The Bride of Christ – Church of God

(Copyright 08-29-2024) by Sue & Eddie Hyatt (Grapevine, Texas)
AN IMPORTANT TEACHING MOMENT Perhaps, you, like many others, have heard teachings about the expression “Bride of Christ.” This was brought afresh to our attention today, and I want to share a few thoughts that I hope will help you–should you need that help–in correctly interpreting this concept. “Bride of Christ” is a METAPHOR—a literary tool, and it has been terribly misused and abused by those in the Church who are ignorant in the use of language. It is a metaphor. Simply stated, a metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things that have one point in common. In this case, the point in common is the issue of identification with.” It is a metaphor used to describe an individual’s or congregation’s relationship with the Lord in terms of “identification with the Lord as opposed to identification with the prevailing, fallen culture. That is to say, even as a married woman is to “kephale” (Greek for “identify with”–not “submit to”–with her husband rather than with other men, according to Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians and others in the Greco-Roman world), so every Christian is “to identify with” Jesus Christ. EDDIE WRITES: Sue has covered this very thoroughly, but I will add just a few of my own thoughts here. Neither Jesus or Paul ever spoke of the “bride of Christ.” If it was an “essential” truth or metaphor, I would think that they would have mentioned it at least once. Apart from the Book of Revelation, the only place it is found in the NT is in John 3:29 where it is used by John the Baptist to describe his relationship with the Messiah (Jesus) who has just come on the scene, and why there is no sense of competition. He describes Jesus as the “Bridegroom” and himself as the “Friend of the Bridegroom,” which would be similar to our “Best Man.” He does not identify the “Bride” because his point is to explain his relationship with Jesus. Now that the “Bridegroom” has arrived, his role as the “Friend of the Bridegroom” is no longer of importance. For that reason, John said, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” There are a number of metaphors that are used of the Church and each one is used to teach something unique. These include “body of Christ” (I Cor. 12:27) and “temple of God” (I Cor. 3:16) and “people of God,” (I Peter 2:9) and “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb.12:22). Where “bride of Christ” or something synonymous is used in Revelation (21:2), it is used of the church in heaven in her glorified, redeemed state. To add to what Sue said in this regard, it is probably used to express God’s passion and love for His people–like a bridegroom for his new bride–even willing to give His own life for her, which is used in Eph. 5:25 as the model for how husbands are to love their wives here in this life. And remember, that even though “bride of Christ” is a feminine metaphor, it applies to both men and women. The Church as a whole is the bride of Christ. ————————————————————————————————– See Sue Hyatt’s other articles at: Hyatt, Sue – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) See Eddie Hyatt’s other articles at: Hyatt, Eddie – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: God’s Word to Women http://www.godswordtowomen.org/ ————————————————————————————————–

(Copyright 08-29-2024) by Sue & Eddie Hyatt (Grapevine, Texas)

AN IMPORTANT TEACHING MOMENT
Perhaps, you, like many others, have heard teachings about the expression “Bride of Christ.” This was brought afresh to our attention today, and I want to share a few thoughts that I hope will help you–should you need that help–in correctly interpreting this concept.

“Bride of Christ” is a METAPHOR—a literary tool, and it has been terribly misused and abused by those in the Church who are ignorant in the use of language. It is a metaphor.

Simply stated, a metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things that have one point in common.

In this case, the point in common is the issue of identification with.” It is a metaphor used to describe an individual’s or congregation’s relationship with the Lord in terms of “identification with the Lord as opposed to identification with the prevailing, fallen culture. That is to say, even as a married woman is to “kephale” (Greek for “identify with”–not “submit to”–with her husband rather than with other men, according to Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians and others in the Greco-Roman world), so every Christian is “to identify with” Jesus Christ.

EDDIE WRITES:
Sue has covered this very thoroughly, but I will add just a few of my own thoughts here.

Neither Jesus or Paul ever spoke of the “bride of Christ.” If it was an “essential” truth or metaphor, I would think that they would have mentioned it at least once.

Apart from the Book of Revelation, the only place it is found in the NT is in John 3:29 where it is used by John the Baptist to describe his relationship with the Messiah (Jesus) who has just come on the scene, and why there is no sense of competition. He describes Jesus as the “Bridegroom” and himself as the “Friend of the Bridegroom,” which would be similar to our “Best Man.” He does not identify the “Bride” because his point is to explain his relationship with Jesus. Now that the “Bridegroom” has arrived, his role as the “Friend of the Bridegroom” is no longer of importance. For that reason, John said, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

There are a number of metaphors that are used of the Church and each one is used to teach something unique. These include “body of Christ” (I Cor. 12:27) and “temple of God” (I Cor. 3:16) and “people of God,” (I Peter 2:9) and “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb.12:22).

