The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
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- Create Date：2021-04-23 11:56:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Timothy J. Keller
- ISBN：1594631875
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Summary
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Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller， this book shows everyone—Christians， skeptics， singles， longtime married couples， and those about to be engaged—the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible。
Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever， but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues。 But these modern-day assumptions are wrong。 Timothy Keller， with insights from Kathy， his wife of thirty-seven years， shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious。 The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage， and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life。
Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller， this book shows everyone—Christians， skeptics， singles， longtime married couples， and those about to be engaged—the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible。
Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever， but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues。 But these modern-day assumptions are wrong。 Timothy Keller， with insights from Kathy， his wife of thirty-seven years， shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious。 The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage， and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life。
Reviews
Alexa McMillan
，
I’ll need to read this book maybe a dozen more times in order to fully absorb the Keller’s insights。 They gave a medicinal perspective on Biblical marriage and singleness that balanced how to selflessly love another with the mindset of Christ in Western culture。 （One of） my favorite quotes - “This means we must say to ourselves something like ‘Well， when Jesus looked down from the cross， he didn’t think， ‘I am giving myself to you because you are so attractive to me。’’ No， he was in agony， and h I’ll need to read this book maybe a dozen more times in order to fully absorb the Keller’s insights。 They gave a medicinal perspective on Biblical marriage and singleness that balanced how to selflessly love another with the mindset of Christ in Western culture。 （One of） my favorite quotes - “This means we must say to ourselves something like ‘Well， when Jesus looked down from the cross， he didn’t think， ‘I am giving myself to you because you are so attractive to me。’’ No， he was in agony， and he looked down at us - denying Him， abandoning Him， and betraying Him - and in the greatest act of love in history， he stayed。” 。。。more
Carlee Grimes
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Always my first recommendation to those who are in a dating relationship moving toward marriage！ This will definitely be a book my husband and I reread throughout our marriage， and I am usually not a big “re-reader”。
Rachel Carpenter
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A great perspective on marriage！ Especially loved the comparison of the Jesus-God submission to Woman-Man submission。 While I disagree with the trinity doctrine， I do believe Jesus was fully man， and as such had to submit to God's will （evidenced in the garden of Gethsemane）。 Lots of great thought in this book！ A great perspective on marriage！ Especially loved the comparison of the Jesus-God submission to Woman-Man submission。 While I disagree with the trinity doctrine， I do believe Jesus was fully man， and as such had to submit to God's will （evidenced in the garden of Gethsemane）。 Lots of great thought in this book！ 。。。more
Natalia
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I think everyone should read this book， single or married。 I love how Tim and Kathy explain so well and show the real meaning of marriage with a biblical view。 I loved the book and wish i had read it before getting married， but so glad I finished it 4 months into marriage！
Rebekah
，
Should be a must read for every Christian to fully grasp the beauty and difficulty and joy in God's plan for marriage， and how we relate to each other as a community of believers。 Should be a must read for every Christian to fully grasp the beauty and difficulty and joy in God's plan for marriage， and how we relate to each other as a community of believers。 。。。more
Tyler
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The primary author of this book is a Protestant minister。 One chapter is written by his wife focusing on the perspective of women and female gender roles in marriage。 This is one of the better books that I have read in my efforts to educate myself about marriage。 There is a lot of truth and practical wisdom contained in this book about a variety of subjects pertaining to marriage， and I learned a lot of good things that are personally beneficial。 I was underlining and writing notes in my copy of The primary author of this book is a Protestant minister。 One chapter is written by his wife focusing on the perspective of women and female gender roles in marriage。 This is one of the better books that I have read in my efforts to educate myself about marriage。 There is a lot of truth and practical wisdom contained in this book about a variety of subjects pertaining to marriage， and I learned a lot of good things that are personally beneficial。 I was underlining and writing notes in my copy of the book throughout， and I would consider it worth re-reading again in the future。 I will be a better dater and someday a better husband as a result of taking the time to read this book。I really liked how the authors address the flaws and limitations of some of our modern western cultural views surrounding attraction， dating， marriage， family， divorce， sex and chastity， etc and then contrast that with the views of those subjects as set forth in the Bible。 The one chapter of the book that had a fair amount that I disagreed with was the chapter on singleness。 The doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sheds considerably more light on this subject than what the author had available， so I don't wholly agree with the conclusions he reached about singleness and marriage and their various roles in God's Eternal Plan。 However， that said， overall I thought this was a really good book and I would recommend it to family and friends to help improve their marriages and/or their dating。 。。。more
