​IB Exam Material

Prompt: With specific references to creed and scripture, outline two different interpretations regarding marriage.

Explanation of the concept of marriage:

-An intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, in the whole of life.

-The purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship with God and to serve him

First Denomination: Roman Catholicism

•Christians universally agree that Baptism and Communion were specifically initiated by Christ. Roman Catholicism, specifically, holds the belief that marriage is a sacrament based on the interpretations of scripture; Wedding at Cana 

•Based on Genesis 1:27, marriage is believed to be an institution that God ordained from the beginning of time. Marriage is believed to be founded on natural law. The sacrament of marriage is also seen in the relationship between Adam and Eve.

•In chapter four of Genesis, verse one, “And Adam knew his wife Eve”, Catholics are reassured that the relationship they shared was conventional. The sacredness of marriage is also accompanied by the purpose believed to be held by the sacrament, which again is seen in scripture.

•In Genesis chapter one, verse 28 it specifically states the purpose for marriage, “increase and multiply.” The second purpose of marriage, a mutual love and help for one another, is exemplified in Genesis chapter two, verses 18 and 21-22, “And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone; let us make him a help like unto himself… Then the Lord God….”

•In Roman Catholic teachings, marriage is the expression of the underlying purpose for man and woman. It is the basis for procreation and the symbolic expression of the union of Christ and the Catholic Church.

•It also provides mutual support to the married couple and provides legitimacy for sexual relations between them. Traditionally, the marriage is considered a contract between a man and a woman, consummated and respected, where each takes control of the other's body, and sexual congress is expected and welcomed.

Second Denomination: Baptist 

•Marriage was not regarded as a sacrament by the Church until the 12th century. At the time of the Protestant Reformation, there was an effort to cleanse the Church of practices, doctrines, and rituals that were thought to be extraneous from the clear teachings and traditions of the Bible.

•The reformers were convinced that there was insufficient biblical authority to regard marriage as a sacrament. Therefore, Baptists maintain the belief that marriage is not a sacrament but rather a vehicle for celebrating God's love for the world.

•The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer makes clear that there are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in scripture—Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Baptists do not see marriage to be sacred, holy and central to the community of faith in the same way as they see Baptism and Communion.

•However, in Protestant circles, it is typical to refer to marriage as being “sacramental” in the sense that a healthy marriage symbolizes an outward sign of inner grace.

•Marriage was an act of worship that pointed to Christ’s sacrificial relationship with the church (Ephesians 5). Marriage was not about a contract or a financial engagement as had been the custom for centuries prior, but a sacred union that should reflect God’s love. Martin Luther, the Catholic priest who initiated the Reformation in Germany described marriage as a “worldly thing ... that belongs to the realm of government.”

• Covenental Marriage is available; it emphasizes the outward sign of inner grace because the union is a way of celebrating God's love. 

Works Cited

Blankley, Bethany. "How Protestantism Redefined Marriage." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.

Flinn, Frank K. "marriage." World Religions Online. Infobase Learning. Web. 5 Apr. 2016.

"Roman Catholic Christian Teaching on Marriage." Roman Catholic Christian Teaching on Marriage. Catholic Mission Leaflets, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.