Redemption and Healing in Marriage Struggles
Redemption, in a biblical context, refers to the act of purchasing back something that was lost through the payment of a ransom [2]. The Greek term apolutrosis, used nine times in Scripture, consistently carries this meaning of a price paid for release [2]. This concept is evident in the Old Testament, where lutron is used in both human-to-human transactions (e.g., Leviticus 19:20; Exodus 21:30) and in the relationship between humanity and God (e.g., Numbers 3:49) [2]. The prophet Jeremiah, in Lamentations, expresses this personal experience of divine intervention, stating, "Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life" [1]. Names like Pedaiah and Nehemiah also reflect this theme, meaning "redemption of the Lord" and "consolation; repentance of the Lord," respectively [7, 4].
In the New Testament, redemption is a central theme, particularly in relation to salvation from the power, guilt, and penal consequences of sin [12]. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians, speaks of "the redemption" as the grand subject of all revelation, emphasizing that believers "have" this redemption as a present possession through Christ [12]. This redemption is understood as Christ, our kinsman, paying the price for our release, much like a kinsman could redeem a bond-servant in ancient Israel (Leviticus 25:48) [12]. One purpose of this redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed [8].
Healing is often presented in Scripture as a consequence of following God's wisdom and as a divine act. Proverbs 3:8 states that wisdom "will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones," implying physical vitality as a reward for a life lived according to God's ways [3, 13]. The ministry of Jesus frequently involved healing, as seen in numerous accounts where he healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised the dead [6]. These miracles included healing from a distance, such as the nobleman's son and the centurion's servant [6, 10].
In the context of marriage struggles, the biblical narrative acknowledges that the marriage relationship, after the Fall, includes elements of antagonism [15]. Genesis 3:16 describes a dynamic where the woman desires to control her husband, but he will rule over her [15]. However, the New Testament offers a path to restoration for the marriage relationship through new life in Christ, as discussed in Ephesians 5:18-32 [15]. While Jesus addressed the topic of divorce, his teaching in Matthew 19:3-12 provides guidance on the sanctity of marriage [9]. When facing devastation or struggles, repentance and prayer are presented as proper responses, with calls for divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [11, 5]. For younger widows, remarriage was even recommended as an antidote to certain temptations [14].
Sources
- Lamentations “Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life. -- Lamentations 3:58”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 3:8 (BSB) — This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Nehemiah — consolation; repentance of the Lord”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles of Christ, The — Water turned to wine -- Joh 2:6-10. Nobleman's son healed -- Joh 4:46-53. Centurion's servant healed -- Mt 9:5-13. Draughts of fish -- Lu 5:4-6; Joh 21:6. Devils cast out -- Mt 8:28-32; 9:32,33; 15:22-28; 17:14-18; Mr 1:23-27. Peter's wife's mother healed -- Mt 8:14,15. Lepers cleansed -- Mt 8:3; Lu 17:14. Paralytic healed -- Mr 2:3-12. Withered hand restored -- Mt 12:10-13. Impotent man healed -- Joh 5:5-9. The dead raised to life -- Mt 9:18; 19:23-25; Lu 7:12-15; Joh 11:11-44. Issue of blood stopped -- Mt 9:20-22. The blind restored to sig”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Pedaiah — redemption of the Lord”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 43:21: 43:21 One purpose of redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed (see 1 Pet 2:9).”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 19:2: And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there--Mark says further (Mar 10:1), that "as He was wont, He taught them there." What we now have on the subject of divorce is some of that teaching. Divorce (Mat 19:3-12).”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:29: 7:29-30 For similar healings from a distance, see Matt 8:5-13 // Luke 7:1-10 and John 4:46-54.”
- Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 2:18: 2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:7: In whom--"the Beloved" (Eph 1:6; Rom 3:24). we have--as a present possession. redemption--Greek, "our (literally, 'the') redemption"; THE redemption which is the grand subject of all revelation, and especially of the New Testament (Rom 3:24), namely, from the power, guilt, and penal consequences of sin (Mat 1:21). If a man were unable to redeem himself from being a bond-servant, his kinsman might redeem him (Lev 25:48). Hence, antitypically the Son of God became the Son of man, that as our kinsman He might redeem us (Mat 20:28). Another "redempti”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 3:8: 3:8 Healing and strength mean enjoying physical vitality as God’s reward for following wisdom’s way.”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 5:14: younger women--rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, "the younger widows," namely younger widows in general, as distinguished from the older widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (Ti1 5:9). The "therefore" means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, "I will," or "desire," &c. (Ti1 5:11-13). The precept here that they should marry again is not inconsistent with Co1 7:40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (compare Co1 7:26). Here remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and t”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 3:16: 3:16 Judgment falls on the woman’s unique role of childbearing and on her relationship with her husband. • And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you: The marriage relationship now included an element of antagonism rather than just security and fulfillment. New life in Christ allows for the restoration of a man and a woman’s marriage relationship (Eph 5:18-32; cp. Matt 20:25-28).”