Re: The Virgins of God

2006-3-20 15:35:00

Larry writes:

In fact Paul wrote:

"... for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2"

Here Paul tells his followers that he espoused his followers to one husband (himself) that he may "present them as virgins to Christ."

The Concordant Literal NT version:

" ... For I betroth you to one Man, to present a chaste virgin to Christ."

I don't see how you come up with the idea that Paul is saying that he is "espousing" his followers to himself. It would make more sense to say that he is "betrothing" his followers to Christ.

This is one of those scriptures that can be read two ways and there is no way to prove which is correct unless we could ask Paul himself or receive a revelation on it.

I considered both possibilities and chose Paul as the husband. To understand why let us quote the whole thought from the Concordant version:

Would that you had borne with any imprudence of mine! Nay, and be bearing with me, for I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God. For I betroth you to one Man, to present a chaste virgin to Christ.

Imprudence here comes from the Greek APHROSUNE which is translated as "folly" in the King James and has a basic meaning that indicates foolishness.

What is the foolishness that he is talking about? It is that he is putting himself in the place of God by feeling what God must feel. What is that? He answers, "I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God."

Since he is putting himself in the place of God he continues by saying that, "For I betroth you to one Man..."

Now in the Old Testament, which Paul is referencing here, God said he was jealous of Israel and also that they were betrothed to him. Since Paul is placing himself empathetically in God's mind as far as jealousy goes it only follows that he is also playing God in being married to the church.

Why is this?

So he can assist in keeping it pure as a virgin so he can present it to his Master, the Christ.

"None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear." Ferdinand Foch (1851 - 1929)