Creation itself, as He affirms, serves a purpose in unity rather than division; the initial bond of matrimony is instituted by the Creator, who united humanity in the sacred covenant of marriage and established an undeniable order for future generations to observe as divine law. When partners come together, they transcend the state of being two individuals, becoming one flesh; thus, what God has united, mankind must not separate. This directive was given to the Pharisees long ago. Now, pay attention to those who follow them, carelessly swapping wives as one would change garments, hastily organizing nuptial celebrations as if they were mere festival booths, marrying for property and seeking brides for selfish gain, hastily drafting letters of divorce at the slightest displeasure, and leaving many grieving spouses behind while they are still alive. Understand that marriage is only severed by death or infidelity. In true adherence to the divine law, cohabitation transcends the mere physicality that characterizes harlotry, where relationships last only a few days and seek carnal indulgence. Instead, there exists a profound unity of spirit and body, with the temper of both partners intertwined, as flesh and flesh are united in remarkable ways. How, then, can you throw such sacred bonds aside? How can you so readily dissolve the union without due sorrow, when you have taken a companion for life, not a temporary servant, but a sister in essence, created from the same earthly substance? A wife, bonded in marital unity and sacred law—what authority do you have to dismantle this connection, which is anchored in both legal and natural law? How can you disregard the solemn vows made during the celebration of your union? Which vows might this refer to? Are they the commitments to which you attested in the records of your dowry, sealing your faith with your own signature? This affirmation holds great weight and strengthens the covenant; however, I am drawn to Adam’s proclamation: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman” (Genesis 2:23). This declaration remains in Scripture for a reason; it embodies the collective acknowledgment of men toward all women legally linked to them by marriage. Do not be astonished that what one pronounces constitutes an obligation for the other; for what transpired with the first couple in the beginning has become an innate standard for ensuing generations. Therefore, if the wife, unjustly cast aside, approaches the judge with the Book of Genesis in hand (and the judge serves as a witness), what will you say then? How will you erase the promises you made before God, which were recorded by no mere scribe, but by Moses, the servant of God? The widow left without a father or mother was bestowed upon Adam by the Creator, who, with great care, provided for the orphan. Now, the daughters are robustly safeguarded by the legal rights bestowed by their mother, Eve, against disloyal husbands; thus, you cannot scorn your wife when bound by both ancient divine law and contemporary human statute. Let the shame of divorce and the enduring value of a wife encourage you. She is your own flesh, a helper, a co-laborer in life's endeavors, in childbearing; she stands by you in illness, provides solace in distress, manages the household, and preserves your resources. She shares in your sorrows and rejoices in your successes. Together, you are partners in wealth, for that shared burden of impoverishment softens the path; she skillfully counters hardships, remains steadfast in nurturing the children, and is inseparably linked to you through the bonds of cohabitation. Should adversity arise, she bears the weight of sorrow and concern; those deemed friends often retreat during trials, measuring camaraderie solely by moments of joy, while servants abandon their masters and flee calamity. Only the wife endures, a true partner in hardship; even in dire circumstances, she serves and cares for her husband, soothing his tears and attending to his wounds. She follows him into imprisonment; if permitted entry, she willingly shares his plight, and if forbidden, she remains at the prison’s threshold, loyal as a dog waiting for its master. I have witnessed a devoted woman, flourishing yet resigned, who cut her hair and donned men’s attire to remain by her husband while he was concealed from their pursuers. Though outwardly masked as a servant, her heart belonged wholly to him, and she traversed from place to place, enduring harshness for many years. We also recognize Job’s patient wife; all others abandoned him—those who flattered him once wealth flowed left alongside it, friends whose loyalty was contingent on prosperity turned away, and if they ever appeared, their presence served only as an indictment rather than comfort (Job 16:2), a source of aggravation rather than solace. Alone, she—a lady of noble birth—sat beside him on the refuse heap, tending his wounds, scraping away the infection. This exemplified the essence of true companionship—not merely a partner in joys but a steadfast ally in trials, the last remnant of all that was dear to him. In her profound love for her husband, she even fell into the sin of blasphemy, suggesting he curse God and hasten his death to escape his suffering, not reflecting on her own grief to come as a widow (Job 2:9). She prioritized her husband's relief over her future despair. This enduring lesson, accompanied by fresh experiences, instructs those who disregard the sanctity of marriage. What can one accused in this manner rebut? What defense can they conjure for their reckless actions? They might claim their wife's temperament is bitter, her words uncontrolled, her household ways disorganized. Even if true, I acknowledge your words—perhaps as judges easily swayed by accusations. Yet, when you first took her hand, were you not aware that you formed an alliance with her as a woman? And when one speaks of woman, can they not instantly recognize the potential for sin? Only the Almighty is wholly