Marriage in the thought of Saint Paul

Abstract

Almost every article in the Apostles' Creed can be found in Paul's letters. Indeed He also reproduces many of Jesus' words with great fidelity. Most probably we can even say that perhaps he was even more exact in quoting the words of the institution than Matthew and Mark; further he quotes Christ's words for the sending of His disciples I.Tim 5;I8ff. So also Paul gives Christ's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Paul often emphasized the point that his message and doctrine were independent and autonomous, by this he meant that he had obtained by personal revelation a deep insight into the mystery of the divine economy of salvation. His interpretation of the significance of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection, which is such a distinctive part of the Pauline doctrine, was not unknown to the other apostles. Quite objectively Paul dealt with the principal aspects of marriage; in fact it is to be seen in my dissertation how he dealt with this subject in detail when writing to the Ephisians, Romans and Corinthians. Further it can be seen in my Chapters that Paul solves the marriage difficulties not only from the standpoint of natural ethical principles, but also with regard to the mystical and supernatural viewpoint.