Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 6:16 and Matthew 19:4
First Corinthians 6:16 states, "Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, 'The two will become one flesh'" (ESV). Matthew 19:4 reads, "He answered, 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female'" (ESV). These verses, though from different contexts, both touch upon the concept of "one flesh" and its implications for human relationships.
In 1 Corinthians 6:16, Paul uses the Old Testament concept of "one flesh" to argue against sexual immorality. The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 6 involves Paul reproving the Corinthians for their litigious disposition and for engaging in sexual sin [3]. He reminds them that their bodies are members of Christ and should not be joined to prostitutes [3]. The phrase "one body" (ἓν σῶμά) and "one flesh" (μία σάρξ) emphasizes the profound unity created through sexual union. Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, which originally describes the marital union, to highlight that even a union with a prostitute creates a physical bond that is contrary to the believer's union with Christ [5]. This passage underscores the sacredness of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit [2].
Matthew 19:4 is part of Jesus' response to the Pharisees' question about divorce. Jesus refers to the creation account in Genesis, stating that God "made them male and female" from the beginning [4]. This sets the foundation for understanding marriage as a divinely instituted union between one man and one woman. While the specific phrase "one flesh" appears in the subsequent verses (Matthew 19:5), Matthew 19:4 establishes the created order that underpins the "one flesh" principle. Charles Hodge notes that Jesus' teaching here emphasizes the indissolubility of marriage based on its original design [4]. John Calvin also references this passage in his Institutes of the Christian Religion when discussing the nature of marriage [1, 5].
Both passages draw upon the Genesis creation narrative to define the nature of human relationships. 1 Corinthians 6:16 applies the "one flesh" principle negatively, warning against its misuse in illicit sexual unions, while Matthew 19:4 (and its immediate context) applies it positively to affirm the sanctity and permanence of marriage as intended by God [4]. The "one flesh" concept, therefore, signifies a profound, divinely ordained unity, whether in its proper context of marriage or its improper context of sexual immorality.
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 4:5-6 4:6 4:11 4:12 4:18 Colossians 1:2-3 1:4 1:5 1:5 1:9-10 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-18 1:17 1:18 1:19-20 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21-22 1:24 1:24 1:26 1:26 1:26 2:2 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:13-14 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 2:16 2:16-17 2:17 2:17 2:17 2:19 2:20 2:20-21 2:23 2:23 3:1 3:1 3:1-2 3:2 3:3 3:3 3:4 3:5 3:6 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:16 3:19 3:24 3:25 4:3 4:17 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2:13 2:18 2:20 3:5 3:12 3:13 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:16-17 5:2 5:9 5:17-18 5:19 ”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 6:16: 6:16 Believers together are the temple of the living God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thus holy (1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:1-10).”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 6 (introduction): The Corinthians are reproved for their litigious disposition; brother going to law with brother, and that before the heathen, Co1 6:1-6. They should suffer wrong rather than do any, Co1 6:7, Co1 6:8. No unrighteous person can enter into the glory of God, Co1 6:9, Co1 6:10. Some of the Corinthians had been grievous sinners, but God had saved them, Co1 6:11. Many things may be lawful which are not at all times expedient, Co1 6:12. Meats are for the belly, and the belly for meats; but the body is not for uncleanness, Co1 6:13. Christ's resurrection a”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: 16:16 16:17 16:19 16:19 16:27 17:11 18:3 18:17 18:18 18:19 18:25 19:1-30 19:3-9 19:3-9 19:4-9 19:5 19:9 19:10 19:10 19:11 19:11 19:28 20:28 22:37 22:38 23:39 24:1-25:46 24:3 24:6 24:6 24:14 24:14 24:14 24:24 24:29-35 24:30 24:30 24:31 24:31 24:34 24:34 24:36 25:31 25:31 25:31-46 25:31-46 25:31-46 25:31-46 25:32 25:32 25:41 25:46 26:26 26:26-28 26:27 26:63 26:64 27:24 27:43 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:20 28:20 28:20 28:24 Mark 1:8 1:15 3:4 6:18 6:48 7:4 7:4 7:4 7:28 9:42-48 10:2-12 10:4-9 10:7 10:8 10:11 10:12 10:13 12:26 13:7 1”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 3:6 3:7 3:8 3:14 3:17 3:18 3:18 3:18 4:4 4:4 4:4 4:4 4:6 4:6 4:6 4:7 4:7 4:8 4:8-9 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:13 4:16 5:1 5:2 5:4 5:5 5:6 5:6 5:6 5:6 5:6-7 5:6-7 5:10 5:10 5:10 5:10 5:18 5:18 5:18-19 5:18-21 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19-20 5:19-21 5:20 5:20 5:20-21 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:21 6:7-8 6:8 6:16 6:16 6:16 7:1 7:1 7:1 7:1 7:2 7:2 7:10 7:10 8:16-17 9:6 9:7 10:4 10:4-5 10:4-6 10:8 11:2 11:14 11:14 12:2 12:7 12:7 12:8-9 12:9 12:21 13:4 13:4 13:4 13:5 13:13 Galatians 1:1 1:6 1:8 1:18 1:18 2:1-2 2:3 2:3-5 2:6 2:8 2:9 2:11 2:14 2:16 2:19”