Posted: 02-04-17

The families in the New Testament Church were based greatly on the structure outlined in the Old Testament and Jewish tradition. New Testament teachings and culture introduced significant changes in the traditional Jewish view of the family and gave way to viewing fellow Christians in the context of one family. Families in the Old Testament were the primary unit in the life of an Israelite. They tended to be large, encompassing the entire extended family. Even complete strangers could be included in the household.

These large families were absent in the Gospels. Rather, couples were mentioned-Joseph and Mary, Zebedee and Salome, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Steadfast love, hesed, served as the foundational bond of the Old Testament family. Hesed was a covenant love that involved loyalty, justice, and respect. Malachi described marriage as a covenant love (2:14). In Hosea, the Lord said, "I will take you [Israel] for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy" (Hos. 2:19-20 New Revised Standard Version). Jesus though, taught that the unconditional, accepting love of agape was greater.

More importance was placed on the relationships between believers in the family of God than inside the biological family. He said, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matt. 12:50 NRSV), thus shifting importance of the lineage of one's biological family to one's spiritual family with God as the Father. This concept made room for Gentiles to become part of the family of God. Jesus also said that following him could mean leaving one's family thus raising the commitment to God over that of the family (Mark 1:16-20; Luke 9:59-60).

--Stephen James