Married couples in the new testament
While the New Testament does not provide a comprehensive list of married couples, it does mention several instances of married couples and their relationships. Here are a few examples:
- Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38): Joseph and Mary were married, and Mary became pregnant with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to divorce Mary quietly, but an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife and raise Jesus as his own.
- Peter and his wife (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31): Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever, and Jesus healed her. This suggests that Peter was married and had a wife.
- Philip and his four daughters (1 Corinthians 9:5): Paul mentions that Philip, one of the seven deacons, had four daughters who were virgins, implying that he was married.
- Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19): Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who were fellow workers with Paul. They hosted a church in their home and were known for their hospitality.
- Philemon and Apphia (Philemon 1:1-2): Philemon was a wealthy Christian who owned a slave named Onesimus. Paul writes to Philemon, asking him to receive Onesimus back as a brother, suggesting that Philemon was married to Apphia.
- Nympha and her household (Colossians 4:15): Nympha was a Christian woman who hosted a church in her home. Paul mentions her and her household in his letter to the Colossians.
- Tryphena and Tryphosa (Romans 16:12): Tryphena and Tryphosa were two Christian women who were fellow workers with Paul. They were likely married to each other, as their names are similar and they are mentioned together.
It's worth noting that the New Testament does not provide a comprehensive list of married couples, and many of the references to married couples are incidental or tangential to the main themes of the text.