An Old Testament KnoWhy relating to the reading assignment for Gospel Doctrine Lesson 20: “All the City … Doth Know That Thou Art a Virtuous Woman” (Ruth; 1 Samuel 1) (JBOTL20A)

Question: How does the book of Ruth provide a model for marriage?

Summary: According to an insightful presentation by Catholic Bible scholar Gary A. Anderson included in this week’s article, the book of Ruth establishes a model for marriage in three ways: “1. the love of God for Israel as a lens with which to examine the love between a husband and wife; 2. the relationship of the married couple to the larger network of family relations – marriage is not just an arrangement between two individuals; and 3. The necessary and non-negotiable linkage of conjugal love and procreation.” In making his arguments for Ruth as a biblical model of marriage, Anderson goes further, revealing selected temple themes that that are key to understanding the role of Boaz as a redeemer. Careful study of Ruth will reveal that its story of redemption concerns not only a family but also all of Israel, past and future.

The full article may be found at the Interpreter Foundation website: KnoWhy OTL20A — How Does the Book of Ruth Provide a Model for Marriage?

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