“…that they may be made perfect in one …” (John 17:23, ASV)
The born-again believer is thus one spirit with the Holy Spirit – Jesus’s words in John 17:22-23 are a confirmation: “… that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one …”
But in the light of the previous teaching it is now clear that the bodies of the individual believers also form one ethereal spiritual body. In 1 Cor. 10:16-17 Paul argues that “the body of Christ” is “one bread,” and makes clear: “For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.” He is not necessarily speaking of the single bread that is used for communion, but of the fused unity of the various physical bodies that form A NEW SUBSTANCE.
The most beautiful example of this is certainly the mystery of marriage, as Paul notes in Eph. 5:32. In the preceding section, from verse 28 onwards, the apostle prepares the theoretical argument for this almost terrifying revelation that will follow: “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” This mystery is specifically that “the two shall become one flesh”. This thought derives from the beginning of the Bible, and is also found in the teachings of Jesus and Paul:
- “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24).
- “And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made themat the beginning “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’” (Matt. 19:4-6; also see Mark 10:7-9).
- “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:16-17).
The statement Jesus makes in Matt. 19:6 has immense implications: “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” From a spiritual perspective, but actually also a physical perspective, two things that are joined by God can NEVER be separated. This for instance means that in this case, where God has joined two people in marriage, their bond CANNOT be broken, even if they separate.
We can understand this situation better if we return to the example of water in the previous teaching. The analogy of the ‘water’-marriage cannot be broken if hydrogen (man) and oxygen (woman) are for instance separated from one another. The mystery of their unity as water cannot be broken up into the original gasses. The entanglement of marriage is created by God with Mal. 2:15 in mind: “He seeks godly offspring.” The unity of man and woman determines their offspring, and is responsible for the eternal heritage of that offspring.
The word entanglement was not used lightly in the sentence above. In their first studies concerning the core characteristics of quantum physics, Albert Einstein, but especially his student, Erwin Schrödinger, found that the smallest particles are entangled to such a degree that it is effectively two parts of the same entity. The scientist can try to divide the two entities once they have entangled, but any disentanglement of one particle is immediately reflected in the other particle. These two particles now share a separate, other identity after their fusion, which cannot be undone. Interestingly enough this relation between the particles takes place quicker than the speed of light! It is also a fundamental aspect of quantum physics. Schrödinger, who coined the term entanglement, calls it “the characteristic trait of quantum mechanics”.
In short: quantum entanglement is the ability of two particles to be intimately related to one another, even when they are separated or apart. This is what Einstein termed the ghost effect that particles exert upon the other even when they are far removed from it. This characteristic of quantum physics is also one of the markers that can clearly be used in studying human relationships.
Two new contributions to this field: Ed Vitagliano’s article in the October 2010 edition of the scientific journal AFA Journal, titled ‘Bonded in the brain, New science confirms biblical view of sex.’ (pp. 14-15). In addition, we find a book by Joe S. McIlhaney Jr. & Freda McKissic Bush titled Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex Is Affecting Our Children. Both of these contributions focus on the role that sexuality plays in the formation of this quantum relationship (for the lack of a better word.)
The release of certain brain chemicals when physical attraction occurs between two people eventually culminates in sexual intercourse. The resulting excessive release of chemicals creates, through quantum physics, a real bond between the parties that builds a spiritual being in which both people are entangled. In the woman this leads to a greater capacity and need for intimacy, and a continuous effort to strengthen the bond between them. In the man it obviously also deepens the relationship, but interestingly enough, “bonding of the man to his mate and attachment to his offspring”. McIlhaney & Bush then make this statement: “No doubt this is part of the meaning behind God’s statement in Genesis regarding marriage, that the man and woman ‘shall become one flesh’” (p. 24). “This bonding power of sex, is real and almost like the adhesive effect of glue.”
Remember what is the Hebrew and Greek root meaning of the word joined? Yes, glue! On account of this it is absolutely necessary that we take Heb. 13:4 very seriously: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Breaking it apart has wide-ranging consequences.
- Selah: Is the concept of soul ties relevant here?
- Read: 16-21
- Memorise: 13:17
- For a more in-depth understanding: Read McIlhaney & Bush’s fascinating book
