Scripture
A Reading from Scripture:
Lord, cause us to increase and abound in love for one another. A love whose breadth and length and height and depth can not be comprehended. Let our love reflect the unity of our hearts and souls which we celebrate today. (Thessalonians 3:13, Ephesians 3:18).
Genesis 2:18-24
The Lord God said: "it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
A Reading From The Book Of Sirach
Happy the Husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the Lord;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever oh his face.
A gracious wife delights her husband; her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the Lord is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.
Like the sun rising in the Lord's heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
A VIRTOUS WIFE proverbs 31:10
10 )Who[a] can find a virtuous[b] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11)The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12) She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
20) She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
25) Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26) She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ephesians 5:
King James
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For this cause shall a man leaves his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Living Bible
Honor Christ by submitting to each other. You wives must submit to your husbands’ leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of his body the church. (He gave his very life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church obeys Christ.
And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the church when he died for he. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving himself when he loves his wife! (That the husband and wife are one body is proved by the Scripture which says, “A man must leave his father and mother when he marries, so that he can be perfectly joined to his wife, and the two shall be one.”) So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband - obeying, praising and honoring him.
Lamsa
Submit yourselves one to another in the love of Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to our Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved His church and gave Himself for it. So should men love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own body, but nourishes it and cherishes it, even as Christ does for His church. For this reason shall a man leaves his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Nevertheless, let every one of you so love his wife as himself, and the wife see that she reverences her husband.
Modern English
You wives must learn to adapt yourselves to your husbands, as you submit yourselves to the Lord, for the husband is the “head” of the wife in the same way that Christ is head of the Church and savior of his body. The willing subjection of the Church to Christ should be reproduced in the submission of wives to their husbands. But, remember, this means that the husband must give his wife the same sort of love that Christ gave to the Church, when He sacrificed Himself for her. Men ought to give their wives the love they naturally have for their own bodies. The love a man gives his wife is the extending of his love for himself to enfold her. Nobody ever hates or neglects his own body; he feeds it and looks after it.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, And shall cleave to his wife; and the twain shall become one flesh.
In practice what I have said amounts to this: let every one of you who is a husband love his wife as he loves himself, and let the wife reverence her husband.
New American Standard Bible
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her: that He might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing of water, with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing: but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.
I Corinthians 7: 3-4
King James
Let the Husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Modern English
The husband should give his wife what is due to her as his wife, and the wife should be as fair to her husband. The wife has no longer full rights over her own person, but shares them with her husband. In the same way the husband shares his personal rights with his wife.
Living Bible
The man should give his wife all that is her right as a married woman, and the wife should do the same for her husband: for a girl who marries no longer has full right to her own body, for her husband then has his rights to it, too; and in the same way the husband no longer has full right to his own body, for it belongs also to his wife.
Lamsa
Let the husband give to his wife the love which he owes her; and likewise also the wife to her husband.
The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband; and likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife.
Jewish New Testament
The husband should give his wife what she is entitled to in the marriage relationship, and the wife should do the same for her husband.
The wife is not in charge of her own body, but her husband is; likewise, the husband is not in charge of his own body, but his wife is.
I Corinthians 13:
King James
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love in my heart, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not love in my heart, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love in my heart, I gain nothing.
Love is long-suffering and kind; love does not envy;
Love does not make a vain display of itself, and does not boast,
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked,
Thinks no evil; rejoices not over iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
Whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect shall come to an end.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;
But when I became an adult, I put away childish things.
And now abide faith, hope & love; but the greatest of these is love.
Phillips Modern English
If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.
This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience - it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.
Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.
Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
For if there are prophecies they will be fulfilled and done with, if there are “tongues” the need for them will disappear, if there is knowledge it will be swallowed up in truth. For our knowledge is always incomplete and our prophecy is always incomplete.
When I was a little child I talked and felt and thought like a little child. Now that I am an adult my childish speech and feeling and thought have no further significance for me.
In this life we have three great lasting qualities - faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love.
Living Bible
If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages, without learning them, and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noises. If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do? Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love. If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. Someday prophecy, and speaking in unknown languages, and special knowledge - these gifts will disappear.
It’s like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things.
There are three things that remain - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love.
New American Standard Bible
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous: love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly: it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth: bears all things, believes all things hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
But now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love.
Selection #5
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now, I am going to put before you the best way of all. Though I command languages both human and angelic - if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains - if I am without love, I am nothing. Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned - if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; Love is never jealous; Love is not boastful or conceited, It is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, It does not take offense or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; And if knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, see things as a child does and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways. Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known. As it is, these remain: faith, hope, and love, The three of them; And the greatest of them is love.
Selection #6
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects. Always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease.
Where there are tongues, they shall be stilled;
Where there is knowledge, it shall pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
And now these three remain; faith, hope & love. But the greatest of these is love.
Selection #7 Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not envious or boastful
or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way:
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrong doing,
but rejoices in truth.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things
And now faith, hope, and love abide,
and the greatest of these is love.
