marriage and family test 2

Gods purpose is creating man and woman in his image

Rule Earth for God

• Representative rule

Procreation

Joint stewardship

Together they are to rule and together are to multiply

Complementarity

Equal worth, different roles

Evidence of complementary

physical, emotional, rational differences

• Evidence for Adam’s Ultimate responsibility

• God addresses Adam last after the Fall, showing God holds Adam ultimately responsible for failures to obey His word

• Moral commands and creation mandate given to Adam before Eve created

What is Eves relationship to Adam

Sent as a “suitable helper”

Eve as a suitable helper

1. shared responsibility to express dominion, rule earth, create

2. Eve was suitable to Adam in way no other creature was

3. Eve was “alongside” Adam - taken from his side, not head or foot

4. They share companionship not only sexual union

5. They are partners

Fall of humanity

Complete reversal of creation order and role

Effect of fall on the woman

Loving harmony in relationship to husband replaced by letter of struggle where she seeks to exert control over him

Effect of fall on man

By sweat of brow will fight thorns and thistles to produce food

Overall result of the fall

• breakdown in human relationships

• Marital strife enters

• Breakdown in family relationships

• Role reversal

• Painful childbirth

Marital roles of husbands to wives

• love and cherish wife, treat her with respect and dignity

• Bear primary responsibility for marriage and ultimate authority over family

• Produce food clothing and other necessities

Marital roles of wives to husbands

• Bear children

• Manage household

Provide companionship to husband

Ways Gods ideal for marriage compromised in Israel’s history

1. Polygamy

2. Divorce

3. Adultery

4. Homosexuality

5. Sterility

Contractural view of marriage

Marriage as a bilateral contract that is voluntarily formed, maintained, and dissolved by 2 individuals

Characteristics of contractural marriage

• typically made for limited period of time

• Most often deals with a specific action

• Conditional upon continued performance of contractural obligations by other partner

• Entered into for one’s own benefit

Limitations of contractural marriage

• simplistic

• Not found in scripture

• Weak basis for permanence of marriage

• Rooted in civil law and opens door to variety of marital arrangements that scripture prohibits

Covenantal view

Sacred bond between a man and woman instituted by and publicly entered into before God, normally consummated by sexual intercourse

Characteristics of covenantal view

• permanence of marriage: solemn pledge to spouse before Gos

• Sacredness of marriage: two become done, establishment of new relationship between two previously unrelated individuals, most intimate human bond

• Mutuality of marriage: free, self-giving relationship of one human being to another

• Foremost concern is well being of other

• Exclusiveness of marriage: no other human relationship must interfere with marriage commitment between husband and wife