Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Vol 4) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'On monogamy'.
My summary
Today Tertullian continues to teach on the subject of marriage, in particular the importance of monogamy.
Tertullian's purpose is to prove to heretics and psychics that monogamy is not novel, as proven by looking at:
(i) the examples of Adam and Eve;
(ii) the patriarchs;
(iii) New Testament characters such as Zechariah, Mary and Peter;
(iv) the teaching of Jesus;
(v) the teaching of Paul in 1 Corinthians.
What grabbed me
I liked how Tertullian finally went back to Adam and Eve for a foundation of monogamy (an oversight I accused him of last week): 'As for what pertains to antiquity, what more ancient formal type can be brought forward, than the very original fount of the human race? One female did God fashion for the male, culling one rib of his, and (of course) (one) out of a plurality. But, moreover, in the introductory speech which preceded the work itself, He said, “It is not good for the man that he be alone; let us make an help-meet for him.” For He would have said “helpers” if He had destined him to have more wives (than one). He added, too, a law concerning the future; if, that is, (the words) “And two shall be (made) into one flesh”—not three, nor more; else they would be no more “two” if (there were) more—were prophetically uttered.'
God created one wife for Adam.
And so it should be the case for every man.
Next week's reading
Read 'On modesty'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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