Marriage in the Western Church: The Christianization of Marriage During the Patristic and Early Medieval PeriodsAuthor Philip Reynolds examines how marriage acquired a specifically Christian identity in the Latin West during the first millennium after Christ. Beginning with Jesus, everything the Christians did, including getting married, began a process of differentiation. Christians did not invent marriage, but they did redefine it, thereby hoping to solve the inherent problem of reconciling secular, carnal sexual relations with a holy and sanctified state of being, one that would ultimately become a sacrament. This twofold aspect of the Christian marriage was a formative principle throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. Reynolds offers three themes for theological reflection and interpretation: Jesus' teaching, Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, and Paul's justification of marriage as a solution to the problem of sexual desire. This book begins with the examination of Roman and Germanic law, followed by the turning from civil to ecclesiastical law. Then Reynolds presents Augustine's theology of marriage, and finally, the nuptial process. Reynolds' insights into the Christainization of marriage makes this a valuable book at both the scholarly and the practical level. This publication has also been published in hardback, please click here for details. |
Contents
the Formation and Nature | 3 |
of Marriage | 44 |
III | 52 |
CONTENTS | 67 |
Irregular and Informal | 101 |
Marriage | 142 |
The Impediment of Inequality | 156 |
The Matthean Exception and the Doctrine | 178 |
Separating to Serve | 227 |
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Common terms and phrases
abduction according Adam and Eve adulteress adultery agreement Ambrose Ambrosiaster argues arrha Augustine Augustine's benediction betrothal bishops blessing bride canon carnal century Christ Christ's union Christian Church civil law coitus commits adultery Conc concubinage concubine concupiscentia conjugal consensus consent consummation CSEL 41 desponsata dissolved divorce and remarriage divorce his wife dotation dowry Ephesians father flesh Genesis gift girl ground of fornication Hincmar Hincmar of Reims husband and wife Ibid indissolubility Jerome Jesus joined Jonas of Orléans Justinian Latin legitimate Lex Romana Burgundionum Lex Visigothorum libido marital marriage marriage bond married matter Matthew medieval MGH Capit MGH Leges morning gift mundium nuptial liturgy parentes partners penance permitted persons procreation prohibition reason regard relationship remain remarry riage Roman law rules sacrament sacramentum says seems separate sexual intercourse slaves spiritual sponsa spouses Tertullian Theod tion uxorem valid Visigothic wives woman women word