Nature of Marriage in Scripture and Christian Tradition
The Biblical Foundation of Marriage
The concept of marriage in Scripture is rooted in the creation narrative, where God institutes marriage between Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:18-25). This foundational text establishes several key principles regarding marriage, including its divine origin, the unity of husband and wife, and the indissolubility of the marital bond [2]. The biblical account describes marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman, where the two become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24) [1].
Characteristics of Marriage in Scripture
The biblical portrayal of marriage highlights several key characteristics. Firstly, marriage is a divinely instituted union, with God being the one who brings the couple together (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) [1, 3]. Secondly, marriage is characterized by monogamy, as evident from the creation account and reaffirmed by Jesus (Matthew 19:5; 1 Corinthians 6:16) [3]. The biblical text also emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and exclusivity within marriage, with adultery being considered a serious offense [9, 10].
The biblical account also outlines the roles and responsibilities within marriage. The husband is called to love and cherish his wife, while the wife is expected to be a helper and companion to her husband (Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:13) [2, 8]. The New Testament also emphasizes the importance of mutual submission and respect within marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33).
Marriage as a Symbol of God's Relationship with His People
In addition to its literal meaning, marriage is also used as a metaphor to describe God's relationship with his people. The prophets, such as Hosea and Ezekiel, use the imagery of marriage to convey God's covenant love and faithfulness towards Israel (Hosea 1-3; Ezekiel 23:4) [9, 10]. This metaphor is also developed in the New Testament, where the relationship between Christ and the church is described as a marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33) [8].
Historical and Cultural Context
The biblical understanding of marriage was not developed in a vacuum, but was influenced by the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East. The Israelites practiced polygamy and concubinage, which were common practices in the surrounding cultures (Genesis 4:19; 6:2; 16:1-4) [3, 4]. However, the biblical text also critiques these practices and emphasizes the importance of monogamy and faithfulness.
The Mosaic law regulated marriage and divorce, providing guidelines for the treatment of wives and concubines (Exodus 21:7; Deuteronomy 21:10-14; 22:13-21) [4, 5]. The law also emphasized the importance of chastity and fidelity within marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) [11].
Christian Tradition and the Understanding of Marriage
The Christian tradition has understood marriage as a sacred institution, rooted in the creation narrative and reaffirmed by Jesus. The early Christian writers, such as Paul, emphasized the importance of marriage as a means of promoting holiness and avoiding immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2, 28, 34) [6, 7]. The Reformers, such as Luther and Calvin, also emphasized the importance of marriage as a divine institution, while critiquing certain practices of the medieval church.
Sources
- 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”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Concubine — In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. There are various laws recorded providing for their protection (Ex. 21:7; Deut. 21:10-14), and setting limits to the relation they sustained to the household to which they belonged (Gen. 21:14; 25:6). They had no authority in the family, nor could they share in the household gov”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
- 1 Corinthians “There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. -- 1 Corinthians 7:34”
- 1 Corinthians “But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. -- 1 Corinthians 7:28”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:31: For--The propagation of the Church from Christ, as that of Eve from Adam, is the foundation of the spiritual marriage. The natural marriage, wherein "a man leaves father and mother (the oldest manuscripts omit 'his') and is joined unto his wife," is not the principal thing meant here, but the spiritual marriage represented by it, and on which it rests, whereby Christ left the Father's bosom to woo to Himself the Church out of a lost world: Eph 5:32 proves this: His earthly mother as such, also, He holds in secondary account as compared with His spir”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- Deuteronomy (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Deuteronomy 22:13: Laws of Chastity and Marriage. - Higher and still holier than the order of nature stands the moral order of marriage, upon which the well-being not only of domestic life, but also of the civil commonwealth of nations, depends. Marriage must be founded upon fidelity and chastity on the part of those who are married. To foster this, and secure it against outbreaks of malice and evil lust, was the design and object of the laws which follow. The first (Deu 22:13-21) relates to the chastity of a woman on entering into the married state, which might be called i”