Marriage and Family in the Biblical World

"Placing the history of these institutions in context requires not only a study of biblical literature that traverses several millennia but also a grasp of extrabiblical literature and sources culled from several different cultural contexts. In this book six experts working in their respective fields trace out the dynamic contours of marriage and family as understood and practiced in Ancient Israel and the Near East, in Greek and Roman society, in second temple Judaism, and finally, in the New Testament. The result is a well informed and documented map that traces out the similarity and diversity of concepts and customs, including marriage, divorce, sexual ethics, gender roles, children, celibacy, adoption, abortion, contraception and family life., which surrounded and interseccted Ancient Israel and the church in New Testament times."