In His reply, 'that the children of the bridegroom could not fast,' Jesus virtually allowed the practice of the disciples of John, and excused, as only for a time, that of His own disciples.

The very name, 'bridegroom,' was taken from the Old Testament (Ps.xix.

6 sq., Is.lxi.10, xlix.

18, Cant.iv.

8); and its assumption by Christ was a sanction of marriage, and showed that Marcion did wrong to condemn the married state.
Unde autem et Joannes venit in medium ?...