Biblical Tone and Style for Pastoral Marriage Writing

Biblical writing on marriage often employs a tone that is both instructive and deeply symbolic, reflecting its divine institution and sacred character ^{[2, 13]}. The Apostle Paul, for instance, uses a calm, subdued style when discussing marital matters, as seen in his allegorical interpretation of Abraham's sons in Galatians ^[8]. This approach emphasizes the theological underpinnings of marriage rather than merely its practical aspects.

The style of biblical counsel regarding marriage is frequently direct and prescriptive, particularly in the pastoral epistles. For example, Paul instructs younger women to marry, bear children, and manage their households to avoid giving occasion for reproach ^[7]. This directness is balanced by an emphasis on virtues such as sobriety and holiness, which are commanded for all believers, including those in marriage ^{[1, 3]}. Wives are specifically exhorted to exhibit "chaste conversation coupled with fear," which John Gill interprets as cheerful subjection, strong affection, and reverence for their husbands, alongside the fear of God ^[9].

Beyond direct instruction, biblical texts often use marriage as a profound metaphor for the relationship between God and His people ^[13]. Augustine, for example, refers to the Church as the Bride and Christ as the Bridegroom, drawing on the imagery of a marriage feast ^[14]. This symbolic language elevates marriage beyond a mere social contract, imbuing it with spiritual significance.

Early Christian writers like Tertullian and Augustine engaged with the nuances of biblical teaching on marriage, sometimes distinguishing between divine precepts and human advice, particularly concerning remarriage ^[5]. Charles Hodge notes that while Paul advised against marriage in certain circumstances due to "present distress," he generally affirmed its lawfulness and benefit ^[4]. Hodge also highlights that marriage, as an ordinance of God, holds a far higher character among Christians than among those who do not know the true God, having been elevated by Christ Himself ^[10]. John Calvin, while sometimes speaking disparagingly of marriage in specific contexts, also vigorously defended its sanctity against those who deemed it an "intolerable vice" in the ecclesiastical order ^{[6, 12]}. The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion include a "Form of Solemnization of Matrimony," underscoring the liturgical and communal recognition of marriage within the church ^[11].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sobriety — Commanded -- 1Pe 1:13; 5:8. The gospel designed to teach -- Tit 2:11,12. With watchfulness -- 1Th 5:6. With prayer -- 1Pe 4:7. Required in Ministers. -- 1Ti 3:2,3; Tit 1:8. Wives of ministers. -- 1Ti 3:11. Aged men. -- Tit 2:2. Young men. -- Tit 2:6. Young women. -- Tit 2:4. All saints. -- 1Th 5:6,8. Women should exhibit, in dress -- 1Ti 2:9. We should estimate our character and talents with -- Ro 12:3. We should live in -- Tit 2:12. Motives to -- 1Pe 4:7; 5:8.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: and the nature of man, that it is best that every man should have his own wife and every wife her own husband; but in view of the “present (or imminent) distress,” he advises his readers not to marry. He writes to the Corinthians as a man would write to an army about to enter on a most unequal conflict in an enemy’s country, and for a protracted period. He tells them: ‘This is no time for you to think of marriage. You have a right to marry. And in general it is best that all men should marry. But in your circumstances marriage can only le”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. IV.--FURTHER REMARKS UPON THE (part 1): APOSTLE'S LANGUAGE. However, touching second marriage, we know plainly that the apostle has pronounced: "Thou t been loosed from a wife; seek not a wife. But if thou shalt marry, thou wilt not sin."[2] Still, as in the former case, he has introduced the order of this discourse too from his personal suggestion, not from a divine precept. But there is a wide difference between a precept of God and a suggestion of man. "Precept of the Lord," says he, "I have not; but I give advice, as havin”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 94: presumed to set down marriage among the other endowments which he required of them. I am aware of the mode in which they expound this—viz. that no one was to be appointed a bishop who had a second wife. This interpretation, I admit, is not new; but its unsoundness is plain from the immediate context, which prescribes the kind of wives whom bishops and deacons ought to have. Paul enumerates marriage among the qualities of a bishop; those men declare that, in the ecclesiastical order, marriage is an intolerable vice; and, indeed, not”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 22.1: 1 Timothy 5:14-16 14 . I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 14 . Volo igitur juniores nubere, liberos gignere, domum administrare, nullam occasionem dare adversario, ut habeat maledicendi causam. 15 . For some are already turned aside after Satan. 15 . Nonnullae enim jam deflexerunt post Satanam. 16 . If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve the”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 20.--EXAMPLES OF THE VARIOUS STYLES (part 1): DRAWN FROM SCRIPTURE. 39. But now to come to something more definite. We have an example of the calm, subdued style in the Apostle Paul, where he says: "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by a bond maid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one”
1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 3:2: While they behold your chaste conversation,.... Cheerful subjection, strong affection, and inviolable attachment to them, and strict regard to the honour of the marriage state, and to the preserving of the bed undefiled with lusts and adulteries: coupled with fear; with reverence of their husbands, giving them due honour, and showing all proper respect; or with the fear of God, which being before their eyes, and upon their hearts, engages them to such an agreeable conversation.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: in nature, and therefore exists wherever men 398 exist. It is a lawful institution among the heathen as well as among Christians. But as it is an ordinance of God it has a character among those who know the true God and thus regard it, far higher than it has for those who are the worshippers of false gods. And, therefore, marriage, under the old dispensation, had a much higher character than it had among the heathen. Nevertheless, among Christians marriage is something far more sacred than it was under the Mosaic economy. Christ had raise”
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), A Form of Solemnization of Matrimony: A Form of Solemnization of Matrimony Pastoral Introduction The Marriage Service The Marriage Service within a Celebration of Holy Communion Notes to the Marriage Service Supplementary Texts Prayers at the Calling of the Banns Alternative Preface Readings and Psalms Alternative Vows Prayer at the Giving of the Ring(s) The Blessing of the Marriage Additional Prayers Canticles An Order for Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage Thanksgiving for Marriage Thanksgiving for Marriage: An Outline Order Thanks”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: 265. 330 Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on The Old and New Testament. Matthew xix. 11 . By Rev. Robert Jamieson, St. Paul’s, Glasgow, Scotland; Rev. A. R. Fausset, A. M., St. Cuthbert, York, England; and the Rev. David Brown, D. D., Aberdeen, Scotland, Hartford, Conn. 1871. 331 Calvin on Matthew xix. 10, 11 , in N. T. Comment. Berlin, 1838, vol. ii. p. 159. Although Calvin sometimes speaks disparagingly of marriage, at other times, especially when writing against the Papists, he vindicates its sanctity. Thus in connection with the ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: prophets, apostles, confessors, and martyrs, have been married men. If marriage was not a degradation to them, surely it cannot be to monks and priests. The strongest proof of the sanctity of the marriage relation in the sight of God, is to be found in the fact that both in the Old and in the New Testaments, it is made the symbol of the relation between God and his people. “Thy Maker is thy husband,” are the words of God, and contain a world of truth, of grace, and of love. The departure of the people from God, is illustrated by a referen”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XLV.(5) (part 2): "understanding," other eyes were required by Him when He said, "He that seeth Me, seeth My Father also."(2) Let the Psalm then now sound of Him, let us rejoice in the marriage-feast, and we shall be with those of whom the marriage is made,(3) who are invited to the marriage; and the very persons invited are the Bride herself. For the Church is "the Bride," Christ the Bridegroom. There are commonly spoken by balladists(4) certain verses to Bridegrooms and Brides, called Epithalamia.(5) Whatever is sung there, is sung in hon”

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