4 - The Bible and betrothal

Summary

This chapter demonstrates that betrothal, as the customary method of entry into marriage, is embedded in the Bible. It is assumed by Jewish, Roman, and emerging Christian traditions. The separate cases of Mary the mother of Jesus (first section), Rebecca, Rachel, Zipporah and Sarah (second section) are examined. Roman marriage practices are described (third section). Betrothal is shown to be presupposed in the New Testament and its developing theologies of marriage (fourth section). Finally some remarks by Tertullian and two of the canons of the Synod of Elvira are taken as evidence of the incorporation of betrothal into Christian practice in the third and fourth centuries. Evidence from liturgy and law must await chapter 5.

THE BETROTHAL OF MARY AND JOSEPH

Mary the mother of Jesus was betrothed to Joseph when she became pregnant. In what sense, if any, was their relationship a marriage? The account of the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew takes us to the heart of this question. Mary was ‘betrothed (mnèsteutheisès) to Joseph; before their marriage (prin è sunelthein) she found she was going to have a child through the Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 1:18). Mary was promised in marriage, and therefore by implication not yet married. Betrothal took place at a very early age, usually at twelve or twelve and a half. The Authorized Version (AV) has ‘was espoused to Joseph’. The language of espousal, spousals, espoused, etc., was still common in 1611.