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Manuel wrote:

Hi, guys —

I have a question about the book of Wisdom, Chapter 3:16-19 from the Bible.

16 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish. 17 Even if they live long they will be held of no account, and finally their old age will be without honor. 18 If they die young, they will have no hope and no consolation in the day of decision. 19 For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous.

Wisdom 3:16-19

  • Can you please explain to me what these verses mean?

I read on a web site they could mean that children born of parents who are not married, are not going to Heaven.

Manuel

  { Can you explain Wisdom 3; are children, born of parents who aren't married, going to Heaven? }

Eric replied:

Manuel —

I'd avoid that web site. The marriage status of your parents has nothing to do with your salvation.

Children of adulterers is not to be understood as anyone conceived in adultery. It means those who live in a pattern of adultery. Think spiritual childhood, not necessarily biological childhood.

Now of course someone who is conceived in adultery and raised by an adulterer, especially if he knows his situation, will likely follow in his adulterous parent's footsteps.

The key is that this does not consign someone involuntarily to condemnation, despite their fervent faith and righteous deeds; rather, it says that someone who is born of adultery (in a moral sense) will, if they remain children of adultery, (i.e. following the pattern of their forebearers), come to a bad end.

Eric

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