What Is Biblical Marriage?
Live class and Q&A on Tuesday, March 31st from 8:00-9:30pm ET
What is Biblical Marriage?
A common refrain in many Christian spaces today is the call to pursue a “biblical marriage.” But what if that phrase tells us more about modern culture wars than it does about the ancient world? After all, the writers of the Hebrew Bible didn’t even have a specific word for “marriage” as we use it today. So what exactly are we appealing to when we insist on a “biblical” model?
In this class, Dr. Jennifer Bird draws on her extensive research to take a careful look at four passages most often used to define “biblical marriage”—Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4–6, and Ephesians 5:31–32. These texts are frequently treated as timeless blueprints for modern relationships. But are they meant to function that way?
Together, we’ll reframe these passages, revisit a few infamous texts from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and uncover how ancient people actually understood marriage—often in ways that look nothing like 21st-century partnerships. Instead of defending an idealized model, this class invites a more historically grounded, theologically responsible conversation about marriage and human flourishing—helping us reframe how we approach the Bible for guidance today.
This class includes:
One-night live class
Live Q+A session
Link to class recording
Downloadable class slides
Cost: PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Topics we’ll cover:
How can we reframe the four primary passages that are typically used to define "biblical marriage"?
How do both primary testaments talk about marriage, and how does this differ from our modern understanding?
Which aspects of biblical content have been underrepresented in these conversations?
What do the prophets have to say about marriage? What about the words of Jesus as written in the Gospels?
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Jennifer Bird
Dr. Jennifer Bird (PhD, New Testament and Early Christianity, Vanderbilt University) has taught in college, seminary, and church classrooms across the country for more than 25 years, striving to invite conversation and encourage the idea, “critical thinking meets reading the Bible.” An educator at heart, Dr. Bird is committed to helping people better understand what is contained in the biblical texts, first, and then to figure out how to handle them carefully and in ways that lead to the love and empowerment of others.
