and Jesus Himself says it's better a man be unmarried, but not everyone can accept it -- the one who can accept it, should. Matthew 19:12
so this is not contradiction in scripture. it's only failure to fully understand.
Paul isn't contradicting Christ, or Genesis, or Solomon. Paul's not an idiot; he's ridiculously intelligent. he knows your objections.
Paul is giving you the other side of the truth that you hadn't considered. that's all.
every time you find something that looks crazy and contradictory in scripture, that's something wonderful.
you have found deep wisdom -- and you have to search it out and find understanding.
Hi posthuman - Should be working but wanted to reply to you before my account is deleted. I prayed for understanding... and this morning for some reason I wanted to read your post (this specific post only). I read the first part the other day and didn't finish reading as I allowed the enemy to direct my attention to negativity. Well... I came back and read it and looked up Matthew 19:12 and wanted to say thank you for sharing the Word of God.
When I read v12, I was still confused bc I said well Jesus and Paul contradict God's Word in Genesis... so something is still not making sense and I want to understand this. Then, I read v11. NIV 11 Jesus replied, “
Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given." (
KJV save they to whom it is given.) So I said okay... Paul is not contradicting God in Genesis but what Paul said is confusing bc it suggested (to me) that remaining unmarried applies to everyone (only marry if you don't have self-control basically), which contradicts God's Word in Genesis. But, when I read the Scripture that you provided, Jesus clears this up. If he says
"only those" to whom this word has been given can accept it, then doesn't that mean this word has
not been given to
everyone? So, I imagine there are those - the "only those" who Jesus mentions - who are given this word to remain unmarried and some accept it and some disobey... So I felt like I had the answer to my original question -- if God said he will make a helper, why are believers with the desire to marry still single. Maybe they have the desire bc they were given but did not accept the word to remain unmarried. Then, maybe there are those who go against God's will for not only who they should marry but also things like where they should be, etc. (like a Jonah situation)... probably some out of disobedience and some due to not being able to discern the voice of God. "And there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven," as stated in Matthew.
easy.
Genesis doesn't necessarily say it's not good for man in general to be alone. every time you see "man" in the OT it's the same word as the name Adam. especially in Genesis 1-3 and especially when you see "the man"
perhaps this is only it's not good for Adam.
And, your other post about Genesis 24:14 confirmed for me that God definitely cares about who we marry -- if he appointed Rebekah for Isaac, I'm confident that the God for which all things are possible can appoint a spouse for all who desire (who have not been given the word to remain unmarried).
So... I wanted to understand why you said "man" means "Adam" and God made a helper for Adam and not all men. In Genesis KJV, God says "the" man in v18, then says Adam in later verse then switches to
"a" man in v24 then back to "the" man in v25. So I questioned what this means - why switch to "a" man in v24 when saying leave father and mother and cleave to wife. Well guess what... for some reason I was prompted to go back and read ALL of Matthew 19 (not just verses 11&12 discussed above). verses 3-6 below
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Jesus (in Matthew) literally quotes God (in Genesis). When speaking to the Pharisees, I do not believe Jesus is referring to Adam. (1) Would Jesus be discussing Adam here? (2) It says "a" man. (3) Did Adam have a father and mother to leave? So I concluded (for myself) that this applies to all who desire (who have not been given the word to remain unmarried) -
he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.
I prayed for understanding... while I still may not completely understand, I have better understanding after reading Matthew 19 (the Scripture that you shared). I am encouraged in knowing that if God made a helper for Adam ("the" man) and appointed Rebekah for Isaac, then the same God who orders the steps of a good man can do the same in the lives of those who have have faith in Him (if, of course, not given the word that they should remain unmarried). And, from my understanding of God from His Word and my experiences, I believe He would conform a person's will to His Will and remove contrary desires from the person's heart. Even if I still don't have it completely right, I am encouraged and trust that God will continue to help me to understand the things that I do not know.
Keep sharing the Word, Post. I pray that you are blessed my brother in Christ. I admit that had I not been on CC for a few days, I would not have seen your post and would not have read Matthew 19 and would not have "better" understanding (just yet). But, this is confirmation for me that when I eliminate distractions and spend time with Him, He will somehow guide me to that which I am seeking.