Uma só carne
O conceito de 'uma só carne' é o fundamento bíblico do casamento. Desde a criação, Deus uniu homem e mulher em uma aliança indissolúvel de amor, compromisso e intimidade.
A instituição divina do casamento
Deus criou o homem e a mulher e os uniu em aliança. O casamento é obra de Deus, e o que Ele juntou não separe o ser humano.
4 »Have you not read,« He replied, »that He who made them made them' from the beginning male and female,5 and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?6 Thus they are no longer two, but one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.«
6 but from the beginning of the creation the rule was, Male and female did God make them.7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife,8 and the two shall be one'; so that they are two no longer, but one.'9 What, therefore, God has joined together let not man separate.«
O mistério da união
Paulo ensina que a união conjugal é um grande mistério que aponta para Cristo e a Igreja. A intimidade reflete a comunhão espiritual plena.
28 So too married men ought to love their wives as much as they love themselves. He who loves his wife loves himself.29 For never yet has a man hated his own body. On the contrary he feeds and cherishes it, just as Christ feeds and cherishes the Church;30 because we are, as it were, parts of His Body.31 »For this reason a man is to leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be as one.«32 That is a great truth hitherto kept secret: I mean the truth concerning Christ and the Church.33 Yet I insist that among you also, each man is to love his own wife as much as he loves himself, and let a married woman see to it that she treats her husband with respect.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them the members of a prostitute? No, indeed.16 Or do you not know that a man who has to do with a prostitute is one with her in body? For God says, »The two shall become one.«17 But he who is in union with the Master is one with Him in spirit.
Fidelidade e alegria
A aliança conjugal exige fidelidade, respeito e dedicação mútua. A Bíblia celebra a alegria da intimidade dentro do casamento.
14 And over all these put on love, which is the perfect bond of union;15 and let the peace which Christ gives settle all questionings in your hearts, to which peace indeed you were called as belonging to His one Body; and be thankful.
25 For this reason, laying aside falsehood, every one of you should speak the truth to his fellow man; for we are, as it were, parts of one another.