Jackson
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Splendid！Excited to see Clara's review！ Splendid！Excited to see Clara's review！ 。。。more
Heather
，
"The Meaning of Marriage" is a good source of information for those thinking about marriage， newly married， and for those who have been married for a number of years。 I found the information to be based on God's word， practical， and in many ways convicting。 It would have been good for me to have read a book like this prior to getting married。 Thinking about my impact on my future spouse and not just his on me would have been worthwhile， as well as stopping to think deeper about what the institut "The Meaning of Marriage" is a good source of information for those thinking about marriage， newly married， and for those who have been married for a number of years。 I found the information to be based on God's word， practical， and in many ways convicting。 It would have been good for me to have read a book like this prior to getting married。 Thinking about my impact on my future spouse and not just his on me would have been worthwhile， as well as stopping to think deeper about what the institution of marriage is really for， according to scripture。 The Kellers also discuss the fact that we change over time as individuals and that we can help each other to become even better than we would be alone。 This book contained lots of good and convicting thoughts for this "old married person"。 。。。more
Daevora Hossana
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"。。。it is clear that God worked in us and through us when we accepted our gender roles as a gift from the designer of hearts。" - Kathy Keller5/5 What a wonderful book！ Every Christ-follower， especially singles like me must read this Christ-centered marriage book。 "。。。it is clear that God worked in us and through us when we accepted our gender roles as a gift from the designer of hearts。" - Kathy Keller5/5 What a wonderful book！ Every Christ-follower， especially singles like me must read this Christ-centered marriage book。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
It doesn’t matter if you are single， dating， or married; everyone should read this book。
Meredithfoster
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Radically convicting， refreshing and deep in its exploration of what a biblical marriage really means。 A relevant read for the single， dating， engaged， married or divorced。 The best perspective I’ve ever encountered when it comes to love according to the Bible， not western secular and contemporary Christian culture。 10/10 would recommend。
Cassidy Brocaille
，
Every person getting married or currently married should read， Christian or not。
Georgia Schaefer
，
This book is so helpful for any stage of life whether you’re single， engaged， newly married， or have been married for 70 years。 It is almost like years of marriage counseling in one book！ A must-read！
Cheese
，
As usual Timothy Keller provides very good context - always relating it back to biblical principles， sound arguments， facts and understanding on the subject。 This is the second book I have read from him。 It will be a bit dry as it’s packed with info but very enriching。 It helps me to gain a new understanding on myself and my marriage。
Dan
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The best book on marriage I have ever read。1。 It provided practical methods to be a better husband。2。 It helped me understand the reticence of my non-Christian friends to getting married。
Rebekah Barkman
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Best marriage book that I’ve read。
Katie Hoshaw
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My fiancé and I have been reading this independently as well as utilizing it with our pre-marriage counseling and it's been so great。 Very straight forward and captivating perspectives on a Godly marriage with honest tidbits from him and his wife。 It's been great processing this book through with our counselors， definitely recommend for anyone regardless of their relationship status。 Lots of good wisdom。 My fiancé and I have been reading this independently as well as utilizing it with our pre-marriage counseling and it's been so great。 Very straight forward and captivating perspectives on a Godly marriage with honest tidbits from him and his wife。 It's been great processing this book through with our counselors， definitely recommend for anyone regardless of their relationship status。 Lots of good wisdom。 。。。more
Jacob Tilmon
，
I found this book extremely rich and helpful。 I would recommend it to all Christians single or married。 Tim and his wife Kathy give advice from their own marriage alongside Keller's theological arguments about what marriage is about and for。 I found the book to be encouraging and challenging to some of my own preconceptions about marriage。 I will say that this book took me a long time to get through because it is primarily didactic and can be pretty dry。 I do feel that I took away many practical I found this book extremely rich and helpful。 I would recommend it to all Christians single or married。 Tim and his wife Kathy give advice from their own marriage alongside Keller's theological arguments about what marriage is about and for。 I found the book to be encouraging and challenging to some of my own preconceptions about marriage。 I will say that this book took me a long time to get through because it is primarily didactic and can be pretty dry。 I do feel that I took away many practical tips alongside sharpening my theology of marriage。 。。。more
Rafaela
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Beautiful， thoughtful book。 Wise perpectives with a solid foundation in the bible。
