In this paper, you will expand on the thoughts you expressed in the previous assignment.
Write a 3-4 page paper describing the fundamentals of biblical marriage from a research perspective. Ensure the following points are addressed:
What components would you list? Explain why. Please be as specific and as thorough as possible.
What does Scripture say about your essential components?
How would those components contrast with current popular thought regarding marriage?
Lastly, how do these components compare with your own present reality if you are married, or what you would desire in a marriage if you were to aspire to marriage?
Provide a minimum of two academic/scholarly sources.
Also reference Marriage and Family; Riggs & Tweedell 2nd Edition
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Fundamentals of Biblical Marriage: A Research Perspective
Introduction
Marriage is a sacred institution that holds significant importance in various cultures and religions, including Christianity. From a research perspective, understanding the fundamentals of biblical marriage provides valuable insights into the components that contribute to a strong and fulfilling marital relationship. This paper explores the essential components of biblical marriage, as outlined in Scripture, contrasts them with current popular thought regarding marriage, and reflects on their relevance in contemporary relationships.
Components of Biblical Marriage
When examining the fundamentals of biblical marriage, several key components emerge that are essential for a thriving marital relationship. These components include:
Covenantal Commitment: Biblical marriage is founded on a covenantal commitment between a husband and wife. It is not merely a contract or legal agreement, but a sacred bond witnessed by God and built on unconditional love, faithfulness, and lifelong commitment. This component ensures the stability and longevity of the marriage.
Mutual Love and Respect: Scripture emphasizes the importance of mutual love and respect between spouses. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the Church, while wives are called to respect and submit to their husbands. This component fosters a harmonious and loving partnership based on mutual honor and selflessness.
God-Centered Foundation: Biblical marriage recognizes the centrality of God in the marital relationship. Both spouses are encouraged to seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and grace in their journey together. By placing God at the center of their marriage, couples find strength, support, and direction for their relationship.
Complementary Roles: Scripture highlights the concept of complementary roles within marriage. While both husband and wife are equal in value and worth, they have distinct roles and responsibilities. Husbands are called to lead and provide for their families, while wives are called to nurture and support their husbands and children. This component promotes harmony, balance, and unity within the marital relationship.
Intimacy and Unity: Biblical marriage recognizes the importance of emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy between spouses. It encourages couples to cultivate deep emotional connections, maintain sexual purity within the confines of marriage, and grow together in their faith. This component fosters a sense of oneness and unity, strengthening the bond between husband and wife.
Scriptural Support for Essential Components
Scripture provides ample support for these essential components of biblical marriage. For example:
Covenantal Commitment: Genesis 2:24 states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse emphasizes the lifelong commitment and unity between spouses.
Mutual Love and Respect: Ephesians 5:33 instructs husbands to love their wives as themselves and wives to respect their husbands. This verse underscores the importance of mutual love and respect in marital relationships.
God-Centered Foundation: Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages couples to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and acknowledge Him in all their ways. This verse highlights the significance of a God-centered foundation in marriage.
Complementary Roles: Ephesians 5:22-33 discusses the roles of husbands as leaders and wives as supportive helpers, emphasizing the complementary nature of these roles within marriage.
Intimacy and Unity: Song of Solomon portrays the beauty of emotional and physical intimacy between spouses through poetic expressions of love.
Contrast with Current Popular Thought
The essential components of biblical marriage often contrast with current popular thought regarding marriage. In contemporary society, individualism, self-gratification, and temporary commitments are often prioritized over sacrificial love, commitment, and complementary roles.
Covenantal Commitment: The concept of lifelong commitment is sometimes undermined by a culture that promotes easy divorce and prioritizes personal happiness over enduring commitment.
Mutual Love and Respect: Contemporary views on marriage may focus more on individual fulfillment rather than mutual love and respect. The emphasis on personal happiness can sometimes overshadow the importance of sacrificial love.
God-Centered Foundation: Secular perspectives often neglect or dismiss the role of God in marriage, leading to a lack of spiritual depth and guidance in relationships.
Complementary Roles: Modern ideologies tend to downplay or reject gender distinctions and traditional roles within marriage, promoting a more egalitarian model where gender roles are seen as interchangeable.
Intimacy and Unity: The prevalence of casual relationships and sexual promiscuity in popular culture can undermine the importance of emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy within the confines of marriage.
Comparison with Personal Reality or Aspirations
In my present reality or aspirations for marriage, I strive to align with the essential components of biblical marriage. While challenges may arise in navigating contemporary cultural influences, understanding the timeless wisdom found in Scripture provides a solid foundation for a healthy marital relationship.
By embracing covenantal commitment, mutual love and respect, a God-centered foundation, complementary roles, and intimacy and unity, I aim to build a strong and fulfilling marriage that reflects biblical principles.
Academic Sources
Riggs, D., & Tweedell, D. (2019). Marriage and Family. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press.
Hauerwas, S., & Willimon, W. H. (1989). Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon Press.
These sources provide comprehensive insights into various aspects of marriage from both a theological and sociological perspective, offering valuable research-based information on biblical principles relating to marriage.
Conclusion
Understanding the fundamentals of biblical marriage from a research perspective provides valuable insights into the components that contribute to a strong and fulfilling marital relationship. By examining scriptural support for these essential components, contrasting them with current popular thought regarding marriage, and reflecting on their relevance in personal reality or aspirations for marriage, individuals can strive to build marriages that honor God’s design for this sacred institution.
