Love, Marriage, And Family - Learning from the Early Christians

By: Koskenniemi, Erkki

A fascinating exploration of marriage, sexuality, family life, and community in the world of the first Christians--and what their experience can teach us today.

In the streets and households of the Roman Empire, ordinary believers wrestled with abortion, infant exposure, sexual morality, divorce, remarriage, and family life--questions that remain strikingly relevant today. Pastor and classicist Erkki Koskenniemi draws on the New Testament, Jewish sources, papyri, inscriptions, marriage contracts, and archaeological evidence to reveal how the first Christians lived out their faith as a minority community in a culture that often challenged their convictions.

Through careful historical research and pastoral insight, Koskenniemi explores:

Christian responses to abortion and infant exposure Marriage and family life in the Roman world Baptism's role in creating a new family of faith Paul's pastoral guidance on sexuality, singleness, and vocation Divorce, remarriage, and the challenges of fidelity Sexual ethics and life as a distinct Christian community

Combining historical scholarship with theological reflection, Love, Marriage, and Family demonstrates that many of today's debates are not unprecedented. Through the experiences of the early church, Koskenniemi shows how Christians developed a distinctive vision for marriage, family life, sexuality, and community while living within a society that did not share their beliefs.

The result is a compelling study that offers historical perspective, pastoral wisdom, and encouragement for Christians seeking to live faithfully in a changing culture.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758681577
• ISBN13: 9780758681577
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.0"