{"id":542,"date":"2012-10-10T22:28:57","date_gmt":"2012-10-11T02:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/robertcrosby\/?p=542"},"modified":"2015-03-13T23:24:24","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T03:24:24","slug":"the-most-misquoted-bible-passage-at-weddings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/robertcrosby\/2012\/10\/the-most-misquoted-bible-passage-at-weddings\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Misquoted Bible Passage at Weddings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Biblical value of teams over individual efforts is described in resonant and simple terms in Ecclesiastes. It is especially interesting that, although someone who held a supreme hierarchical position, namely King Solomon, wrote this passage, he nonetheless saw the wisdom and value of teams even in his day. Even from his lofty throne he thought to include these insights and the model of the triple-braided cord in his volume of wisdom.<\/p>\n

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Eccl. 4:9-12, NLT)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This text is used most often, perhaps, at weddings, but \u2013 sad to say \u2013 more often than not taken quite out of context. Traditionally, many Bible teachers have sentimentally assumed and conveyed that the three-fold cord represents the union of husband and wife enjoined with the presence of God. Although such exposition may comprise an appropriate, beautiful, and even Biblical, image, it does not pass the exegetical test, nor does it convey the context of the passage. When considering the verses that fall just prior to this passage, the contrasting introduction makes it clear that the purpose of this image in Scripture is not to present the need for a relationship with God, nor to provide an incentive to marry, but to emphasize the importance of human relationships amidst our work or vocation as opposed to individualism or isolation.<\/p>\n

Consider the preface to the familiar passage:<\/p>\n

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There was a man all alone;
\nhe had neither son nor brother.
\nThere was no end to his toil,
\nyet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
\n\u201cFor whom am I toiling,\u201d he asked,
\n\u201cand why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?\u201d
\nThis too is meaningless \u2014 a miserable business! (Eccl. 4:7-8)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These words set the stage for Solomon\u2019s teaming image of the triple-braided cord. He presents the problem of individualistic efforts and expresses the futility of \u201ca man all alone\u201d who \u201cworks to gain as much wealth as he can.\u201d The results are that, even though he may experience some success, he has no one with whom to share it. Thus, in the final analysis, he concludes that \u201cit is all so meaningless and depressing.\u201d He\u2019s find himself right back where Adam was in the Garden \u2013 ALONE. The place that God said is \u201cnot good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The triple-braided cord model reflects the central image of the Trinity in, at least, a couple of ways. One<\/em>, it is a clear picture of the strength that comes from the teaming together of two or three persons. This is the manner in which God has revealed his nature from the onset of Creation, not as an individualistic deity, but as God-in-community \u2013 the Trinity at work. Two<\/em>, the three-part cord represents not only an effective team, but also a team that has more than one person to share the satisfaction of accomplished work and goals. Remember, even the Trinity amidst its work paused to enjoy the goodness and pleasure of it (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; Matthew 3:17.)<\/p>\n

Solomon cites several specific benefits of the three-fold team or group, over individual, efforts, including: Greater Productivity<\/strong> \u2013 \u201c[they] accomplish more than twice as much as one\u201d; Greater Results<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cget a better return for their labor\u201d; and Greater Security<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cif . . . one falls, the other can . . . help\u201d and \u201ctwo can stand back-to-back and conquer\u201d. He also notes that the addition of another team member is an even Greater Benefit<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cthree are even better\u201d.<\/p>\n

A team is a strong union; a \u201ctriple-braided cord.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

This post is an excerpt from my new book, The Teaming Church: Ministry in the Age of Collaboration<\/a> (Abingdon Press; release date \u2013 October 2012). You can read a sample chapter<\/a> from the book.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Biblical value of teams over individual efforts is described in resonant and simple terms in Ecclesiastes. It is especially interesting that, although someone who held a supreme hierarchical position, namely King Solomon, wrote this passage, he nonetheless saw the wisdom and value of teams even in his day. Even from his lofty throne he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":336,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,289,9,54,14,15,17,70,71,228,174,19,170,20,181,26,30,116],"tags":[36,94331,94313,47,94335,94336,94342,94346],"class_list":["post-542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church","category-collaboration","category-communication","category-community","category-faith","category-friendship","category-giving","category-god","category-gospel","category-grace","category-humility","category-innovation","category-intimacy","category-journey","category-obedience","category-relationship","category-soul","category-teams","tag-assemblies-of-god","tag-belief","tag-bible","tag-christian","tag-community","tag-discipleship","tag-pentecostal","tag-teams"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Most Misquoted Bible Passage at Weddings<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Biblical value of teams over individual efforts is described in resonant and simple terms in Ecclesiastes. 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