[16]. Marriage*
Of Marriage I am going to say only enough here to prevent anyone’s thinking its dignity impaired when I do not count it among the sacraments, while Paul nevertheless calls it a sacrament, Ephes. 5 : 32. I will say this, therefore, that two errors have been committed as to this passage: the first by the [Latin] translator, who, when he should have rendered “mystery” by “secret” [arcanum], always translated it “sacrament,” although the latter word does not correspond to the former; the second by us, who do not examine with due care the meaning of this passage, in which Paul simply wished, by
See, further, Section 21 (p. 257).
On True and False Religion comparing Christ as bridegroom and the Church as bride with husband and wife, to show that as Christ died for His own and was made theirs, so those united in marriage ought to bear and do all things for each other: the husband, since he is the image of God, should especially love his wife, protect her, and spend himself for her ; and the wife should cling only to her husband in faith and love. Thus should a married couple be as like unto God as possible, since God, in turn, does not disdain to have Himself and His Church called by the names husband and wife. Therefore, wedlock is a holy thing: neither Christ nor His spouse the Church, nor any faithful soul, scorns comparison with it. But if you contend that marriage is a sacrament for the reason that it typifies Christ and the Church, I have no objection. It is not, however, an initiation, but a compact for life, a union of all fortunes, and a common lot. When, therefore, the union of Christ and the Church is learned by comparing it with marriage, what is the need of reckoning it among the sacraments? Suppose this word “sacrament” had never been heard by Christian ears. Would not marriage be marriage, and baptism be content with its name, and likewise the Lord’s Supper? Since, however, the name has come into use, I do not wish to be obstreperous, but only to see that it confine itself within its proper limits. Marriage is a most holy thing, and is not made any more holy or any clearer by being called a sacrament, but darker and less clear. For everybody knows what wedlock is, but hardly anybody knows what a sacrament is. So everybody knows what baptism is, but few know what a sacrament is. Let us recognize, therefore, that marriage is a most holy compact, even if we never count it among the sacraments. Have not the Greeks wedlock, baptism, the Lord’s Supper? But they have not this word “sacrament.” Also, the Germans have nothing corresponding to this foreign word, and hence they ignorantly borrowed it. Since, therefore, sacraments are initiations and nothing else, while marriage is a compact existing between two persons only, let us not allow it to be obscured by that word.
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