In their article A Biblical View of Marriage, The Gospel Coalition provided this definition of marriage: "The biblical view of marriage is of a God-given, voluntary, sexual and public social union of one man and one woman, from different families, for the purpose of serving God." They went on to say that "Marriage exists so that through it humanity can serve God through children, through faithful intimacy, and through properly ordered sexual relationships." Among both traditional and non-traditional Christian churches, this represents a fairly common perspective on what Scripture has to say about marriage.
For example, the Anglican Church in North America, Lutheran Church-Canada, North American Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod issued An Affirmation of Marriage. In that document, they state: "The Sacred Scriptures teach that in the beginning the blessed Trinity instituted marriage to be the life-long union of one man and one woman (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4-6), to be held in honor by all and kept pure (Heb 13:4; 1 Thess 4:2-5). God’s Word assures us that each time one man and one woman join themselves together in the union of the marriage commitment and relationship, God himself has joined them as one. It is important to see that marriage is not only a grace-filled institution of the church, but part of the very fabric of God’s creation which extends to every time and place on earth and includes every man and woman who are joined together in this 'one flesh' commitment and bond. Marriage is created by God and is not simply a social contract or convenience." The "Affirmation" goes on to focus on the care and nurture which that institution provides for children.
However, although this is a common view among many Christians, does it truly square with what Scripture has to say on the subject of marriage? Are these views a reaction to the growing acceptance of the notion of same-sex marriages in our society, or do they truly reflect what the Bible reveals about marriage? In short, what does the institution of marriage look like in Scripture?
In the book of Genesis, we are informed that God created humankind in his own image and likeness as both male and female (1:26-27). We also read there that God blessed them and told them to "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (verse 28). In other words, God designed the human anatomy (including its reproductive systems) and brain and imbued them with some of his characteristics. Moreover, in the very last verse, we are informed that "God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." This strongly implies that the Creator was more than satisfied - that he was pleased with the total human - with its sexual organs, instincts, hormones, female menstrual cycle, etc.
In the following chapter, it is revealed to us that the male was created first and placed in a garden which God had planted and designed for his habitation (Genesis 2:7-17). In God's assessment of the man's situation, we read: "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.'" (Verse 18) Next, we are informed that God brought all of the different animals which he had created to the man to see what he would name them (verse 19). Scripture, however, informs us that this did not correct the man's loneliness. Continuing the account, we read: "The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him." (Verse 20)
As a consequence, we are informed that "the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.'" (Verses 21-23) This introduces the notion of companionship into the equation of a relationship between the man and his wife. In other words, procreation wasn't the only purpose/goal of marriage.
What happened next was a very profound summation of the meaning of this origin story - a reason for the account which preceded it. We read: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Verse 24) Interestingly, we will see later that Jesus quoted this passage when he was asked about divorce (the dissolution of a marriage). Moreover, in this definition of marriage, we see three elements mentioned: 1) a man leaving his parent's home, 2) making a commitment to his wife, and 3) sexual intercourse between them. Finally, the thought is concluded with a passage that is rarely mentioned in most discussions of marriage or human sexuality. We are informed that "the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." (Verse 25) Once again, the clear implication being that there was NOTHING wrong with the way that God had designed the human body or its functions!
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