"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:for I have espoused you toone husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2Cor.11:1-4) I. Espoused A. Strong's Concordance 1. NT#3423 from a derivative of G3415; to give a souvenir (engagement / present), i.e. betroth: —espouse. To woo her and ask her in marriage to be promised in marriage, be betrothed. (Matt.1:18, Luke.1:27; 2:5) 2. Also Strong's Con. NT#718 from G719; to joint, i.e. (figuratively) to woo (reflexively, to betroth): — espouse.
B.English Dictionary / Thesaurus. To be betroth / engaged / spoken for / to woo her (romantically pursue, pursue, chase (after); dated court, pay court to, romance, seek the hand of, set one's cap for/at, make love to) To promise (Covenant) vow, in Marriage
C. Why are we espoused? 1. Because Paul says JESUS is the last Adam, (The Bridegroom) and the Church is Eve (Virgin / Woman / Bride). (Matt.19:15 / Rev.19:7-8, Rom.15:45, 1Cor.15:45, 2Cor.11:1-4, Eph.5:21-32) 2. The Old Testament marriage of Adam and Eve was God's design and continues in the New Testament 3. But "sin entered the world" (Rom.5:1-21) 4. But "God who is rich in mercy" provided a way back. a. Beginning with His promise that the woman's seed / "it shall bruise" - Future (Gen.3:15, Matt.1:18-25, Col.2:13-15, Rom.16:20) (1) Prophesying of the virgin birth because the only example of the virgin birth (The seed of the Woman) is the Word made flesh. (JESUS) (2) Genealogy of Matthew (Matt.1:1-17, Luke.3:23-38) (Preserved by Noah and the Ark) "As concerning the flesh, Christ came" to show his perfect sinless humanity. (John.1:1-14, 2Cor.5:21, Phil.2:5-11) (3) Then JESUS will bring forth after His kind with His Bride as seen in the Rev.12 Woman. (Gen.1:, Rom.1:20) (4) This ("enmity"- Hostility) conflict has continued up to our day (Rev.12:9, Eph.6:12) b. . 3. The New Testament begin with the the Last Adam giving Himself for Eve / The Church /presented 4. Because God is redeeming us back to where Adam and Eve fell from. (Gen.3:1-24, Rom.5:10-14) a. Look at the Biblical account of Redemption (1)
JESUS is called the Last Adam (Rom.5:14, 1Cor.15:45) b. c. .
God has chosen to use Marriage to teach us about the Prize of the high calling. It is the
God (The Father) has already given the "last Adam" (The Word made flesh / the only begotten Son
4. Because the seed of the woman is the crush the serpents head. (Gen.3:15, Rom.16:20, Rev.12:1-13)
woman's seed (offspring) The thought of Marriage. When God made a Covenant with the first Adam and Eve after "sin had entered the world" (Rom.5:10-14) He immediately set His Redemption Plan in motion by prophesying that woman's seed would crush ( the serpents head / Headquartes) NOTE: Competing seeds 2. There are many ways that God's Word has portrayed the end result of the Church. All of these examples are brought together in being an "espoused" Bride a. Wheat and tares(Matt.13:24-30) (1) Wheat (a) Wheat (The Word of God (Eph.5:26-27)The Word makes the espoused Bride ready (b) Good seed / Word of God. v.24 (Eph.5:26)Pure Word with no Blemishes (c) While the men slept enemy sowed tares among the wheat (The Word of God). v.25 (Judges.16:19, Matt.25:1-13, 1Thes.5:5-8, Jude.1:10)Bride must be awake -- Crept in unawares (turning like Sanson who "turned side to see" -- Don't allow any "leaven" in your House (Exod.12:15-22, 1Cor.5:7-8) -- Yea hath God said... Caused doubt which lead to Eve adding to God's Word (Gen.2:16-17; 3:1-,2Cor.2:17, 2Peter.3:16) -- don't be begiuled "as Eve was by the serpent (2Cor.11:1-5) -- Tares came while they were sleeping. A warning not to sleep (Matt.13.24-30, 36-43, Matt.25:1-13, Eph.5:1-9) Bride needs to be AWAKE / A warning not to sleep (Matt.13.24-30, 36-43, 25:1-13, 1Thes.5:1-9) (2) The Tares (a) Let the tares grow with the wheat to maturity (Deut.13:1-5, Judges.Eph.4:11-16; 5:21-32) God allows the tears to grow together Allowed to grow together / Fruit / Harvest (Matt.13) Bride needs to grow up into Him (Deut.13:1-, Judges.2:1-, Jude.1:1-12) Eve was not presented until she was full grown / complete. (e) Remember JESUS said, "I have yet many things to say unto you..." (about the wheat and tares John.16:10-15) BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR (understand) THEM NOW. "But God hath revealed them unto us (The Church 1st Cent. until NOW 21st Cent.) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1Cor.2:10-11) b. The good ground bringing forth 30, 60 and 100 fold (Matt.13:23) (1) Bride needs toProtect against stopping our development (2) A dwaft (blemish) was limited a Priest from functioning in the max 100
