1.) Discuss the teachings of St.

Paul as
foundation of marriage.
2.) Uphold the Pauline teachings on
marriage.
3.) Pray for the blessings of marriage
for every family.
 Which is the right
relationship – the wife
should submit to her
husband or the husband
and wife are partners on
equal footing?
Which is the right relationship – the wife should submit
to her husband or the husband and wife are partners on
equal footing?

2 minutes – settling down with the group mates.

-choose your lead debater
8 minutes – i.) formulate your position statement
ii.) brainstorm & prepare your rebuttal
statements.

DEBATE PROPER (10 MINUTES ONLY)

-EACH GROUP IS ALLOWED A TOTAL OF 5 REBUTTAL
STATEMENTS (1 MINUTE EACH STATEMENT)
& 1 CONCLUDING STATEMENT
The Development of
St. Paul’s Teachings
on Marriage
 UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
“It is actually reported that there
is immorality among you, and
immorality of such a kind as does
not exist even among the
Gentiles, that someone has his
father's wife. 2 And you have
become arrogant, and have not • The city of Corinth was
mourned instead, in order that filled with immorality-
the one who had done this deed adultery, homosexual
might be removed from your relations.
midst.” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). • This immorality had
crept in the Church.
 UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
CONCERN: The End Of The World

• Preferred single life for

the members of the
Church (no need for
children)
• Marriage is a lesser
evil for those who
could not remain
celibate
 UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
ASCETISM Against
-A life of self-control Corinth’s
-a way to reject sexual act even sexual
within marriage (Martin, 1991) promiscuity

Marriage & Sexuality

• On Sexual Act in Marriage: RIGHTS (Marital Debt)
“the husband should give to his wife her conjugal
rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife
does not rule over her own body, but the husband does;
likewise the husband does not rule his own body, but the
wife does.” (1 Cor. 7:3-4)
 UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
MARRIAGE: An act “submission” &
“leadership”

Marriage & Sexuality

• On Sexual Act in Marriage:
RIGHTS (Marital Debt)
-sexual act between husband
and wife: a unique moment of
belongingness to one another
in a mutual dependence
UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
On Submission By Women
“Wives should submit themselves
to their husbands..” (Eph. 5:22)

“..as to the Lord…” (Eph. 5:21)

-a submission in LOVE that
reflects Christ’s love for us.
 UNDERSTANDING ST. PAUL
On Leadership By Men
“Wives should submit themselves to
their husbands.. So is a husband the
head of the wife” (Eph. 5:22;5:23)

“husbands should love their wives just as Christ

loved the Church…as they love their own bodies”
(Eph. 5:25: 5:28)
-Christ’s leadership of loving and in loving is
SERVICE=> expected of husbands to give to their
wives
PAULINE MODEL FOR MARRIAGE
CHRIST (The Groom) HUSBAND
Leadership in love -to love his wife by
and loving service way of lovingly
to the Church serving his wife
just as Christ loved
His Church

CHURCH (The Bride) WIFE

-Submission in -submission in
love & to the love love & to the love
of Christ. of her husband as
she submits to the
Lord
 ST. PAUL & THE GOSPELS
The importance of unity & indissolubility
i) unity
-Sexual union is an exclusive right (St. Paul)
-excludes extra marital relationships or
any form of polygamy;
ii) indissolubility
-NO to divorce & re-marriage (absolute)
-a sharing in the relationship between Christ
& His Church
 ST. PAUL & THE GOSPELS
Celibacy In The Light of Marriage
Celibacy
-the state of being single in order to consecrate
one’s self to Jesus and His salvific mission.
-translated as continence (self-control)
-love between husband and wife is directed
towards loving God.
-loving each other (married couple) is a means
of serving God.
CONCLUSION:
1.) “Submission to the husband” and “partnership &
equality of husband & wife” are not contrary
statements but are complementary.
2.) That the role of husbands in relation to their
wives must be that of Christ’s to His Church.
3.) That the role of wives to their husbands must be
that of the Church towards Christ.
4.) That sexual act of husbands & wives is exclusive
to both of them and can be done only in the
context of marriage.
5.) That sexual act of husband & wife is the unique
moment of belongingness to each other