Bianca
，
This is the best relationship book I've read， would recommend This is the best relationship book I've read， would recommend 。。。more
Sammy Jo
，
I would highly recommend this book to all Christians and non-Christians alike。 It’s not only for the engaged and married， but also for the singles to help shape our thoughts on the biblical view of marriage。 It allowed me to think differently and dive into what I thought marriage meant/was compared to what the Bible tells us what marriage means/is。 It challenged me and helped me grow as a believer。 I highly recommend to anyone！
Alexandra Medina
，
Excellent marriage book！ Highly recommend to anyone looking for a biblical presentation of what marriage is and how to approach it。 Combats the idea that marriage is about our individual happiness or even really about us in general。 It's not。 Excellent marriage book！ Highly recommend to anyone looking for a biblical presentation of what marriage is and how to approach it。 Combats the idea that marriage is about our individual happiness or even really about us in general。 It's not。 。。。more
Morgan Wilson
，
I learned so much from this book。 I listened to it on audio， but I'm considering purchasing a paper copy so I can mark it up。 I'll probably listen to it again with my fiance too！ So many insightful and well-explained points that helped me have the right perspective of marriage！ I love how Biblical it is and how the authors pull from their own experiences and friends' experiences to make the points applicable。 I highly recommed this！ I learned so much from this book。 I listened to it on audio， but I'm considering purchasing a paper copy so I can mark it up。 I'll probably listen to it again with my fiance too！ So many insightful and well-explained points that helped me have the right perspective of marriage！ I love how Biblical it is and how the authors pull from their own experiences and friends' experiences to make the points applicable。 I highly recommed this！ 。。。more
Amanda Ribeiro
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Um livro para os nossos tempos。 Casamento não é promessa de Deus e também não proporciona redenção。 Keller foi muito feliz em nos fazer lembrar que casar é bom mas quem não casa pode ser igualmente feliz e servir/honrar/glorificar a Deus da mesma forma。
Floyd
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One of the best books I've read on what marriage is all about as God originally intended it。 One of the best books I've read on what marriage is all about as God originally intended it。 。。。more
Austen Dalquist
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Next level if you are looking to pursue a godly marriage！
John Landes
，
Really enjoyed this！！ Definitely a top marriage book I have read！ This book would be great for any single or dating person too！
Jedidiah Boggs
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I really liked The Reason for God， so I was happy when my book study suggested this one。 However， I found it entirely disappointing。 I do not think he offers anything new。 He makes assertions then never backs them up or expounds on them。 And worst of all， I do not think his marriage is one that should be emulated in any way。 Just talk to each other。
Tommy
，
Even though the Kellers say that The Meaning of Marriage is a book for all people， it is principally a book for Christians that are currently married or possibly on the precipice。 The book primarily reads like a （very long） series of marriage counseling sessions。 My primary problem， however， was that there was just so much fluff！ The Meaning of Marriage easily could have been 40% shorter and would have been much more potent and enjoyable。 Further， as a scientist， I did not like the way the Tim Even though the Kellers say that The Meaning of Marriage is a book for all people， it is principally a book for Christians that are currently married or possibly on the precipice。 The book primarily reads like a （very long） series of marriage counseling sessions。 My primary problem， however， was that there was just so much fluff！ The Meaning of Marriage easily could have been 40% shorter and would have been much more potent and enjoyable。 Further， as a scientist， I did not like the way the Tim chose to cite some studies， but not others （for instance， he insists that the data shows that moving in before marriage increases the chance of divorce; however， if you actually look into the data， those that move in together after they are engaged see no such increase in divorces。 Therefore， it is a false dichotomy to simply say that moving in with each other before getting married worsens the marriage。 For more on this， see The Defining Decade by Meg Jay）。 Also， a minor gripe， but Tim and Kathy say that this book would be helpful for non-Christian married couples， but I'm not so sure about that。 The premise of this book is that Christ （and His relationship（s） with both the Church and our Father） is a model and the centerpiece for what marriage ought to be。 Therefore， if someone does not believe in Jesus， many of the points in this book would be moot。 Despite my qualms with The Meaning of Marriage， I think it is an unfortunately necessary prerequisite of sorts for Christians that would like to have a successful marriage。 Yet， I would say that for a single person like myself， the order of reading the chapters ought to be rearranged。 Start with chapter one （duh）， then skip directly to the chapter on Singleness and Marriage （seven）。 Then move onto chapters three， four， and two to learn the definitions and descriptions of a healthy marriage。 The chapter on Sex and Marriage （eight） can be read either before or after 2-4。 After this， read chapters five and six to learn more about how the opposite gender is not like you， and how you ought to navigate that within a marriage。 With this shuffling of the chapters， a reduction of the length of the book by at least 25%， a more thorough description of what the scientific literature says， I would upgrade the score of this book beyond my 3。2/5 stars。 。。。more
Brandon Hill
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