d. Grow up into Him / every joint (Details coming soon)
e. Building / edifiying of the body of Christ (Details coming soon)
f. Perfect man (Details coming soon)
g. A finished Temple / House / Sanctuary(John.2:18-22, Mark.14:58) (Details coming soon)
3. Why is the example of a Bride married to one husband seem to be the main focus a. It is because Revelation focuses on that picture(Matt.22:1-14; 25:1-13, Luke.14:15-24, Rom.7:1- Rev.19:7-8) b. (Details coming soon)
D. NOTE how Paul (Gal.1:11-12) pulls together the thought of the Church and Adam and Eve 1. The Church is compared to Eve(Gen.2:18-25, Eph.5:21-32) a. Paul quotes directly from Gen.2:18-25 "For we (the Church / Eve2Cor.11:1-4, Eph.5:21-32) are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 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." (Eph.5:30--31) b. THEN he says, "This is a great mystery: but I speak of Christ and the Church." (Eph.5:32) 2. Espoused (betroth / engaged to one husband(2Cor.11:1-3) a. Espoused to - mean in the future. b. This one husband is The Lord Jesus Christ(Mark.2:19 / Eph.3:14-15, Rev.19:7-8) c.There has been no Marriage yet. (1) JESUS (THE LAMB OF GOD 1Peter.1:18-20) (a) The Word made flesh (Gen.1:1, John.1:1-14, 1John.5:7-8) (b) The bridegroom ( (c) The last Adam / has given Himself for the Church (Eve) at the Cross. (Gen.1:1, 1Peter.1:18-20, Eph.2:1-22; 3:3:1-12, John.1:1-14, 2:7-25; 2:21, Eph.5:24) (2) So He (JESUS) could build His Church (Bride Eph.5:21-32) without (Human) hands[0](Matt.16:18, John.2:18-22, Mark.14:58, Eph.2:20-22; 1Cor.3:9-10, Acts.7:47-48; 17:24, Heb.9:24) (3) This began "when the day of Pentecost had FULLY come" (Acts.2:1)
(4) However the Church allowed leaven to "creep" into the House of God (built without hands Mark.15:58) and a spiritual decline took place. (Joel / cankerworn caterpillar...) (See PHASE 2, Page 4, Page 5) (a) Review: The Feast of Unleavened Bread (b) NOTE: Chart of all the warnings that the 1st Cent, Church was given (5) "But God who is rich in mercy..." began to restore the Church (PHASE 2,Page 6, Page 7) (6) When comparing Church History with PHASE 2, 3, 4, it can be clearly seen that the Spirit of God restoring (building back) truths lost to the decline and Dark Ages
(1) The Church is NOT a "chaste virgin." (2) The Church still that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
d. Some mistakenly think that there will be the Bride of God and the Bride of Christ. (1) In the Old Covenant, God was a husband unto Israel (the children of the flesh of Abraham) (Jer.31:32, Rom.9:1-8) (2) But they (Israel / House of Israel (played the harlot) / House of Judah (committed adultery) and was given a bill of divorcement (Jer.3:6-10, Hosea.2:2-7, Matt.5:31-32) (3) According to the Law of Marriage of the High Priest (Lev.21:10-15) (a) The high priest could "take a virgin of his own people" (b) The high priest could not take a "divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot"
"the children of the flesh" of Abraham (i.e. the Jew today Rom.9:1-7) are disqualified from being in the Bride Christ because (4) Their hope (as well as the Gentiles) is to be in Christ (Jer.21Heb.) 3. Paul called the first Adam a "figure of Him ( JESUS / the last Adam, / BridegroomMark.2:19, Rom.5:14, 1Cor.15:45) that was to come" a. NOTE: This plan / purpose was "hid in God b. God created man and woman / first marriage (Gen.1:26-31; 2: c. Sin entered the world and the first Adam and Eve were driven from the garden with the promise of Redemption. (Gen.3:15)
d. This is foreshadow (like a blueprint / model) in the Old Covenant (Testament) with the purpose of bringing us to Christ, (The Bridegroom) who fulfilled (i.e. completed /) e. . f. The last Adam (the seed of the woman / Messiah) came and gave Himself for His Church (Bride / Eve) 4. John / Paul saw "the Bride (Eve) the Lamb's (the Last Adams) wife" (Rev.21:9, Gal.4:21-31, Heb.11:8-9; 12:18-22)
D. Mary and Josephare a picture of Christ and His Church Mary was"espoused"(engaged) to Joseph. (the bridegroom) In our culture (especially in our modern times), being "engaged" (Betrothed) can be broken or unbroken at will. Many are being married and given in marriage, and vows are not binding.
