One Response to “Doesn’t the Bible teach against eternal marriage? It’s there…”
Bruno Paz
2008-03-01 06:09:38
The scripture to which you're referring is Matthew 22:30. It reads: "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
This verse is in harmony with Mormon teachings, and is even repeated in more or less the same form in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church, in 1843 (D&C 132:16). Mormons believe in the Bible, which says: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:11). We believe this scripture applies not only in this life, but also after death. Because a man is only complete with a wife at his side, and a wife is only complete with her husband, marriage is essential for continued progression after the resurrection. All who desire to marry can do so either in this life, or, if that's not possible, in the "spirit world" after death, but in both cases prior to the resurrection. After the resurrection, man and woman are judged and, if righteous, can continue to progress together under God's tutelage and paternal care. But, just as Christ teaches in Matthew 22, there will be no new marriages after the resurrection.
A careful examination of the Greek confirms that "marry" and "given in marriage" can refer to the act of getting married, as opposed to the act of being married. "Marry" in these verses is "gameo" in Greek, which means "to get married." "Given in marriage" in these verses is "ekgamisko," which means "to give a daughter away in marriage." Had Christ wanted to refer to "being married," He likely would have used the Greek "gamésas" ("the married one"), as in 1 Corinthians 7:33.
This verse is in harmony with Mormon teachings, and is even repeated in more or less the same form in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church, in 1843 (D&C 132:16). Mormons believe in the Bible, which says: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:11). We believe this scripture applies not only in this life, but also after death. Because a man is only complete with a wife at his side, and a wife is only complete with her husband, marriage is essential for continued progression after the resurrection. All who desire to marry can do so either in this life, or, if that's not possible, in the "spirit world" after death, but in both cases prior to the resurrection. After the resurrection, man and woman are judged and, if righteous, can continue to progress together under God's tutelage and paternal care. But, just as Christ teaches in Matthew 22, there will be no new marriages after the resurrection.
A careful examination of the Greek confirms that "marry" and "given in marriage" can refer to the act of getting married, as opposed to the act of being married. "Marry" in these verses is "gameo" in Greek, which means "to get married." "Given in marriage" in these verses is "ekgamisko," which means "to give a daughter away in marriage." Had Christ wanted to refer to "being married," He likely would have used the Greek "gamésas" ("the married one"), as in 1 Corinthians 7:33.
Hope this helps.