Marriage in the new testament

The New Testament provides valuable insights into the nature and purpose of marriage. Here are some key passages and themes:

1. Creation and Purpose: In Genesis 2:24, Jesus quotes from the Old Testament to emphasize the purpose of marriage: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." This passage sets the stage for the New Testament's understanding of marriage as a union between two people who become one in body, spirit, and purpose.
2. The Union of Christ and the Church: In Ephesians 5:25-33, Paul uses the metaphor of Christ's relationship with the Church to describe the relationship between a husband and wife. He writes, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... So husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." This passage emphasizes the sacrificial love and mutual submission that should characterize a Christian marriage.
3. Submission and Respect: In Ephesians 5:22-24, Paul writes, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." This passage has been the subject of much debate and interpretation, but it is generally understood to emphasize the importance of mutual submission and respect in marriage.
4. Love and Self-Giving: In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul writes about the importance of love in marriage: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This passage is often referred to as the "love chapter" and is seen as a model for the kind of love that should characterize a Christian marriage.
5. Divorce and Remarriage: In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus teaches that divorce is permissible only in cases of adultery or abandonment. In 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, Paul writes, "To the married I give this command—not I or the Lord—but the Lord. A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." These passages emphasize the importance of preserving the marriage bond and the need for reconciliation in cases of conflict.
6. Marriage as a Reflection of God's Relationship with Humanity: Throughout the New Testament, marriage is seen as a reflection of God's relationship with humanity. In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul writes, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church." This passage highlights the idea that marriage is a reflection of the union between Christ and the Church, and that it should be characterized by the same kind of love and commitment.

Overall, the New Testament presents marriage as a sacred institution that reflects God's relationship with humanity. It emphasizes the importance of love, submission, and mutual respect in marriage, and provides guidance on issues such as divorce and remarriage.