Hosea 2:19
And I will betroth you unto me forever;
I will betroth you unto me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.
I will betroth you unto me in faithfulness…
Song of Songs 8:6 Wear me as a seal upon your heart
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is infinitely strong…
Many waters cannot quench love;
No flood can sweep it away.
Song of Songs 4:9 You have captured my heart,
My own, my bride,
You have captured my heart
With one glance of your eyes…
Song of Solomon 2:8-10 (New International Version)
8 Listen! My lover!
Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.
10 My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
and come with me.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12:
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
New King James Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a three fold cord is not quickly broken.
King James Version
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Lamsa
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up. Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone? And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The Living Bible
Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.
Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.
With explanation
This passage from Ecclesiastes 4 illustrates the importance of Christian companionship. Two Christians that are bound together in Christ are stronger than the individuals themselves. We believe that Christian marriage is about more than the union of one man and one woman. The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12: (The Living Bible)
“Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.
Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.”
The cord of three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. Marriage takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. It was God who taught us to love. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage.
Cord of Three Strands
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
This passage from Ecclesiastes 4:12 illustrates the importance of Christian companionship. Two Christians that are bound together in Christ are stronger than the individuals themselves. We believe that Christian marriage is about more than the union of one man and one woman. The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one. The Cord of Three Strands is a symbol of that sacred union created on your wedding day.
The cord of three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. Marriage takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. It was God who taught us to love. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage. The cord of three strands ceremony is a great addition to a traditional wedding ceremony. It adds a truly unique element to your ceremony that friends and family will remember. It can also serve as a substitute for the unity candle. This is useful for situations where candles may not be used, or may be difficult. The Cord of Three Strands works well as a substitute in outside weddings. At some point in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom braid the Cord of Three Strands together. The groom holds a small metal ring with three attached strands. The bride then braids the strands together, symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife.
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved;
compassion, kindness, humility, and patience.
And above all these virtues put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let peace reign in your hearts… And be thankful.
Let love dwell in you richly,
as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom…
Sing gratefully to God from your hearts.
And whatever you do, whether in speech or in action,
do it in the name of love.
Ruth 1: 16 & 17
New King James Version
Entreat me not to leave you
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.
Lamsa
Where you go, I will go; and where you dwell, I will dwell; your people shall be my people, and your God my God: Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the Lord do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.
Living Bible
Don’t make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go, and to live wherever you live, your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God. I want to die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord do terrible things to me if I allow anything but death to separate us.
King James Version
Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God; Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, If ought but death part thee and me.
The Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Lord, cause us to increase and abound in love for one another. A love whose breadth and length and height and depth can not be comprehended. Let our love reflect the unity of our hearts and souls which we celebrate today. (Thessalonians 3:13, Ephesians 3:18).
Genesis 2:18-24
The Lord God said: "it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
A Reading From The Book Of Sirach
Happy the Husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the Lord;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever oh his face.
A gracious wife delights her husband; her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the Lord is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person.
Like the sun rising in the Lord's heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
A VIRTOUS WIFE proverbs 31:10
10 )Who[a] can find a virtuous[b] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11)The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12) She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
20) She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
25) Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26) She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ephesians 5:
King James
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For this cause shall a man leaves his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Living Bible
Honor Christ by submitting to each other. You wives must submit to your husbands’ leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of his body the church. (He gave his very life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church obeys Christ.
And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the church when he died for he. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving himself when he loves his wife! (That the husband and wife are one body is proved by the Scripture which says, “A man must leave his father and mother when he marries, so that he can be perfectly joined to his wife, and the two shall be one.”) So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband - obeying, praising and honoring him.
Lamsa
Submit yourselves one to another in the love of Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to our Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved His church and gave Himself for it. So should men love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own body, but nourishes it and cherishes it, even as Christ does for His church. For this reason shall a man leaves his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Nevertheless, let every one of you so love his wife as himself, and the wife see that she reverences her husband.
Modern English
You wives must learn to adapt yourselves to your husbands, as you submit yourselves to the Lord, for the husband is the “head” of the wife in the same way that Christ is head of the Church and savior of his body. The willing subjection of the Church to Christ should be reproduced in the submission of wives to their husbands. But, remember, this means that the husband must give his wife the same sort of love that Christ gave to the Church, when He sacrificed Himself for her. Men ought to give their wives the love they naturally have for their own bodies. The love a man gives his wife is the extending of his love for himself to enfold her. Nobody ever hates or neglects his own body; he feeds it and looks after it.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, And shall cleave to his wife; and the twain shall become one flesh.
In practice what I have said amounts to this: let every one of you who is a husband love his wife as he loves himself, and let the wife reverence her husband.
New American Standard Bible
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her: that He might sanctify her having cleansed her by the washing of water, with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing: but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.
I Corinthians 7: 3-4
King James
Let the Husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Modern English
The husband should give his wife what is due to her as his wife, and the wife should be as fair to her husband. The wife has no longer full rights over her own person, but shares them with her husband. In the same way the husband shares his personal rights with his wife.
