The concept of family holds a central place in the biblical narrative, serving as the foundational unit of society and a primary context for spiritual and moral development. The Bible presents the family as an institution ordained by God, beginning with the creation of man and woman.

Creation and Purpose

The family is first introduced in the Book of Genesis, where God creates Adam and Eve, establishing the first marital union. Genesis 2:24 states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This verse underscores the divine intention for marriage to be a lifelong, monogamous union, forming the basis for the family structure.

Roles and Responsibilities

Scripture outlines specific roles and responsibilities within the family. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her"). Wives are encouraged to respect and submit to their husbands as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord"). This mutual relationship reflects the order and harmony intended by God.

Children are seen as a blessing from the Lord, as expressed in Psalm 127:3 : "Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward." Parents are tasked with the responsibility of raising their children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Family as a Spiritual Community

The family serves as a microcosm of the larger faith community, where spiritual values and practices are taught and lived out. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes the importance of teaching God's commandments within the family: "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Challenges and Redemption

The Bible does not shy away from depicting the challenges and dysfunctions that can occur within families. Stories of sibling rivalry, such as that of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4), and parental favoritism, as seen in the family of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 25-27), illustrate the impact of sin on family relationships. However, the redemptive work of Christ offers hope for healing and restoration within families.

The Family of God

In the New Testament, the concept of family is expanded to include the spiritual family of believers. Jesus redefines familial bonds in Matthew 12:49-50 : "Pointing to His disciples, He said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.'" This spiritual family transcends biological ties and is united by faith in Christ.

The family, both biological and spiritual, remains a vital institution for nurturing faith, imparting values, and reflecting the love and unity of God. Through the family, individuals are equipped to fulfill their God-given purposes and contribute to the flourishing of the broader community.

The Purification of Mary
... when the Blessed Virgin must, according to the Law, present and redeem her firstborn
in the Temple, [143] all was prepared for the Holy Family's journey first ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the purification of mary.htm

The Return of the Holy Family from Egypt
... XVII. THE RETURN OF THE HOLY FAMILY FROM EGYPT. At last I saw the Holy
Family leaving Egypt. Though Herod had been dead for some ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvii the return of the.htm

The Prophet --His Youth and his Call.
... received the name Yirmyahu"Yahweh hurls or shoots.(94) The boy's name and his father's,
Hilkiah, Yahweh my portion,(95) are tokens of the family's loyalty to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture iii the prophethis youth.htm

The Prey of the Terrible
... Golden went, and they met. Wreath told her she believed it all, but she could
not then face breaking Caste and destroying her family's name. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter v the prey of.htm

Books and Reading.
... It relieves his home of its dullness and sameness, which, in nine cases out of ten,
is what drives him out to the alehouse, to his own ruin and his family's. ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/vi books and reading.htm

Table of Contents
... 181 X. THE CENSUS AND THE JOURNEY OF THE HOLY FAMILY 183 1. THE CENSUS OF THE EMPEROR
AUGUSTUS IS PROCLAIMED. ... THE KINGS VISIT WITH THE HOLY FAMILY AGAIN. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/table of contents.htm

The Debt of Israel
... Rachel shook her head, and the old woman continued absently: "Of thy mother's
family there were four, but they died of the heavy labor. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter x the debt of.htm

'Over against his House'
... rendered such a condition of things impossible, and that the true repair of the
ruin wrought by evil and ignorance, in the single soul, in the family, the city ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/over against his house.htm

Fellow-Followers
... Enoch's life cut straight across the grain of his time. He was the leader of the
first racial family, the chief one in the direct line from Adam. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/fellow-followers.htm

Answers to Prayer
... circumstance. THE PRAYER OF FAITH. The family of Mr. James R. Jordan has resided
in Lake View, Chicago, since the spring of 1871. They ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the wonders of prayer/answers to prayer.htm

Family's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Family's (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 27:27 There will
be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for your family's...
/f/family's.htm - 6k

Nourishment (14 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Proverbs 27:27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for
your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. (WEB). ...
/n/nourishment.htm - 10k

Nourish (16 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Proverbs 27:27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for
your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. ...
/n/nourish.htm - 13k

Barren (44 Occurrences)
... 7, 36). In Israel and among oriental peoples generally barrenness was
a woman's and a family's greatest misfortune. The highest ...
/b/barren.htm - 23k

Barrenness (3 Occurrences)
... 7, 36). In Israel and among oriental peoples generally barrenness was
a woman's and a family's greatest misfortune. The highest ...
/b/barrenness.htm - 10k

Girls (27 Occurrences)
... Is the seer here? (BBE NIV). 2 Samuel 6:20 Then David came back to give
a blessing to his family. And Michal, Saul's daughter, came ...
/g/girls.htm - 14k

Tobit
... Now it happened that at this time another Jewish family, equally loyal to the ancestral
faith, had fallen into similar distress-Raguel, his wife Edna and his ...
/t/tobit.htm - 34k

Anaharath (1 Occurrence)
... Now it happened that at this time another Jewish family, equally loyal to the ancestral
faith, had fallen into similar distress-Raguel, his wife Edna and his ...
/a/anaharath.htm - 87k

Plenty (43 Occurrences)
... (See JPS RSV). Proverbs 27:27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food,
for your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. ...
/p/plenty.htm - 18k

Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.org

What does “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” mean in Joshua 24:15? | GotQuestions.org

What is Focus on the Family? | GotQuestions.org

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