What might the Bible mean by "marital unfaithfulness," other than adultery?
score:4
"Marriage unfaithfulness" is not a term used in the Bible, so one would have to define it in order to determine a biblical answer. Where did you get the words from, and how were they used?
Since you ask "What MIGHT the Bible refer to as marital unfaithfulness," then I would consider what the husband is supposed to do for the wife and fails to do it as unfaithfulness. Eph. 5:25 tells the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church. No one can do that perfectly, but at least we can aim our (husbands') love in that direction. To point his love away from his wife would be "unfaithfulness" to God's command here.
1 Peter 3:7 tells the husband to dwell with the wife, giving her honor. He should make an effort to understand who she is and deal with her in her weaknesses (the "weaker vessel"). Is it honorable treatment to treat her as a slave, to place greater burdens on her than she should bear, to demean her with controlling commands that turn her into a slave instead of a person made in the image of God? To deliberately treat the wife with dishonor or with less than chivalrous motives is to act in "unfaithfulness" to commands in the scriptures.
These are areas the Bible might consider actions as marital unfaithfulness to the scriptural role the husband is called to uphold. I do not mean to imply that these are the same as sexual sins and worthy of divorce. I do mean to state that these are potential areas of abuse (emotional or physical) that would be considered wrong if they are practiced against the wife with evil intent.
Upvote:0
Its also something that shouldn't be done, something that causes a believer to run from God. I believe that a Church should be rebuked if a Church doesn't rebuke that abusive husband/wife but after that Christian TRULY repents it wouldn't hurt to forgive if he TRULY doesn't want to do it again
Upvote:2
When we get married we take VOWS (promise) before GOD to LOVE, HONOR and CHERISH our spouse. By definition "unfaithfulness" - unfaithful
— adj 1. not true to a promise, vow, etc 2. not true to a wife, husband, lover, etc, esp in having sexual intercourse with someone else 3. inaccurate; inexact; unreliable; untrustworthy: unfaithful copy 4. obsolete not having religious faith; infidel 5. obsolete not upright; dishonest
Is abusing your spouse, lying about your spouse or emotionally abandoning your spouse keeping within those VOWS? Is this what LOVE, HONOR and CHERISH is? I think not.
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