The What and Why of a Biblical Family

Summer 2026 | Equipping Class

How to Lead a Biblical Family: A Six Week Study of the Family as God Designed it

Session One: The What and the Why of a Biblical Family

Central Question: What is a biblical family, and what is it for? Opening statement:

Today we answer what a family is and why God designed it. Next week we’ll dive into how to live out marriage. Week six we’ll tackle how the family engages the world on mission. So think of today as the introduction to a biblical family.

I. Opening

Brief roadmap of the 6-week class:

Intro. to the Biblical Family — The What and Why

The Biblical Marriage

Biblical Parenting

Biblical Decision Making

Hard Conversations

The Family on Mission

Today we stay at 30,000 feet. We won’t dig into marriage roles, parenting methods, or mission tactics – those are coming.

II. Constitution: What Is a Biblical Family?

Key Scripture: Genesis 1:27-28; 2:24

Genesis 1:27–28 “27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.””

Genesis 2:24 “24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Four Foundation blocks:

One man and one woman

Genesis 1:27 “27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” , Genesis 2:22–23 “22 Then the Lord God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man.” .

Ish (man) + ishshah (woman) — distinct, complementary

“In Hebrew, the words for ‘man’ (ish) and ‘woman’ (ishshah) are linguistically related, emphasizing their shared humanity yet distinctness. The creation narrative intentionally pairs them as the only two beings capable of fulfilling the command to be fruitful and multiply.” (NET Bible translation notes on Genesis 1:27 and 2:23)

“Jesus grounds the definition of marriage in Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, concluding, ‘So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate’ (Matthew 19:6). This appeal to creation establishes male-female pairing as the created order, not a cultural accommodation.” (D.A. Carson, Matthew, EBC, Zondervan, 1984, p. 414)

Teaching Insight: God did not create two men or two women. He created one man and one woman. The linguistic tie between the two words shows their equality and complementarity. Jesus later anchors the definition of marriage not in culture but in creation itself.

Covenant, not contract

Malachi 2:14 “14 And you ask, “Why?” Because even though the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, you have acted treacherously against her. She was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant.”

Proverbs 2:17 “17 who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;”

B’rit — permanent, binding, like God’s covenant

“The prophet Malachi calls marriage a ‘covenant’ (b’rit): ‘the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant’ (Malachi 2:14). The Hebrew term b’rit refers to a binding, permanent agreement—often between God and His people—not a conditional contract.” (The NET Bible translation notes on Malachi 2:14)

“A contract creates an exchange of goods or services for a defined period. A covenant creates a permanent kinship bond, ratified by oath and divine witness. Marriage in the Old Testament functions as a covenant, not a contract.” (Scott Hahn, Kinship by Covenant, Yale University Press, 2009, p. 112)

Teaching Insight: A contract says, “I’ll stay as long as you perform.” A covenant says, “I will be yours regardless of circumstances.” Malachi explicitly calls marriage a covenant— the same word in the original is used for God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel. That’s why divorce is not merely breaking a deal; it is breaking an oath before God.

One Flesh

Genesis 2:24 “24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Basar Echad — Whole-person, indivisible kinship

“The phrase ‘one flesh’ (basar echad) occurs only here in Genesis. The words used here strongly imply kinship relationship. To be one’s ‘bone and flesh’ means to be related by blood (see Genesis 29:14; Judges 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1; 19:12-13).” (NET Bible translation notes on Genesis 2:24)

“The phrase ‘one flesh’ means that the man and woman, who were previously separate individuals, form a new single entity, a new family, a new kinship unit.” (RTS Theological Paper, One Flesh, Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III, 2004)

Teaching Insight: In Hebrew culture, “bone and flesh” describes blood relatives. When a man and woman marry, they enter a kinship bond as close as a parent and child. That’s why the bond is unbreakable— you cannot sever blood ties. The “one flesh” union is not merely sexual; it is a complete, legally recognized family unit.

Exclusive, lifelong

Genesis 2:24 “24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.”

‘Azab (radical departure) plus dabaq (hold fast)

‘azab — “To depart from, leave behind, abandon, forsake.” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, Nelson, 1996, p. 143)

dabaq — “To cling, adhere, cleave, stick to, follow closely.” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, p. 113) “Used of Ruth clinging to Naomi (Ruth 1:14) and of Israel clinging loyally to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:20).” (NET Bible notes on Genesis 2:24)

“The two verbs—‘leave’ and ‘cling’—frame marriage as a decisive break from one household and an unbreakable attachment to another. The grammar implies a singular object: the man leaves his father and mother (singular household) and clings to his wife (singular woman). Polygamy is not envisioned here.” (Gordon Wenham, *Genesis 1-15*, WBC, Zondervan, 1987, p. 71)

Teaching Insight: ‘Azab means a radical, public departure. Dabaq means the same loyal, clinging attachment Israel must have toward God. Together, they describe a marriage that is both exclusive (one man, one woman) and lifelong (unbreakable as blood kinship). Jesus later draws on this exact text to forbid divorce (Matthew 19:4–6 “4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that he who created them in the beginning made them male and female, 5 and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”” )

TS — That’s the shape of a biblical family. Now, why did God make it that way?

III. Purpose: What Is the Biblical Family For? (Why)

Key idea: The family exists for image‑bearing, cultivation, refuge, and dependence – not to stay private, but to be a launchpad.

Four purposes with brief Scripture:

To reflect God’s image

Genesis 1:26–27 “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”

Male and female together display God’s relational, creative nature

To cultivate creation

Genesis 1:28 “28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.””

Stewardship of work, culture, and the earth— not domination, but tending.

To provide refuge and formation (sanctification)

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 “6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.”

Psalm 68:5–6 “5 God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. 6 God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a scorched land.”

A safe place to learn character, faith, and love — the first place for discipleship.

To depend on God’s provision

Psalm 127:1 “1 Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.”

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

Families are not self-sufficient; they trust God for daily bread, wisdom, and salvation.

Notice what’s not here: hospitality to strangers, evangelism, spiritual warfare, sending out. Those are mission – week six. Today we’re just laying the creational purpose.

Application question for discussion: Which of these four purposes is your family currently strongest in? Which one needs the most attention?

Reflecting God’s image

Cultivating creation

Providing refuge and formation

Depending on God’s provision

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Closing Wrap-Up:

How purpose connects to the rest of the equipping class:

Week 1: Constitution + Purpose (the foundation)

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Week 2: Marriage (how the covenant works day to day)

Week 3: Parenting (forming the next generation)

Week 4: Decision-making (trusting God together)

Week 5: Hard conversations (grace and truth at home)

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Week 6: Mission (the family sent out to the world)

Summary: You cannot have a healthy marriage, raise faithful kids, or live on mission as a family unless you first know what a family is and why it exists. That’s what we have done today. Next week, we dive into the marriage.

Sources:

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary – W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White Jr., Nelson, 1996

NET Bible translation notes – Biblical Studies Press, 2005 (online/public domain notes)

D.A. Carson, Matthew, EBC – Zondervan, 1984

Scott Hahn, Kinship by Covenant – Yale University Press, 2009

RTS Theological Paper, “One Flesh” – Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III, 2004

Gordon Wenham, *Genesis 1-15*, WBC – Zondervan, 1987

R. David Freedman, “Woman, a Power Equal to Man,” Biblical Archaeology Review – Vol. 9, No. 1, Jan/Feb 1983