A Christian Theology Of Marriage And Family

What are Christian families called to be and do in contemporary society? Weaving together theology, social science, and her experience as a wife and mother, Julie Hanlon Rubio answers this provocative and timely question. She explores the marriage liturgy, the New Testament and Christian tradition and then reflects on the ways Christian husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and children can live out their vocations in changing times. She concludes with chapters on divorce and the mission of the family. Relevant, academically oriented yet popularly written, and filling a need by its attention to family issues, this book will make an ideal text for courses in: --marriage. --family ethics. --social justice. --Christian ethics. +

"A definite shift in the Catholic Church's understanding of marriage took place at Vatican Council II. Rather than perceiving marriage as a contract whose primary purpose was the procreation of children, the council spoke of marriage as an intimate partnership of life and love. Then, recapturing an earlier tradition, it went on to describe the family as a domestic church." "In this book seven theologians who have lectured and written extensively on marriage probe the rich theology of marriage and family that emerged from Vatican II and explore some of the implications that flow from this theology." "Part One reflects on the sacramentality of marriage and on the family as a church of the home. Part Two examines the pastoral implications this has for marital and family ministry and spirituality."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Family life has undergone revolutionary changes in Western society in the last sixty years, posing both theological and ethical challenges for the contemporary church. This book responds with wide-ranging essays on sexuality, marriage, family life, singleness, same-sex relationships, violence against women, anthropology, gender and culture. These chapters are essential reading for anyone concerned with Christian teaching on marriage and the family. They balance a clear loyalty to the church's historic and biblical teaching with a recognition that all doctrine is contextualized. There is a growing gap between the ethics of many Christians and those of wider society. So Christians have to be counter-cultural. But the church also has to be self-critical, differentiating between biblical revelation and cultural development. And it must know how to present unchanging Christian convictions to a constantly changing society. The contributors are Andy Angel, Daniel Block, Rosalind Clarke, Barry Danylak, Andrew Goddard, Stephen Holmes, David Instone Brewer, A. T. B. McGowan, Nicholas Moore, Onesimus Ngundu, Oliver O'Donovan, Ian Paul, Andrew Sloane, Katy Smith, Elaine Storkey and Sarah Whittle. Contents Introduction Thomas A. Noble, Sarah K. Whittle and Philip S. Johnston Part 1: Biblical perspectives 1. The patricentric vision of family in the book of Deuteronomy Daniel Block 2. Ordered relationships in Leviticus Katy Smith 3. 'Who is this coming up from the wilderness?' Identity and interpretation in the Song of Songs Rosalind Clarke 4. The sexuality of God incarnate Andy Angel 5. Developing a biblical theology of singleness Barry Danylak 6. 'Let even those who have wives be as though they had none': 1 Corinthians 7:29 and the challenge of the 'apocalyptic' Paul Sarah K. Whittle 7. Are we sexed in heaven? Bodily form, sex identity and the resurrection Ian Paul 8. Deferring to Dad's discipline: family life in Hebrews 12 Nicholas Moore 9. Evidence of non-heterosexual inclinations in first-century Judaism David Instone-Brewer Part 2: Doctrinal and contemporary perspectives 10. Marriage in early, Christian and African perspectives Onesimus Ngundu 11. Human sexuality and Christian anthropology A. T. B. McGowan 12. 'One man and one woman': the Christian doctrine of marriage Oliver O'Donovan 13. Covenant partnerships as a third calling?: A dialogue with Robert Song's Covenant and Calling: Towards A Theology of Same-Sex Relationships Andrew Goddard 14. 'Male and female he created them'? Theological reflections on gender, biology and identity Andrew Sloane 15. Shadows across gender relations Elaine Storkey 16. On not handling snakes: late-modern cultural assumptions about sexuality Stephen Holmes

Does the Bible provide a construct for marriage that is relevant for a confused world? This book reflects a pastor's conviction that biblical revelation culminating in Christ does speak to the issues and potentials for marriage in such a world. By focusing on what the biblical vocabulary of marriage, from Genesis to Revelation, may reveal of the Creator-Redeemer's intent for marriage, Ernest D. Martin develops a Christological paradigm for marriage that is consistent and applicable. Pastors, teachers, and counselors will find biblical faith perspectives useful in responding to the challenges and opportunities they face in the several phases of marital relationships. This short book will greatly benefit anyone seriously concerned with what the Bible says about marriage.

The recent rulings on gay marriage and debates on family-related issues have placed marriage and family at the forefront of the public eye. More so than at any point in history, we are now confronted with the need to carefully define the meaning of marriage and family. Professor Andreas Köstenberger and ethics expert David W. Jones speak to the issues at hand and guide us through the fray. Presenting a Christian theology of marriage and parenting, they offer insight on issues such as: abortion contraception infertility adoption homosexuality divorce Marriage and Family: Biblical Essentials points the way to the spiritual solution to our culture's confusion: a return to, and rebuilding of, the biblical foundation of marriage and the family.

This updated edition of Köstenberger and Jones's landmark work tackles the latest debates and cultural challenges to God's plan for marriage and the family and urges a return to a biblical foundation.

This text builds a foundational knowledge of theology while simultaneously developing major themes around the topics of marriage and family. The author speaks from the perspective of the sacramental theology of marriage but is always respectful of other faith traditions and the religiously diverse classroom. The book introduces, develops, and reinforces basic categories for thinking about the contemporary reality of marriage and family as grounded in the scriptural, historical, theological, ecclesial, and spiritual traditions of Christianity. Sensitive issues such as human sexuality and divorce are treated with a contextually grounded and moderate point of view. A meaningful correlation is made between the classical sources of Christianity and the lived experience of marriage. Included are discussion questions and a review guide at the end of each chapter. Appropriate as a primary text in undergraduate courses on the theology of the family, marriage and family, and ethics courses with a similar focus.