Marriage

Marriage appears in both the first chapter of the Bible (Genesis 2:24 — "the two become one flesh") and the last (Revelation 21-22 — the marriage supper of the Lamb). It is one of the few human institutions the New Testament explicitly frames as an image of something theological: the relationship between Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:31-32). This is why marriage matters so deeply in the Christian tradition — and why it is worth understanding what Scripture actually says about it.

The Christian view of marriage is both higher and harder than most cultural versions. Higher because it is designed to reflect God's covenantal faithfulness. Harder because it requires the kind of sacrificial, unconditional love that is only possible with God's grace. These articles take both dimensions seriously.

Marriage as Covenant, Not Contract

The cultural understanding of marriage is primarily contractual: two people agree to certain terms for mutual benefit, and the relationship continues as long as it remains mutually beneficial. The biblical understanding is covenantal: a binding commitment that reflects God's own covenant faithfulness — not conditional on performance, not breakable by preference.

This higher view of marriage creates both the highest aspiration and the deepest resource: because the covenant is binding, it creates the safety in which genuine intimacy and growth are possible. And because it reflects God's covenant, it draws on his faithfulness rather than only the spouses' willpower.

On Hard Seasons

Every marriage has hard seasons — seasons of distance, conflict, disappointment, and the grinding work of two imperfect people trying to love each other well. The Christian resources for hard seasons are not primarily advice techniques (though those can help) — they are forgiveness, prayer, and the conviction that the covenant is worth fighting for.

Colossians 3:13 says "bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." The willingness to forgive, repeatedly and without keeping score, is the single most important skill in a long marriage.