EXCERPTS FROM CHAPTER ONE OF MY BOOK

[APOSTOLIC ARBITER]

אחר בשר

Chapter One

The Beginning

Even the most devout readers of the Holy Bible often overlook many aspects about what GOD called marriage from the beginning. For example, although it cannot be refuted that Adam and Eve were husband and wife, evidently Adam did not know his wife until after which time they were both expelled from Eden. Some have stated that this biblical account is merely a metaphor and that such a Freudian event did not actually occur in the literal sense of the story. I would beg to differ, as neither contender on either side of that argument is able to prove otherwise; but that is not my purpose to this particular work. Ultimately, all stories are metaphors and all accounts are symbolic. Different words mean different things to different people. Howbeit, according to scripture, Adam knew his wife in the biblical sense of the word and in the carnal sense of that same word. It is also here, in the Book of Genesis, that the reader might derive from the symbolism of the text that knowledge can be a good deal more than mere information. That is to say, that for one to actually “know” a thing one must also experience that thing. Adam knew his wife.

The student learns that Adam, according to the biblical account, did indeed have a wife. The student also learns that they became one flesh; that is to say, they were married in the Sight of GOD. Often at this point in the story all manner of convoluted doctrines frequently arise among various denominations concerning the marriage of Adam and Eve. That the reader fully understands and appreciates the fact that GOD didn’t miss a thing is of vital importance in this biblical account. GOD knew the very moment that Eve was with child as it was GOD Who formed that child in the womb of its mother. There is no question concerning the legitimacy of that child conceived of flesh and blood (although some have suggested otherwise) as there was clearly only one other human being present then with exactly the right number of chromosomes to share with the mother to produce a human baby: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (Genesis 4:1) I am confident that if Eve had indeed spoken falsely the scripture would have stated so. Eve had gotten a man from the LORD.The birth of Cain and the birth of Abel were both living testimonies to the scriptural truth that Adam and Eve were in no uncertain terms, one flesh.

What is important to bear in mind is that no matter how many times Adam and Eve were one flesh they were always one flesh and that no matter how many times Eve gave birth to one flesh, Adam and Eve were still always one flesh: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) This was the very first account of marriage recorded in the Holy Bible and one flesh is also what the LORD GOD recognizes as marriage today. This very scripture that Christ referred to, describing union between man and wife from the beginning, is precisely what the LORD GOD both honours and recognizes as lawful marriage between man and wife. GOD has never deviated from this. Marriage is one flesh — every time it happens.

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I suggest that the Changeless One has not changed His policy even today; but that He is consistent concerning His moral law for it is also here, at the beginning, that the diligent student learns when the first marriage between a man and a woman had taken place. GOD never once called this particular union immoral and this was a union that GOD certainly did not lose sight of, although this union culminated in immense tragedy. Nonetheless, it was a union in the Sight of GOD. This is the most basic and fundamental union that GOD fully recognized as marriage between husband and wife; but for the husband and wife it is this union, or joining, that was represented from the beginning as marriage. It remains then, that there are also multiple ways in which a man and a woman might be considered one flesh: metaphorically, symbolically, by proxy, or progeny; but according to the fullest scriptural account, the truest form and example of one flesh is that which is granted to the student of scripture from the beginning.

There can be no doubt among those who take credence in the scriptural account that this union between man and wife is indeed marriage. It cannot be called anything else except what the LORD GOD called it if the student of scripture intends to be sincere with respect to the written word of GOD as declared in the volume of that Book. Yet, how many today actually know what defines marriage between husband and wife? How many people in the western world are able to define marriage without resort to the ambiguity of some new age dictionary? Practically every debate or discussion that I have ever encountered concerning this subject always points back to the beginning. Lest any shadow of doubt be cast upon this truest definition of marriage and upon the mind and heart of the honest reader, I invite the reader to study the following scriptures in the New Testament touching this subject. A fair assessment can be found in the verses of the books and epistles of Matthew (19:5-6), Mark (10:8), 1 Corinthians (6:16), and Ephesians (5:31).

