God Created Marriage
A guest post by Chad Ramsey.
A detailed description of what occurred on the sixth day of the creation week is recorded in Genesis 2.
On that day, “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (verse 7). After his creation, Adam was placed by God in the Garden of Eden and given specific instructions regarding it (verses 15-17).
At that juncture, God observed that the man He created should not be alone (verse 18).
The Beginning of Community.
The text does not reveal whether Adam felt this solitude. Rather, it simply reports the events from the perspective of God. In a general sense, God’s observation seems to indicate the importance of developing relationships with others. More specifically, it shows that Adam’s solitary existence, even if it was but for a short time, was not ideal. As Matthews observed:
“God has created human life to have fellowship with him but also to be a social entity, building relationships with other human beings…. Isolation is not the divine norm for human beings; community is the creation of God” (Genesis 1-11:26, 213).
But the creation of Eve did more than establish the beginning of a community. It also marked the beginning of marriage and the home.
The Beginning of Marriage.
Adam and Eve became partners. Their two lives were joined as one. Although this certainly has reference to their sexual union (see 1 Corinthians 6:15-16), it conveys an emotional closeness enjoyed by the married couple. If anything, Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib anticipates this closeness.
It is little wonder that Adam said about Eve: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). Too, it is not surprising to find Paul referencing this idea in his discussion of the way husbands view and treat their wives (cf. Ephesians 5:28-31).
Because of their unique relationship, spouses are to rely upon one another rather than upon family members. Father and mother, although appreciated and loved, are no longer the focus of one’s attention.
One’s relationship to his or her spouse is second only to one’s relationship with God. Moses’s concluding remarks in Genesis 2 make this point abundantly clear: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (v. 24). Summarizing the point, Clyde Woods wrote:
“Originally one flesh, man and woman again become one in marriage. From the first, a high view of marriage is portrayed” (Genesis-Exodus, 9).
The institution of marriage, which was created by God for man’s benefit, is truly honorable.
References.
Matthews, Kenneth A. Genesis 1-11:26. The New American Commentary. Edited by E. Ray Clendenen. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 1996.
Woods, Clyde M. Genesis-Exodus. The Living Way Commentary. Volume 1. Shreveport: Lambert Book House, 1972.
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
We do, of course, have in many places the idea of "common law marriage," where people who live together and regard themselves and introduce themselves as married are so regarded.
It is interesting to note that while God created the fact that men and women are to be married, (Gen 2:24) and some marriage celebrations are recorded in Scripture, however, no actual religious ceremony is recorded or required, nor is there any record that people must be married in a church, or that the marriage should even be recognized by a church.
Marriage is strictly between a man and a women, and nobody else seems to be required to be involved in agreeing to it, or performing any sort of 'rights' over the union. However, when a man and a woman are married then God recognises this union. (Matt 19:6)