Bridal Theology (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, bridal theology, also referred to as mystical marriage, concerns the relationship of the believer, or body of believers (church) and God, drawing an analogy with the natural husband/wife relationship. In the Old Testament of the Bible, God is represented as the Husband. Israel, His people, are the wife; sometimes faithful, sometimes errant. God represents Himself as being married to His people. The most vivid example of bridal theology in the Old Testament scriptures is found in the Song of Solomon, also referred to as the Song of Songs. Christian theologians have long discussed whether the Song of Solomon should be taken as a literal love poem or as an analogy of relationship of God with His Bride. Origen (3rd century AD) wrote three commentaries on the Song of Songs in Greek. Gregory of Nyssa (d. 394), posited that the goal of the Song of Songs is the union of the soul with God. Richard of St. Victor (Middle Ages) wrote a detailed commentary on chapters 3 to 5 of the Song of Songs. Bernard of Clairvaux composed an extensive series of sermons on the text.