Marriage is “one flesh” — even from the beginning. It can be put no plainer, nor can it be refuted that this is precisely what GOD has called marriage in the scripture, as it pertains to husband and wife in each and every example; for whether the reference to marriage in the Greek is gamisko, ekgamizo, ekgamisko, or just plain gamos, each and every verse cited points directly to that union, joining, coupling, conjugation, etc. which the LORD GOD first called one flesh from the beginning. So profound and so great is the gravity of this fundamental truth that it largely explains why there is so much trouble in present-day marriages as few pastors, ministers, clergy, judges, lawyers, priests, politicians and the like, who would lay claim to being “public servants” do ever readily testify that this is the case! Should the stark reality of this truth ever strike the reader with full force, regarding the depth, the breadth, length, width, height, scope, and the sheer, overall magnitude at stake touching the traditional and generational condoning of this basic truth, they might well be astonished. No matter how far back the student of scripture should care to go, or resort to the Aramaic halal, chathlan, or 'ownah, all of these Old Testament words still record (even in the ancient Sumerian cuneiform) marriage to be what the GOD of the Hebrews first called, Basar 'echad —rXb dxa — Aramaic for “one flesh”.

From the beginning, the meaning of marriage has always been the same up until the day that Christ set foot upon the earth as the Son of man and this doctrine was still taught by the Apostles long after his ascension. Marriage, between a man and a woman is indeed a union in the flesh. There is no escaping this basic, biblical fact, upheld from the Book of Genesis to Revelation and there are absolutely no exceptions to the rule: If the said union is not one flesh then it is not marriage between man and woman. The shocking part of this revelation requires that the student fully embrace the concept that if the proposed union is indeed one flesh, then it is also marriage in the Sight of GOD — not only the first time it happens, but every time it occurs! I need not remind the reader that GOD is not blind. He has seen every single union and joining, conjugation and situation, in the flesh that ever occurred on the face of the planet and each of these was indeed a marriage.

What is more important than debating whether the Maker of all things ever “misses” a thing, is the full acceptance of the responsibility that remains to all who have freely conjugated in the flesh. I have frequently experienced a well-meaning friend or acquaintance approach me, saying to the effect, “Brother, are you saying that when a man joins with an harlot that they have married?” Well, what does the Holy Bible say? It does not nearly matter what this brother from another mother says if his words do not agree with the word of GOD. Rather judge in yourselves: Is it possible for a man to actually marry an harlot? I should say yes, but more importantly, the Holy Bible states that not only is this possible, but that this very act should be forbidden in the church! The question that would be better proposed here is not so much whether it is possible that a man might marry an harlot, but whether such a thing should be done. In the First Book of Corinthians, Chapter Six, verses fifteen through twenty, the Apostle Paul declared the following words:

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(Emphasis added)

I would draw the reader’s attention to the fact that even suggesting that the above scripture is only some sort of symbolic metaphor using an earthly example simply written to illustrate that the holy church should refrain from committing “spiritual harlotry” is a moot and weak argument. Considering that the Apostle Paul referred to both the body and the spirit in the above passage, surely the reader must also witness that the Apostle Paul has indeed correctly identified precisely what such a joining, or marriage, act-ually constitutes. This sort of union is nothing less than fornication and such a marriage is not honourable. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul has made the matter perfectly clear in this scripture, that when a man is “joined to an harlot” that the “two, saith he, shall be one flesh.” Again: GOD verily called marriage, from the beginning, one flesh. I think it is quite possible then, for a man to marry an harlot. In nowise do I suggest that a man ought to marry an harlot and I certainly don’t advise it.

Now it can be readily stated that such an union as described in the passage that I have just presented does not constitute godly marriage between husband and wife. I will not dispute that this is the case, as I have already identified that union and joining with Paul’s own words, calling it marriage by it’s appropriate description, so there should be no lingering doubt concerning the ungodliness of such an union. Nonetheless, it is still in every respect, and in every wit, marriage in the Sight of GOD; for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. Yes that is right: I am saying that marriage can indeed be fornication. Please note that I did not state that godly marriage is fornication, but I do declare that marriage to an unrepentant harlot is an abomination in the sight of GOD. Without GOD, even marriage is a vanity under the sun. Without Christ a union of virgins is doomed.

