Lesson 8 - the 7th Commandment

Question 1

Discuss the biblical evidence that marriage is a covenant.

Answer 1

The 7th Commandment presupposes that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman
– Covenant = is a binding commitment between two parties that have obligations, blessings on those who keep the covenant, and curses who break the covenant.

1. ) Scripture presents marriage as a covenant (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:23-24; Malachi 2:16)
2. ) Scripture describes marriage as a covenant (Ezekiel 16:8; Malachi 2:14
3. ) Scripture analogizes marriage to the covenant between God and man

Question 2

Discuss the various views on divorce and remarriage in the Christian church. Give biblical arguments for and against each view.

Answer 2

4 Positions:

1. ) Never Divorce or Remmarriage
   - - Never right to break a covenant
   - - Mark 10:12, Luke 16:18 don’t have the exception clause of Matthew 19:9
2. ) Divorce permitted (immorality or desertion), but not remarriage
   - - Sexual immorality violates the one-flesh bond and breaks the covenant
   - - Desertion is neglecting the fulfillment of your marriage duties
   - - Matthew 19:9 - permits divorce in the case of adultery, but he doesn’t say you should be remarried.
   - - 1 Cor. 7:10-11 - Paul says remain unmarried.
3. ) Divorce permitted and remarriage permitted in those same cases
   - - When a covenant is dissolved, its constraints no longer apply. Once the divorce is enacted, the covenant obligations no longer apply, then they are free to enter into another marriage with her partner.
   - - Matthew 19:9 - exception cause only applies to divorce, not remarriage. Grammatically it can be applied to both
   - - 1 Cor. 7:10-11 - Paul is referring to Jesus teaching
   - - 1 Cor. 7:15 - divorcee is not enslaved or not bound, so they are free from all previous constraints or obligations. Implies freedom to marry again.

4.) Divorce is permitted in broader range of cases and remarriage is permitted in those cases

Question 3

Discuss the ethical ramifications of various fertility treatments. What methods are available and what questions should be considered?

Answer 3

In principle, fertility treatments are no more objectionable than other medical treatments

1. ) Methods
   - - Artificial insemination by husband
   - - Artificial insemination by donor
   - - Surrogate motherhood
   - - IVF – most controversial
2. ) Considerations
   - - How does it work?
   - - Involve any harm to the embryo’s involved?
   - - Negative consequences for the birthed children?
   - - Financial/emotional costs?
   - - What are the alternatives? Adoption, etc.

Question 4

Discuss the arguments for and against birth control.

Answer 4

1. ) Against
   - - Rejection of God’s command to be fruitful and multiply
   - - Rejection of God’s gift and blessings
   - - Rejection of God’s purposes
2. ) For
   - - Creation mandate requires fruitfulness, not maximum fruitfulness
   - - Responsibilities to be fruitful should be balanced with other responsibilities in life
   - - Distinction between individual and corporate responsibilities shows us that we are not called to the same amount of fruitfulness as others.
   - - We can seek many different forms of divine blessings, but we shouldn’t seek them all to the maximum
   - - Birth control may be used to require higher duties that we obligated to like health/financial/ministry responsibilities.

Question 5

What methods are permissible and what questions should be considered?

Answer 5

Methods

• • Rhythm Method
• • Withdrawal Method
• • Condom/barrier method
• • Contraceptive pill
    a. ) Preventive ovulation – good
    b. ) Preventive implantation – not good
• • Tubes Tied

Questions

• • How does it work? How does it prevent contraception?
• • Is the method destroying the egg in its initial state?
• • What are the side effects? How unreliable is it?
• • How permanent is it?

Question 6

Discuss the various kinds of sexual activity that are forbidden by the 7th Commandment. Be sure to give biblical support as to why they are forbidden.

Answer 6

1. ) Extra-Marital Sex
   - - Sexual Relationships should be confined to marriage (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 22:16-17; Deuteronomy 22:13-21, 28-29; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; Hebrews 13:4)
   - - Scripture repeatedly condemns “sexual immorality”(porneia), which is a general term taken to include all extra-marital sexual activity (Matthew 15:19; Acts 15:20, 29; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5-7, 10:8; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossian 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 12:16; Jude 7; Revelation 2:14, 20-21)
2. ) Polygamy
   - - One man and one woman = Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Timothy 3:2
3. ) Prostitution (Deuteronomy 22:20-21; Proverbs 7:10-20; 1 Corinthians 6:15-17)
4. ) Homosexuality (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10)
5. ) Incest (Leviticus 18:1-18; 1 Corinthians 5:1)
   - - Destroys the biblical purpose of family
6. ) Pedophilia
7. ) Lust and Pornography (Matthew 5:27-28, Eph. 5:3, 1 Tiimothy 5 – flee)
8. ) Sexual Humor (Isaiah 5:20 – don’t call evil good)

Question 7

What are the 2 key passages surrounding the controversy on divorce?

Answer 7

1. ) Matthew 19:3-9
   - - Jesus points them back to Genesis 2 (original intention for marriage)
   - - Regulating law, to regulate divorce (tolerate it, not condone it)
2. ) 1 Cor. 7:10-16