What word do the Prophets use for Israels relationship to God? - Edit 2
Before modification by Joel at 20/09/2012 12:40:01 AM
There's a clear difference. First, Jesus used the term "bridegroom" as an allegory, and the term "bridegroom" and "bride" are totally different in all the relevant languages from "husband" and "wife". In Coptic that would require using "šeleet" instead of "(s)hime" (the "s" appearing in some dialects, not in others).
They often used the same allegory, after all. I know there is a distinction between "bride" and "wife," but my point is the far more significant one between metaphor and literalism: If the newly found text speaks only metaphorically, whether the term is "bride" or "wife" changes little; neither gives legends of a literal wife any credibility.