Topical Bible: Families: should be Duly Regulated

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The concept of family is central to the biblical narrative, serving as the foundational unit of society and a primary context for spiritual growth and moral development. Scripture provides guidance on how families should be structured and regulated to reflect God's design and purposes.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible begins with the creation of the family unit in Genesis. God created man and woman, instituting marriage as a covenant relationship. Genesis 2:24 states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This verse underscores the importance of the marital bond as the cornerstone of the family.

Roles and Responsibilities

Scripture delineates specific roles and responsibilities within the family. Ephesians 5:22-25 instructs, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This passage highlights the complementary roles of husbands and wives, emphasizing love, respect, and mutual submission under the lordship of Christ.

Children are also given specific instructions. Ephesians 6:1-4 states, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (which is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." This passage underscores the importance of obedience and honor, while also charging parents with the responsibility of nurturing their children in a godly manner.

Discipline and Instruction

The regulation of families involves discipline and instruction, as seen in Proverbs 22:6 : "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This verse emphasizes the long-term impact of early spiritual and moral education. Discipline is further addressed in Hebrews 12:7-11 , which compares God's discipline of His children to that of a father: "Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons."

Spiritual Leadership

The spiritual leadership within the family is a critical aspect of its regulation. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands, "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." This passage highlights the continuous and intentional nature of spiritual instruction within the family.

Conclusion

The Bible provides a comprehensive framework for the regulation of families, emphasizing the importance of love, respect, discipline, and spiritual leadership. By adhering to these biblical principles, families can fulfill their God-given roles and contribute to the flourishing of both individuals and society as a whole.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 31:27
She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 3:4,5,12
One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Lord Reigneth
... seat, and lived in the same families, should at last ... others, as they would that others
should do unto ... sufficiently prized, nor this command duly complied with ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxvi the lord reigneth.htm

Chapter iv
... That such was his attitude should have duly alarmed Cain. ... can, however, be adduced
why God should have spared ... Then the families of Ham and Japheth are briefly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iv.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... for their crimes, by depriving their families of his ... from the implacable anger than
the duly tempered severity of ... of God that a righteous son should suffer for ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

The New Crusade --Serampore and the Brotherhood
... that the product of their labour should form a ... to the support of their respective
families, of the ... the property for the Serampore Mission, duly informing the ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter v the new crusadeserampore.htm

Six Years in North Bengal --Missionary and Indigo Planter
... 11th March, of the church, which was duly formed of ... Four new colleagues and their
families were already on ... were about to quicken and enlighten should cause the ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter iv six years in.htm

How Churches Can Help Ministers.
... promoting a revival has not been duly considered by ... this?" "Why," said the merchant,
"I should say it ... earn, after comfortably supporting their families, is to ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xiii how churches can.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... could not marry unless he had duly authorized them ... back for a few generations, we
should probably discover that there were few great families who did ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

The General Conference of 1836
... fraternal intercourse of the two great families of Wesleyan ... to which it gave birth
duly appreciated, we ... and upon the Church generally, they should be allowed ...
/.../chapter 13 the general conference.htm

The General Conference of 1832
... agents at New York, whenever it should be certified ... within whose bounds the family
or families of the ... the first balloting, they were declared duly elected, and ...
/.../chapter 11 the general conference.htm

Preface by the Editor.
... publication of Mr. Knox's life be duly encouraged, some ... the humblest classes of the
community should have had ... them "were related to the chief families in the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/preface by the editor.htm