“Life-Long Marriage” a Tautological Phrase
Just recently, I wrote the phrase ‘life-long marriage’ for the first time. It is a phrase I was very familiar with, and had even used. But I had never written it before. And when I did, I had to stop and consider it because of the thought that came to mind. The thought was this: “God never used the phrase ‘life-long marriage’. The idea (as well as the institution and command) is certainly in the Scriptures, but not the phrase. So is the phrase necessary? Why do we use it? Does the very word marriage mean life-long?”
First, I looked up the definition of the word marriage (using of course, my very handy and trusty Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language). Here is what it says: “Marriage: The act of uniting a man a woman for life: the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them.” Wonder of wonders! The very word marriage was once understood to mean life-long without saying so before the word! Yes!!! Praise God! And not only does Webster say it once, but three times! Read it again! “for life, …for life, … till death.” Of course, I wouldn’t expect anything less by a man who had been saved by the grace of God and who believed the Bible. Sadly, many today profess the same, and yet reject this vital doctrine without a second thought.
What God says about marriage (in brief):
1. It is for life. Mark 10:2-9 “2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” This doctrine of marriage being for life is essential to the doctrine of our death in Christ, as spoken of by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 7:1-3. While Paul was not speaking of marriage directly, but rather using it to illustrate and teach of our death in the death of Christ, there is no clearer statement of this doctrine of marriage being for life contained within the Word of God. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, clearly states that the law binds a husband and wife for life, and the only thing which can separate that union is real, physical, death. To deny either in word or practice that marriage is for life, is to give a false testimony of our salvation in Jesus Christ: that we are dead through his death to sin and the law, and that we are espoused to Him. (See Rom. 6-8; 1Cor. 6:15-20; 2Cor. 11:2)
2. The two are become one. Gen. 2:24 “and they shall be one flesh.” There is no going back! They are one, forged together for all of life! And that by God himself! They are inseparable, as God ordained from the beginning. Let not man attempt to put them asunder! Matt. 19:6
3. Marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Anything else is an abomination to God.
So what do I mean that the phrase “life-long marriage” is tautological? Well, the word tautological means, “repeating the same thing”. Since the word marriage already means ‘life-long’ by definition, then to add ‘life- long’ to the beginning of it is tautological; it is extra, repetitious. But is it then wrong to say “life-long marriage” simply because it is tautological? No, I’m not saying that it is wrong. In fact, with society’s view of marriage, I’d say it is necessary to say it that way. But what I don’t want to forget is that marriage is for life – whether we say so or not. Not because Webster so defined it, but because God instituted and commands it that way.
