Marriage and the Council of Jerusalem

The first readings this week have concerned the Council of Jerusalem in the first century. While the Israelites had lived under the 613 commandments of Mosaic law, there was the question of what must the gentiles have to do to become a Christian? Did they need to follow all the laws? Did they need to become circumcised?

In the 15th chapter of Acts it is decided that not all of the Mosaic laws needed to be followed. However, they did decide that there were four rules that all Christians must follow. Three of those rules involved food (such as not drinking blood) and the fourth was to avoid unlawful marriage.

While that was the decision of the Church in the first century, the importance of lawful marriage is just as important to bishops in the 21st century.

Click here for information on how the US Bishops' response to Frequently Asked Questions About the Defense of Marriage.