Are pastors today actively teaching this truth according to the admonishing of the apostle Paul? Are the elders, the deacons, and the bishops warning our youth that most marriage is indeed abominable? Are the sisters likewise warning the young women and teaching them that not all marriage is honourable? Brothers and sisters, I would beseech you this day, to please read the Holy Bible precisely as it is written: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers GOD will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4) So, where then, does the Holy Scripture read, “All marriage is honourable”? It does not; nor shall it ever read this way, as the Word of GOD cannot lie. Rather, the scripture plainly reads: “Marriage is honourable [able to be honoured] in all”. How is it then, that by some sly and subtle trick of the enemy the sincere student of scripture is then so frequently led to believe a lie? Are those noble and well-meaning authorities so blinded that they now think to equate the idea of godly and honourable marriage with every sort of marriage, union, or conjugation under the sun? Is it any wonder why churches today are full of fornication and adultery? “After all”, says the lying minister, “all marriage is honourable”. Friend, if you should gain anything from reading this book, I hope and pray that you understand and fully concur that not all marriage is honourable; but rather that marriage is honourable in all who are married in the Body of Christ. Marriage, in the Sight of GOD, can only be so honoured and there is no other sort excepting that which GOD first called marriage from the beginning. To say that all marriage is honourable is a treacherous lie.

There is nothing of greater import to mankind, next to salvation in that most blessed name of JESUS, than marriage between man and wife. In the Book of Ephesians, Chapter five, the student learns that godly marriage is of such sacred import and significance that GOD uses this very union in metaphor and parable to describe His relationship to the church of true worshipers. There should be no question in the mind of any who follow the doctrine of Christ as to whom the institution of marriage belongs. Yet even in this passage, just before the chapter draws to a close, the Apostle once again reminds the reader, that marriage is one flesh: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (See: Ephesians 5:31) We see then, that not only can a man be “joined to an harlot” in marriage, (1 Corinthians 6:16) but also that a man can join “unto his wife”; for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. So while both of these examples constitute marriage in the Sight of GOD, only one of them is truly honourable.

“Marriage is honourable in all” does not mean that all marriage is honourable. So, who is the man who claims that if a man joins to an harlot that the twain are one flesh? Who, of all people, would dare to even suggest that joining to an harlot should be called marriage? Where would the Apostles get such radical idea? Did the Apostles of GOD perhaps make a terrible mistake? Could it possibly be that what churches are calling marriage is actually the mere act of two people (regardless of status) joining in the flesh of their own volition? Is it likely then, that there is nothing in the flesh, in and of itself, that can be justified of GOD? Who is the man who dares to declare that there is no good thing in the flesh?

One need not go so far back in the scripture to learn the answers to these questions. In fact, the New Testament declares those answers in a fashion that is easily understood. Howbeit, the reader is likely to learn that all the answers in the New Testament always point back to the very beginning of creation, where the LORD GOD first defined marriage as one flesh. In Chapter nineteen of the first book in the New Testament, the reader learns the story of the Pharisees as they approached Christ, testing him, to set a snare before him concerning what the LORD GOD called one flesh. The dialogue reads as follows:

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 19

3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

(emphasis added)

Now it should be clear to the student that Christ stated that the woman who is put away is still the wife of the man who put her away; for any other who marries “her which is put away doth commit adultery”, saith the Lord. (See verse nine) Is it then possible for a man to marry another man’s wife? The answer should be readily obvious. Christ Jesus would not speak falsely. He reveals that it is possible and calls it adultery. So in this example Christ has called marriage adultery. Is the act of adultery in marriage then considered honourable? GOD forbid, says the Apostle Paul.

Not all marriage is honourable.