Did the apostle Paul marry? Many Christians believe He was married, but the question remains: was Paul married, and was his wife a part of the church?
We will examine Paul’s anti-marriage teachings and how her involvement in the church impacted his views on marriage.
If Paul was married, what do His teachings on submissiveness mean to the church today? Read on to discover the answers.
Paul’s anti-marriage teachings
One of the most controversial parts of Paul’s anti-marriage teaching is his claim that unmarried people are bound to their marriages by a “broken covenant”. This is simply not true. In fact, Paul says that the first commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” cannot be applied to sexual relations with anyone else, even with your spouse.
Paul may have been married at the time he made these statements, or he may have been traveling in ministry without his wife. Either way, his advice to unmarried people was only for a short-term, unusual situation. However, in other words, Paul clearly stated that marriage was required for church leadership.
However, Joseph Smith explained that the letter was not a condemnation of marriage, but rather a reply to a problem that had arisen when missionaries wanted to get married. In verse 12, Paul declares that the time for missionary work is short and warns missionaries to focus on the work of the Lord.
Paul then goes on to explain the reasons for this admonition. In essence, this means that marriage is not permanent, but it is a temporary commitment that should be respected.
In the context of a marriage, the husband and wife are interdependent. In fact, Paul compared the marriage to the relationship between Christ and the Father.
He emphasized the importance of the marriage covenant, which requires allegiance, love, and loyalty. It also calls for a wife to not be dishonest or cheat on her husband. Further, the husband and wife should be equal in their respect and fidelity, and neither should be able to deprive his wife of sexual relations.
His wife’s involvement in the church
In Ephesians 5:24, Paul speaks of the relationship between the husband and wife in his letter. The metaphor suggests that the relationship is symbolic of spiritual truths about Christ and His church. However, this deeper meaning is often debated.
In this discussion, Paul compares his wife to Christ, the head of the church. While the relationship between husband and wife in the New Testament is symbolic, it is not necessarily the same as that of the husband and wife in the church.
In Ephesians 5:24-27, Paul compares the relationship between the husband and wife to that of Christ and His church. In these verses, he draws from the divine plan for marriage, in which husband and wife become one flesh.
This comparison between marriage and the church is especially striking because Christ is the husband of the church is the wife of Christ. Both are one in Christ and are so intimately connected that nothing is left between them.
This analogy is important for understanding the purpose of marriage. In the marriage covenant, man and woman enter into an intimate communion of life and love.
This relationship was ordained by the Creator and is governed by special laws. In the church, marriage is intended to be a model for human marriage. As such, husbands should endeavor to make their wives and marriage glorious. Clearly, the relationship between husband and wife is both beneficial to both parties.
The command to love one’s wife “as one’s body” is an expression of Christ’s love for His church. This love is expressed in other passages in the New Testament as well, including Romans 7:24 and 1 Corinthians 11:24. The marriage bond is modeled on Christ’s love for His church, and his wife’s participation in the church reflects his love for her husband.
His anti-marriage teachings
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he addresses the dilemma of marriage and celibacy, both of which he views as harmful and wrong. However, he acknowledges that some people are born to marry and others to be celibate.
Therefore, he recommends that those who are born to be married pursue it, whereas those who are unmarried should remain celibate. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but in the end, they all point to one important issue – how to meet the sexual needs of others.
The apostle Paul’s anti-marriage teaching would seem to contradict what we know about the gospel. Although he warned of apostasy in the last days, he also urged Christians to marry. Therefore, if Paul were anti-marriage, he would not have made such statements. His writings, including his sermons and teachings, testify that he had favorable feelings toward marriage.
While Paul’s anti-marriage teaching isn’t a blatant condemnation of marriage, it does have a certain resonance in modern times. In fact, Paul’s anti-marriage teachings are not as radical as many of us would think. Indeed, in the first century, it was the father, rather than the husband, who arranged the marriage. This is a very important point, as it explains the importance of the role of the father.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses a common dilemma: “Why should we marry?” The Corinthian Christians were asking themselves, is being single more spiritual than being married? In answer, Paul makes a distinction between divorce and detaching. Paul teaches that marriages are not more spiritual than being celibate. The Corinthians erred by putting roots too deep in the world.
His teachings on submissiveness
A popular interpretation of Paul’s teachings on submissive behavior in marriage is that husbands must submit to wives in a spirit of love. The word “submit” in verse 21 actually means to serve. But the text also instructs husbands to love their wives selflessly. In other words, the husband’s service to the wife must be reciprocal. It cannot be one way.
If Paul had understood the hierarchy of the household, he would have clearly designated the husband as the head of the wife. His teachings on marriage and submissiveness would have been countercultural since Romans were expected to obey their masters. But, for Christians, Paul’s teachings on marriage and submissiveness to the husband were not only counter-cultural, but they were also difficult to live by.
To understand Paul’s view of submission, we should first understand that it is not putting the husband in place of Christ. The wife does not have to rely on her husband for every decision. Nor does she have to be passive – she can influence her husband’s decisions. Submission comes from God’s order, and is not tyrannical. This is not to say that the husband should rule the house. But it is a sign of mutuality.
However, if this is understood correctly, Paul is not saying that wives are inferior to their husbands. Instead, he states that wives should take their position as family members before God and their husband. Even Jesus had a duty to submit to the Father’s guidance through the Holy Spirit. Although this teaching may seem a bit jargon-y, it is actually the most clear-cut teaching on submissiveness in marriage.
His relationship with Lydia
We learn of Lydia’s hospitality from Acts 16:15. She owned her own household and was financially stable, so she was able to offer hospitality to Paul and his ministry partners without consulting her husband or father. Her hospitality was also extended to her household’s other members, giving her a new purpose. But the Bible does not look down on Lydia’s trade, and the relationship between Paul and Lydia is not one of jealousy.
The Scripture tells us that Paul and his party spent several weeks with Lydia, ensuring that Lydia would be able to care for the church once Paul left. Her faith in Jesus was evident in her receptivity to the gospel. The Bible also records that Lydia was a powerful leader in the city, so she may have been able to influence the leaders of the church. She also had connections with the upper classes of the city, making her an ideal benefactor.
As a wealthy woman in Thyatira, Lydia offered Paul a home for a short period of time. It is possible that Lydia was a patron, since her house could have become a church. She could also be a circle of clients. In this way, Lydia demonstrated her spiritual gift of hospitality. Unlike other women, however, who were more likely to be charitable to people who visited them, Lydia offered hospitality.
READ MORE:
- Reasons Why Bitterness Should Be Avoided
- Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?
- Why is the Blood of the Covenant Important?
Incarnational mission practice involves the work of the Holy Spirit. Lydia offers hospitality and support to Paul, and the church in turn receives spiritual blessings in return. Ultimately, generosity is based on a relationship with the Holy Spirit, and Lydia’s hospitality are evidence of this. It is the Holy Spirit’s work that transforms lives and communities. The generous hospitality of Lydia and other believers in Acts is evidence of this.
