For centuries, the essential meaning of marriage was universally understood. Marriage was always seen as the defining core of a family, providing a context for bearing and rearing children. With the coming of the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, many of these assumptions began to be eroded. Now Christians must never be embarrassed to stand against all of society in proclaiming God’s norms.  With such considerations in mind, let us consider afresh what the unerring Word of the living God has to say about the nature of these divinely-appointed institutions.