What is God’s purpose for marriage? Chapter 1 starts to answer this question by looking at what the Old Testament and the New Testament reveals about marriage. Its departure point is the foundational narrative in Genesis 1–3. Then follows a survey of Israel’s subsequent history with regard to the roles of husbands and wives toward each other, next to issues like polygamy, adultery, divorce, homosexuality, and sterility. Proverbs 31 as part of the wisdom literature of Israel is explored for “glimpses of the ideal.” New Testament texts that are explored include 1 Peter 3:1-7, 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, Ephesians 5:21-33.