15. Men are wont to move a
question concerning a third or fourth marriage, and even more
numerous marriages than this. On which to make answer strictly, I
dare neither to condemn any marriage, nor to take from these the
shame of their great number. But, lest the brevity of this my
answer may chance to displease any, I am prepared to listen to my
reprover treating more fully. For perhaps he alleges some reason,
why second marriages be not condemned, but third be condemned. For
I, as in the beginning of this discourse I gave warning, dare not
to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise.2254
For who am I, that I should think
that that must be defined which I see that the
Apostle hath not
defined? For he saith, “A
woman is bound, so long as her
husband
liveth.”
2255
He said
not, her first; or, second; or, third; or, fourth;
2256
| 2256 Al. “or any
number.” |
but, “A
woman,” saith he, “is bound, so long as her
husband liveth; but
if her
husband shall be dead, she is set free; let her be
married
to whom she will, only in the
Lord: but she shall be more
blessed,
if she shall have so continued.” I know not what can be added to,
or taken from, this sentence, so
far as relates to this matter.
Next I hear Himself also, the Master and
Lord of the
Apostles and
of us, answering the
Sadducees, when they had proposed to Him a
woman not once-
married, or twice-
married, but, if it can be said,
seven-
married,
2257
whose
wife
she should be in the resurrection? For rebuking them, He saith,
“Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the
power of
God. For
in the resurrection they shall neither be
married, nor marry
wives;
2258
for they
shall not begin to
die, but shall be equal to the
Angels of
God.”
2259
Therefore
He made mention of their resurrection, who shall rise again unto
life, not who shall rise again unto
punishment. Therefore He might
have said, Ye do err, knowing not the Scriptures, nor the
power of
God: for in that resurrection it will not be possible that there be
those that were
wives of many; and then added, that neither doth
any there marry. But neither, as we see, did He in this sentence
show any sign of
condemning her who was the
wife of so many
husbands. Wherefore neither
dare I, contrary to the feeling of
natural shame, say, that, when her
husbands are dead, a
woman marry
as often as she will; nor
dare I, out of my own
heart, beside the
authority of holy Scripture,
condemn any number of marriages
whatever. But, what I say to a widow, who hath had one husband,
this I say to every widow; you will be more blessed, if you shall
have so continued.
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