Living Bible
The man should give his wife all that is her right as a married woman, and the wife should do the same for her husband: for a girl who marries no longer has full right to her own body, for her husband then has his rights to it, too; and in the same way the husband no longer has full right to his own body, for it belongs also to his wife.
Lamsa
Let the husband give to his wife the love which he owes her; and likewise also the wife to her husband.
The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband; and likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife.
Jewish New Testament
The husband should give his wife what she is entitled to in the marriage relationship, and the wife should do the same for her husband.
The wife is not in charge of her own body, but her husband is; likewise, the husband is not in charge of his own body, but his wife is.
I Corinthians 13:
King James
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love in my heart, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not love in my heart, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love in my heart, I gain nothing.
Love is long-suffering and kind; love does not envy;
Love does not make a vain display of itself, and does not boast,
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked,
Thinks no evil; rejoices not over iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
Whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect shall come to an end.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;
But when I became an adult, I put away childish things.
And now abide faith, hope & love; but the greatest of these is love.
Phillips Modern English
If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.
This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience - it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.
Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.
Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
For if there are prophecies they will be fulfilled and done with, if there are “tongues” the need for them will disappear, if there is knowledge it will be swallowed up in truth. For our knowledge is always incomplete and our prophecy is always incomplete.
When I was a little child I talked and felt and thought like a little child. Now that I am an adult my childish speech and feeling and thought have no further significance for me.
In this life we have three great lasting qualities - faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love.
Living Bible
If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages, without learning them, and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making noises. If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it do? Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love. If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. Someday prophecy, and speaking in unknown languages, and special knowledge - these gifts will disappear.
It’s like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things.
There are three things that remain - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love.
New American Standard Bible
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous: love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly: it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth: bears all things, believes all things hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
But now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love.
Selection #5
A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now, I am going to put before you the best way of all. Though I command languages both human and angelic - if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains - if I am without love, I am nothing. Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned - if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; Love is never jealous; Love is not boastful or conceited, It is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, It does not take offense or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; And if knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, see things as a child does and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways. Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known. As it is, these remain: faith, hope, and love, The three of them; And the greatest of them is love.
Selection #6
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I am nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects. Always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease.
Where there are tongues, they shall be stilled;
Where there is knowledge, it shall pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
And now these three remain; faith, hope & love. But the greatest of these is love.
Selection #7 Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not envious or boastful
or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way:
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrong doing,
but rejoices in truth.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things
And now faith, hope, and love abide,
and the greatest of these is love.
Hosea 2:19
And I will betroth you unto me forever;
I will betroth you unto me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.
I will betroth you unto me in faithfulness…
Song of Songs 8:6 Wear me as a seal upon your heart
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is infinitely strong…
Many waters cannot quench love;
No flood can sweep it away.
Song of Songs 4:9 You have captured my heart,
My own, my bride,
You have captured my heart
With one glance of your eyes…
Song of Solomon 2:8-10 (New International Version)
8 Listen! My lover!
Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattice.
10 My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
and come with me.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12:
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
New King James Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a three fold cord is not quickly broken.
King James Version
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Lamsa
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up. Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone? And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The Living Bible
Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.
Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.
With explanation
This passage from Ecclesiastes 4 illustrates the importance of Christian companionship. Two Christians that are bound together in Christ are stronger than the individuals themselves. We believe that Christian marriage is about more than the union of one man and one woman. The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12: (The Living Bible)
“Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.
Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.”
The cord of three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. Marriage takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. It was God who taught us to love. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage.
Cord of Three Strands
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
This passage from Ecclesiastes 4:12 illustrates the importance of Christian companionship. Two Christians that are bound together in Christ are stronger than the individuals themselves. We believe that Christian marriage is about more than the union of one man and one woman. The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one. The Cord of Three Strands is a symbol of that sacred union created on your wedding day.
The cord of three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. Marriage takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. It was God who taught us to love. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage. The cord of three strands ceremony is a great addition to a traditional wedding ceremony. It adds a truly unique element to your ceremony that friends and family will remember. It can also serve as a substitute for the unity candle. This is useful for situations where candles may not be used, or may be difficult. The Cord of Three Strands works well as a substitute in outside weddings. At some point in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom braid the Cord of Three Strands together. The groom holds a small metal ring with three attached strands. The bride then braids the strands together, symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife.
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved;
compassion, kindness, humility, and patience.
And above all these virtues put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let peace reign in your hearts… And be thankful.
Let love dwell in you richly,
as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom…
Sing gratefully to God from your hearts.
And whatever you do, whether in speech or in action,
do it in the name of love.
Ruth 1: 16 & 17
New King James Version
Entreat me not to leave you
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.
Lamsa
Where you go, I will go; and where you dwell, I will dwell; your people shall be my people, and your God my God: Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried; may the Lord do so to me, and more also, if even death can separate me from you.
Living Bible
Don’t make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go, and to live wherever you live, your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God. I want to die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord do terrible things to me if I allow anything but death to separate us.
King James Version
Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God; Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, If ought but death part thee and me.
The Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.