Wide Open | Edward Peters
• Human Sexuality and the Catholic Church | Donald P. Asci | Introduction to The Conjugal Act as a Personal Act
• Who Is Married? | Edward Peters
• Marriage and the Family in Casti Connubii and Humanae Vitae | Reverend Michael Hull, S.T.D.
• Male and Female He Created Them | Cardinal Estevez
• The Meaning and Necessity of Spiritual Fatherhood | Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, MTS
• Practicing Chastity in an Unchaste Age | Bishop Joseph F. Martino
• The Truth About Conscience | John F. Kippley | An excerpt from Sex and the Marriage Covenant

Comments

[LJ]

I'll have to admit, that is the first time I've ever heard that argument, bizarre as it is. The "horse apples" reference is entirely appropriate, Carl.

[Carl E. Olson]

LJ: The entire piece is a motherlode of manure. I've yet to read one Huff-and-Puff Post article that says anything remotely intelligent, factual, or thoughtful about matters religious and theological.

[Carolus]

I have heard time and time from various liberals that Jesus makes no mention of gay marriage or whatever, yet how can Jesus's direct quoting of Genesis be taken as anything other than an endorsement of heterosexual marriage?

[Charles Ferry]

Trick question. Jesus is responsible for all 10 statements. Hence the silliness of the Huff Post writer trying to create division among the faithful to justify their own heresy.

[Subvet]

"The entire piece is a motherlode of manure."

Not quite. Manure has a use for fertilization. This just stinks.

[Sharon]

One of the commenters said that the Greek word used in Matthew to describe the person the centurion wished Jesus to heal with the word "pais" which could mean the young male lover of the master. Can any biblical scholars out there comment on this?