Where “bride of Christ” or something synonymous is used in Revelation (21:2), it is used of the church in heaven in her glorified, redeemed state. To add to what Sue said in this regard, it is probably used to express God’s passion and love for His people–like a bridegroom for his new bride–even willing to give His own life for her, which is used in Eph. 5:25 as the model for how husbands are to love their wives here in this life.

And remember, that even though “bride of Christ” is a feminine metaphor, it applies to both men and women. The Church as a whole is the bride of Christ.

————————————————————————————————–
See Sue Hyatt’s other articles at:
Hyatt, Sue – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org)

See Eddie Hyatt’s other articles at:
Hyatt, Eddie – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org)

Reprinted with permission from: God’s Word to Women
http://www.godswordtowomen.org/
————————————————————————————————–

Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: The Bride of Christ Article by Sue & Eddie Hyatt Comments by Darwin Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Metaphor Verses Analogy Maybe this can be one’s guide. Not sure which best fits Sue & Eddie Hyatt’s explanation. My personal opinion based on scripture, would be analogy best fits. Using an on-line dictionary. This is what I found: Metaphor:” a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity”. (Example: The “land is flowing with milk and honey”; yet not literally milk and honey.) Exd. 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. This metaphor is suggesting a similarity between milk and honey as to richness of a land of plenty-resources, “a good land”. The children of Israel didn’t find the land flowing with literal milk and honey flowing down a river or creek. It was said to present a picture of the richness of resources of the land they were about to enter. Analogy:” drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect. the operation of a computer presents an interesting analogy to the working of the brain the models show by analogy how matter is built up”. The Church being a bride (wife) to her husband (Christ). As in a marriage of a man to a woman and vice versa. The two are very similar and by the way, literal. With Old Testament Israel, God (Christ), was married to physical Israel (literally). Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; *for I am married unto you:* and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: In their case God (Christ) divorced them because of their infidelity. Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not but went and played the harlot also. That is a literal marriage as viewed by God and similar to a marriage of a man and a woman. The key is faithfulness in a relationship that Old Testament Israel promised to God but broke that they had agreed to with God. Ex 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. As to Spiritual Israel (the church), Jesus is going to marry His bride (His Church which are called out ones) and because of their faithfulness, His wife will be given positions of authority in His ruling kingdom on this earth at His, Christ’s return. Re 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Re 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Re 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Re 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. All of that is similar to a marriage of a man and a woman and their faithfulness to each other, as Christ is faithful to his Spiritual bride-wife, His wife will forevermore be faithful to her Husband. Therefore, analogy best fits “bride of Christ” (His wife) and is not a metaphor.

Iron Sharpening Iron
In regard to: The Bride of Christ
Article by Sue & Eddie Hyatt
Comments by Darwin Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota)

Metaphor Verses Analogy
Maybe this can be one’s guide. Not sure which best fits Sue & Eddie Hyatt’s explanation. My personal opinion based on scripture, would be analogy best fits.

Using an on-line dictionary. This is what I found:

Metaphor:” a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity”. (Example: The “land is flowing with milk and honey”; yet not literally milk and honey.) Exd. 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. This metaphor is suggesting a similarity between milk and honey as to richness of a land of plenty-resources, “a good land”. The children of Israel didn’t find the land flowing with literal milk and honey flowing down a river or creek. It was said to present a picture of the richness of resources of the land they were about to enter.

Analogy:” drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect. the operation of a computer presents an interesting analogy to the working of the brain the models show by analogy how matter is built up”.

The Church being a bride (wife) to her husband (Christ). As in a marriage of a man to a woman and vice versa. The two are very similar and by the way, literal.

With Old Testament Israel, God (Christ), was married to physical Israel (literally). Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

In their case God (Christ) divorced them because of their infidelity. Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not but went and played the harlot also.

That is a literal marriage as viewed by God and similar to a marriage of a man and a woman. The key is faithfulness in a relationship that Old Testament Israel promised to God but broke that they had agreed to with God. Ex 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

As to Spiritual Israel (the church), Jesus is going to marry His bride (His Church which are called out ones) and because of their faithfulness, His wife will be given positions of authority in His ruling kingdom on this earth at His, Christ’s return.

Re 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

Re 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Re 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Re 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

All of that is similar to a marriage of a man and a woman and their faithfulness to each other, as Christ is faithful to his Spiritual bride-wife, His wife will forevermore be faithful to her Husband.

Therefore, analogy best fits “bride of Christ” (His wife) and is not a metaphor.