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Betrothed Unto Christ
Betrothed Unto Christ
Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin” (2Cor. 11:2).
The background of this verse is the betrothal aspect of marriage as practiced in the 1st century. This has been likened unto the engagement of today, but it has some major differences. This was a serious commitment to the marriage and the only way out of it was a formal divorce. Also, the betrothed couple did not live together until the actual marriage ceremony had happened.
In the OT, there was the passage in Deut. 22:13–21 which dealt with the charge of impurity of the wife. If it was true, she was treated as an adulteress and was to be stoned. If it was a false charge by the husband, he would be chastised, fined, and would have to remain married to her and could not divorce her ever. Thus, the purity of this betrothed wife was a major part of the law on marriage.
Paul says that the church is betrothed unto Christ. He is the ‘bridegroom’ as portrayed in Mark 2:19; Matt. 9:15; Luke 5:34-35; John 3:29; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17. As Israel in the OT was said to be God’s bride (cp. Isa. 54:4-8; 62:4-5; Jer. 2:2; Ezek 16:1-63; and Hosea 2:19-20; so today, the church is the bride of Christ and we are expected to be a ‘pure virgin’.
Such purity on the part of God’s people is emphasized many times. In this age of such rampant and gross immorality of our world, we must be vigilant in this.
The solution is to love God/Christ with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are to love Him more than family (Matt. 10:37). Such love will constrain us and keep us from impurity and immorality. We will respond to temptation as did Joseph when he said to Potiphar’s wife: “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).
How seriously are you taking your purity?
Hugh DeLong