free from evil. Have you not transgressed? Have you not caused your wife grief through your actions? Are you faultless, keeping your marital covenant unblemished? How much distress has your wife endured due to your intoxication? How many verbal slights and disparaging remarks has she swallowed? How many of your shortcomings remain unspoken because she refrained from mentioning them? She bore your anger, remaining silent like a purchased servant, even when you were impoverished and neglectful of her needs, she refrained from reprimanding you in sorrowful tones. Upon returning from feasts, occasionally inebriated and devoid of reasoning, she, who despises drunkenness, still welcomed you back, forgiving your human frailties, leading you by the hand, despite your protests, and nursing you back to rest, all while servants jeered at your folly. Yet you wander about, disparaging your wife for inconsequential faults in your reckless pursuit of an easy divorce. Such attitudes among husbands are cruel and inhumane, resembling animals in spirit; they seem to emerge from a heart as unfeeling as stone. Divorcing spouses thoughtlessly evades accountability. Who among you would amputate a diseased member rather than seek healing, especially when the ailment has yet to reach a critical stage and hope for recovery remains? If a blister appears, we treat it judiciously; if a swelling threatens our leg, we combat it with medication. Yet, should we ignore proper care and resort to drastic measures for every malady, we would find ourselves severing limbs throughout our lifetimes. Let it not be so, O men! Preserve the memory of your wives; may their sacrifices stir your conscience. Even amid your fury, if you weigh your grievances against the pains of childbirth, you will find your current grievances trivial in comparison. Let sound reason reveal the value of your wife’s empathy: the healing of afflictions, sharing in adversities, tears shed on your behalf, departing from her family and home to follow you, even selling her possessions to spare you embarrassment. Allow these tributes to foster kind relations and solidify love, strengthening your union which can too easily falter without vigilance. Let compassion prevail, with enduring patterns of cohabitation akin to the bonds observed in the animal kingdom, which are innately tied together. I have seen an ox low in distress when separated from the herd, a sheep calling out in search as it traverses the mountains to rejoin its flock, and a goat unwilling to settle among strangers until it reunites with its familiar shepherd. Created with reasoning beyond the irrational, we ought to cherish our companionship. Let us not demean our spouses as if they were mere transient acquaintances with whom we share trivial moments. Observe how strangers, upon crossing paths on a great thoroughfare and sharing brief moments under a sheltering tree, forge strong, albeit transient, friendships that render parting heart-wrenching. They encounter sorrow upon separation, pausing to weep while exchanging mementos to remember one another as they depart, glancing back, calling out and conveying heartfelt wishes. Such fleeting encounters foster bonds so intense that separation becomes unbearable. Yet, you treat your lifelong partner with little more regard than a discarded vessel, a frayed garment, or a lost pet scurrying from home. Recall the initial passion, the warmth of shared intimacy, the legal bonds you affirmed, the strength of enduring companionship, which, as experience shows, becomes second nature. You have dismantled these connections more easily than Samson broke the Philistine cords (Judges 15:13ff.). Meanwhile, a faithful and steadfast husband does not easily forget his departed wife, cherishing their children as the lasting legacy of both mother and nature. He sees traces of her in them; one child echoes her voice, another bears her likeness, another reflects her spirit. Thus, the grieving father, surrounded by vivid memories of his wife, envisions an everlasting union with her, harboring no impure thoughts—having filled the grave, he does not hastily prepare for another marriage. He does not turn from tears and lamenting to marital celebration, trading his attire of mourning for wedding garments, nor does he replace his lost spouse, giving his children another mother—a repugnant term—but instead emulates the pure fidelity of doves who, not by reason but by nature, remain true to their departed mates. Legend holds that a dove, once bereaved of its partner, lives out its sorrow with love, unlike the pigeon inclined to polygamous ways. To this point, the husband faces numerous accusations, and his ingratitude may draw assaults more numerous than falling snow. Should anyone declare the guilt of adultery to justify their divorce, I stand prepared to advocate for the wronged party, composing an indictment against the unfaithful spouse and defending the husband. To them, the Creator grants rightful concession as the genuinely wronged, expelling the pestilence from his home. For marriage rests on two supports—love and procreation, both violated by infidelity. Love cannot exist if one's favor drifts to another, and the good of offspring disappears when children mix within households. While further elaboration on this sin belongs to other counsel, I propose that both partners earnestly uphold purity and the sacredness of marriage; wherever this covenant is honored, peace and love flourish, for unlawful desires do not stir the heart nor displace righteous affection. This principle of fidelity is equally mandated by God for both spouses. In contrast, many men blindly rely on worldly legislations, granting themselves unchecked freedoms to pursue illicit relationships while enforcing strict standards solely upon women’s purity; their shameless debauchery is a double standard that renders them indignant teachers of virtue. If anyone dares rebuke their scandalous behavior, they present ludicrous justifications.
THEOSIS