Water Is Thicker Than Blood : An Augustinian Theology of Marriage and Singlehood

## Abstract Marriage and singleness appear in the contemporary era as problems for scholars and laypeople alike. Several problems related to marriage and singleness include questions of gender roles, the nature of public and private, and sexual ethics. Many contemporary theologians focus almost exclusively on “theology of marriage” and offer solutions using sociopolitical means, but they fail to see the damage that this limited focus on marriage alone has for ecclesiology. Augustine of Hippo becomes a reference point for addressing this split between married and single people, as well as questions about gender and public/private distinctions. This book argues that Augustine's theological method shows a better way of thinking through some contemporary problems by demonstrating how Augustine views marriage and single states of life in light of the church's life and history. Via retelling salvation history (creation, fall, redemption, and eschatology) and taking a look at the political life of the church in its worship practices, this book shows that marriage and singleness cannot be intelligibly separated from each other, that gender and gendered relationships must be seen in light of friendship with God, and that the marriage between Christ and the church is the first mediator in any state of life. The water of baptism, Christians' first birth and initiation into the life of Christ, becomes the primary standard for relationships, rather than familial ties.

This book considers how homes, households, and domestic life are related to the Church. Early theologies glorified the monastic lifestyle as a way to transcend earthly attachments in favor of supernatural goods. Contemporary thinkers have seen that functioning marriages and families themselves can lead us toward a more righteous society.

Jana Bennett insists that both marriage and singleness must be placed in the context of the Christian story of redemption for the questions and problems at stake to be fully understood. She finds that Augustine of Hippo, maligned by modern theologians, is the source of very fruitful reflection on these topics. Most scholars today would agree that Augustine's works have exerted great influence on Western views of marriage, family, and sex. But many would argue that this influence has been detrimental to a healthy understanding of these topics. However, using Augustine's writing, Bennett shows that marriage and singleness cannot be considered separately, that gender issues are important to considering these states correctly and, most important, that the marriage between Christ and the Church is the first consideration in understanding and living these states of life. The water of baptism, Christians' first birth and initiation into the life of Christ, is the primary standard for relationships, rather than familial ties.

This book considers how homes, households, and domestic life are related to the Church. Early theologies glorified the monastic lifestyle as a way to transcend earthly attachments in favor of supernatural goods. Contemporary thinkers have seen that functioning marriages and families themselves can lead us toward a more righteous society. Jana Bennett insists that both marriage and singleness must be placed in the context of the Christian story of redemption for the questions and problems at stake to be fully understood. She finds that Augustine of Hippo, maligned by modern theologians, is the source of very fruitful reflection on these topics. Most scholars today would agree that Augustine's works have exerted great influence on Western views of marriage, family, and sex. But many would argue that this influence has been detrimental to a healthy understanding of these topics. However, using Augustine's writing, Bennett shows that marriage and singleness cannot be considered separately, that gender issues are important to considering these states correctly and, most important, that the marriage between Christ and the Church is the first consideration in understanding and living these states of life. The water of baptism, Christians' first birth and initiation into the life of Christ, is the primary standard for relationships, rather than familial ties. 019531543X......Page 1 Contents......Page 12 Part I. Preliminary Arguments for a Theology of Households......Page 14 1. How "Theology of Marriage" Damages Ecclesiology......Page 16 2. Seeing the World with Augustine: Word, Story, and Worship......Page 46 Part II. Intertwining Households: States of Life in Salvation History......Page 66 3. Marriage in Creation, Fall, and Redemption: Against Gendered Dichotomies......Page 68 4. Neither Married nor Given in Marriage: Singleness and Salvation History......Page 96 Part III. Christians’ Eschatological Home......Page 126 5. Households Expanding: Eschatological Visions of Christ......Page 128 6. The Political Household of God: Against the Public/Private Dichotomy......Page 148 7. At Home in Christ: Living as Citizen-Households......Page 170 Notes......Page 204 Selected Bibliography......Page 238 B......Page 252 C......Page 253 H......Page 254 P......Page 255 Y......Page 256 Oxford University Press, USA 019531543X 1 Contents 12 Part I. Preliminary Arguments for a Theology of Households 14 1. How "Theology of Marriage" Damages Ecclesiology 16 2. Seeing the World with Augustine: Word, Story, and Worship 46 Part II. Intertwining Households: States of Life in Salvation History 66 3. Marriage in Creation, Fall, and Redemption: Against Gendered Dichotomies 68 4. Neither Married nor Given in Marriage: Singleness and Salvation History 96 Part III. Christians’ Eschatological Home 126 5. Households Expanding: Eschatological Visions of Christ 128 6. The Political Household of God: Against the Public/Private Dichotomy 148 7. At Home in Christ: Living as Citizen-Households 170 Notes 204 Selected Bibliography 238 Index 252 A 252 B 252 C 253 D 254 E 254 F 254 G 254 H 254 I 255 J 255 K 255 L 255 M 255 N 255 O 255 P 255 R 256 S 256 T 256 V 256 W 256 Y 256 ISBN-13:,9780195315431 ISBN-13: 9780195315431 Much theology overemphasizes marriage to the detriment of ecclesiology. Using Augustine as conversation partner, this book considers the relationship of the Church to marriage and singleness. This examination of salvation history and worship illuminates a vision of households governed more by the waters of baptism than familial ties