Marriage : The Mystery of Christ and the Church

Seminary professor and former pastor, David J. Engelsma, exposes the evil of divorce and remarriage in the light of Scripture, critically examines the marriage doctrine of the Reformers, and calls Protestant Christianity to reconsider the teaching of the early church. This instructive book (a kind of Reformed marriage manual) develops the rich meaning of Christian marriage in light of the apostle Paul's teaching in Ephesians 5 that marriage is the great mystery of Christ and the church. With a vigorously Scriptural approach, the author shows what this implies for such timeless—but timely!—matters as the relationship of husband and wife; sex; children; divorce; and mixed marriage. The book concludes with a spirited defense of an unbreakable marriage bond. The second section is the history of the church's doctrine of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Working with the writings of the church fathers, the Reformers, and contemporary Protestant theologians, as well as with various studies on marriage and divorce, the author traces the fatal departure of the Reformers from the doctrine of marriage held by the early church. He demonstrates that this departure has led inevitably to the marital chaos that devastates Reformed and evangelical communities today. Indexes of names mentioned and Scriptures cited are included.