Marriage From The Christian Perspective

• The Biblical Purposes Of Marriage:

          -For human reproduction (Genesis 1:28)

          -Love and companionship (Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 31:10-31)

          -Prevention of lust through sexual gratification or "due benevolence" (1 Corinthians 7:1-5; 9)

• Biblical Description of Marriage:

          -"And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE", and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?" (Matthew 19:4-5)

• Biblical Responsibilities Of The Husband:

          -According to the Bible, the husband is supposed to show loving leadership over his family (1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19). In other words, he is to exercise authority over his household, be responsible, and thus provide for the needs of the household. The man is meant to be the head of the household.

• The Functions Of The Wife:

         -The wife is supposed to be the manager of the home, but under the care of the husband (lower not in essence but positionally). In other words, she is supposed to care for the children, prepare the meals, and keep the house organized (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 2:15; 5:14). The wife is free to take on other responsibilities, as long as they do not interfere with her assigned duties (and distracts the husband from fulfilling his responsibilities). 

• Submission To The Husband Does Not Equal Inferiority Or Lack Of Dignity:

        -Women are not in any way intellectually subordinate in nature or worthy of less respect than men. In other words, both genders posses equal intrinsic value because they were both created by God, who is no respecter of persons. Women are not merely slaves or indentured servants. Women can have their own thoughts. They have the same inherent rights as men.  

       -Wives have been called to be obedient to their husbands because man was created first in order and Eve was the one who was directed manipulated by Satan, who was in the form of a serpent (1 Timothy 2:11-15). The biblical form of submission to the husband, however, is totally different than the types submission described previously. This "obedience" actually points to the closeness of the two partners in marriage. It is the sharing of a mutual goal, a romantic partnership. It represents the different responsibilities that both leading figures of the family have, as described above. The wife of the household has indelible value and a vital role for the success of the family, regardless of whether she chooses to work outside the house or not.     

• The Necessity Of Compromise:

         -In order for marriage to work, both partners must agree to fulfill the necessary obligations that have been assigned to them. No successful relationship can thrive without compromise. There has to be necessary conditions for the husband and wife to abide by, for the household cannot stand in a state of division, an individual cannot complete a job which requires many people to work together, and are simply limited by bodily design. 

       -Human beings were never meant to be stand alone creatures. In other words, we all have the inherent need for social interaction, mental settlement, and compatibility. We all need each other. Both genders, when isolated from each other, are essentially incomplete. One cannot survive without the existence of the other. This is why marriage must also have strict boundaries and obligations for the husband and the wife. Marriage is based on discipline. Marriage is based on commitment. Marriage is based on self-sacrifice. It is because the spouses love each other, that the marriage, and thus the family structure, is held together.