Should I respect my wife differently because she is a fellow-christian?

Does the oneness of a couple in marriage change their relationship as a brother and sister in Christ?

Nationality, status, and gender do not affect our relationship with Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), although we have become brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 7:15; James 2:15) in a new family. In our new relationship to Christ, no natural distinction limits our closeness to Him. Being brothers and sisters in Christ expresses that relationship.

Paul refers to "a sister, a wife" (1 Corinthians 9:5), which includes a spiritual (a sister in Christ) and a marriage relationship (wife). The two coexist.

Apart from the marriage relationship, Paul teaches Timothy that he must preserve moral purity with younger sisters (1 Timothy 5:2). The Lord condemns some behavior outside of marriage (Exo 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7) that is pure, proper, and prescribed (1 Corinthians 7:3-5) within marriage (Heb 13:4). So marriage moves a Christian into a new sphere, but doesn’t change his spiritual relationships. This points to some very practical teaching. A Christian’s marriage is to be marked by a dignity (1Th 4:4) and thoughtfulness (1Pe 3:7) consistent with the relationship of Christ and the Church. Disagreements in a marriage are to be resolved behind closed doors (hopefully) as mature brothers and sisters in Christ. The pressures of a marriage do not excuse acting toward a spouse in a way that a Christian would not act toward another fellow-believer.

"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" (John 8:7).

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

No one has commented on this article.

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Main Menu