1. Under the Levitical Law (which was unto John the Baptist Matt.11:13) Mary was "promised" committed to Joseph in marriage but Joseph "knew her not" (Matt.1:25) i.e. they had not came together as Husband and wife. (Matt.1:19) a. THEN Mary (a virginIsa.7:14) "was found with child of the Holy Ghost" (Matt.1:18) Mary was told (Luke 1:35) "the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Luke.1:26-38) (1) JESUS was not born "of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John.1:13) (2) This had to be a virgin birth because JESUS had to be the perfect man and all God. (Rom.5:10-21) to save us the uttermost. NO MAN CAN REDEEM US because sin had passed on to all men (Heb.7:25-28) "There is none righteous, no not one" (Rom.3:10) (a) NOTE: The genealogy (Matt.1:1-17 / Mary) shows "as concerning the flesh Christ came" (Rom.9:5) This shows Christ's humanity. (Phil.2:5-9, John.1:1-14) (b) NOTE: The genealogy of Luke.3:23-38 / Joseph) b. NOTE: Joseph had the authority to to "put Mary away" (divorce Matt.1:18, Deut.24:1)Jealous c. To confirm this Gabriel told Joseph to take "your wife" (They were considered married)
2. Under Grace and truth, (John.1:17) Paul writes, the Church is "espoused" to Christ. (Promised in marriage to THE LORD JESUS CHRIST) a. Paul writes that He is the Bridegroom said, "who gave Himself for His Church (Eve) (1) Look at the parallels a. Adam was first formed / JESUS the last Adam was first formed b. THEN Eve was formed / finshed c. THEN she was "presented" AFTER SHE IS COMPLETED / FINiSHED / PERFECTED (Eph.5) b. At the time of writing these notes (Feb.19, 2022 AD),the espoused Church has not come together yet as Husband and wife which is future to us. This is because the Church is not Church...
(1) This purpose was "hid in God" BEFORE the foundation of the World(Eph.2:1-22; 3:1-12) (2) . (3) . c. Thisseen in theRevelation.12 Woman b. (Review: PHASE 10 and 7th. Seal) d. Under Grace there is the same Law in it's reality in Christ. (1) The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (2) Grace does not destroy the Law. (John.1:17, Matt.5:17-19, Rom.3:) (3) JESUS is our High Priest and fulfills the Law of Marriage for the High Priest. (Lev.21:10-) e. . 3. She was found with child "of the Holy Ghost" while being "espoused" (Matt.1:18) 4. Joseph thought she had being unfaithful to him and he "was minded to put her away" The Levitical Law gave Joseph this authority over Mary (Matt.1:18-19, Deut.24:1-3, Matt.5:17-19, Rom.3:21- 31;16:25-26, Luke.24:44-45) a. Jesus (our bridegroom Luke.5:44-45) / The last Adam 1Cor.15:45) will fulfill this Law of Marriage. (Matt.5:17-19, Note: Lev.21:10-15)
Note: This is the connection between Joseph and Mary with Christ and His Church
b. He is the head of the Church / The last Eve (2Cor.11:1-3, Eph.5:21-32) with the same authority to put us away if we are commit spiritual adultery with this world. (James.4:1-4 / 1 John.2:15-17, 2 Cor.6:14-18) NOTE: 2Cor.2:17 "Corrupt" - (a huckster • a mercenary person eager to make a profit out of anything.); to retail, i.e. (by implication) to adulterate (figuratively):—corrupt. (Strong's NT#2585)
c. This is why we need Jesus (our bridegroom / Last Adam) to prepare / present us "a chaste (pure, holy) virgin / last Eve unto Himself. (2 Cor.11:1-3, Matt.25:1-13) Some are expecting this to be automatic, "in the twinkling of an eye" (1Cor.15:51-52) at any moment. However this is only speaking of our mortal bodies being changed, not our presentation as the Bride of Christ.
d. Once we are prepared as a chaste (perfected, completed) virgin, then (PHASE 10, 12) the Holy Ghost will overshadow the Church / the chaste virgin as He did with Mary Luke.1:35) the Church / the chaste virgin
e. THIS IS THE PURPOSE for the Church being presented as a "chaste virgin" in order to be presented and married to Christ, to produce a man child that will cause war in heaven to remove Satan from his access to the heavenly places (Eph.3:1-12, Rev.12:1-17) and be limited to this earth. (PHASE 10, 12)
D. I have espouse youto one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Since the Cross God has been creating (building, making, forming) the Church (last Eve) to be presented (once she has been COMPLETED) to Jesus (the last Adam) according to His pattern for Marriage. (Lev.21:10-15, Matt.5:17-19, Heb.2:17; 3:1;4:14-16; 5:1-4; 6:19-20; 7:24-28; 8:1-5; 9:1-28; 10:1-25) This is why Paul wrote, "I have espoused (engaged, betroth) you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ".
1. You meaning the 1st. Century as well as the Church unto the alive and remaining which will be the Bride. How can this be? This is a 2000 year period! a. This is as two days unto the Lord (2Peter.3:1-9) b. . 2. What about those that do not live long enough to be in the alive and remaining generation? There has been many generations come and go of God's people and have not live long enough "but died in faith, not having receive the promises." (Heb.11:13-16) a. b. .
Eph,4:11 Every gen to come to maturity UNTIL we come to the unity of the faith Atonement / marriage
3. There would have to be a resurrection for the dead in Christ (Old Testament saints and New Testament saints) to in the Bride. 4. There is only ONE resurrection for the dead in Christ (the Just / justified in Christ) 5. This ONE resurrection will take take place at the Second Coming of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST