But one can hardly say that all the relationships here fit the exact mold you're going with, can we? The Bride is not exactly traditional. The groom and...well...the groom's Father isn't really either. And Paul, while, true, is also 'servant' to Christ, he is also part of the Bride, to whom he is playing the father of! Does that disqualify him? No. What is he talking about then? In other places (
1 Cor. 4:15;
2 Cor. 6:13; 12:14) Paul talks about how he feels like he's their (the Corinthian's ) father in the faith. And thus, he feels, like God often does, a divine jealousy for his 'children'. The description he uses is one of a daughter. A Jewish father had a duty to make sure his daughter was presented pure on her wedding day. Why does Paul use this analaogy? Because the Church does, in point of face, belong to Christ, just like a bride belongs to her husband to be. The Bride price has been paid, promises exchanged, love declared. The only thing we are waiting for, is the groom to come and recieve his Bride. Paul wants to make sure that the Bride is ready, and not found making eyes at some other guy or wearing PJ's.