The Bible & marriage: A $5,000 challenge

sermonindex Feb 13, 2005

MONTGOMERY — State Rep. Alvin Holmes has found plenty of people who want to challenge his claim that the Bible does not define marriage as being between a man and a woman.During debate on the House floor over a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, Holmes, D-Montgomery, pulled a wad of money out of his pocket and offered $700 to anyone who could find a Bible verse defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.The House has since received dozens of calls from people wanting to point out Bible verses to Holmes, and one person left a Bible for him. But Holmes, who has upped the offer to $5,000, said no one has shown him a verse that specifically says marriage is between a man and a woman and his money is still in his pocket.He said Friday he has received quotations of various verses from Genesis, Deuteronomy and other Bible books referring to a man and his wife or a husband and his wife, but none that specifically refer to a man and a woman.

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philologos Feb 13, 2005

But Holmes, who has upped the offer to $5,000, said no one has shown him a verse that specifically says marriage is between a man and a woman and his money is still in his pocket.As far as I am aware the Bible does not give any definition of marriage. These are the usage of the word 'marriage' in the KJV.Exo_21:10; Psa_78:63; Mat_22:2; Mat_22:4; Mat_22:9; Mat_22:30; Mat_24:38; Mat_25:10; Mar_12:25; Luk_17:27; Luk_20:34; Luk_20:35; Joh_2:1; Joh_2:2; 1Co_7:38; Heb_13:4; Rev_19:7; Rev_19:9;

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crsschk Feb 14, 2005

An interesting dodge, but futile. Would only say 'specific', the definition is in there. Would think that this would suffice;Mat 19:3 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? Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, Mat 19:5 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? Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. Mat 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. Mat 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

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Angyl Feb 14, 2005

I saw this story elsewhere. The man's a blowhard and a fool. He's not going to part with his money, he's just pandering for the cameras and attention and getting votes.Despicable, really.