Marriage

The nature, purpose, and obligations of marriage.

Passages that substantially address this topic, in date order.

• 1 Clement 1.3Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · The Corinthians once respected their leaders and elders, and their households were well ordered.
• 1 Clement 21.6Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Reverence Christ, respect leaders, honor elders, teach the young, guide wives in goodness.
• 1 Clement 21.7Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Wives should show purity, gentleness, and impartial love.
• 1 Clement 33.5Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · God made man male and female in his image.
• 1 Clement 6.3Clement of Rome · ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) · Jealousy has broken up marriages.
• To Polycarp 5.1Ignatius of Antioch · ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) · Wives should be content with their husbands, and husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church.
• To Polycarp 5.2Ignatius of Antioch · ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135) · Celibacy must be kept humbly, and marriages should be made with the bishop's consent so that they are according to the Lord.
• To the Philippians 4.2Polycarp of Smyrna · ca. 110–135 · Wives are to be taught to live in faith, love, and purity, to cherish their husbands, and to raise their children in the fear of God.
• To Diognetus 5.6Anonymous · ca. 150–200 (disputed) · They marry and have children, but do not abandon infants.