Holy Bible Online 
The origin of the family was created by God and not by man. In Genesis 2:18, we read that God said it is not good for man to be alone, that it was necessary to have someone to help him. Thus, He created the woman, forming the first couple, the first family (Genesis 2:18-24).
Some central ideas about the family as God's project
- In the Old Testament, the Lord set apart families to be a blessing and to bless the earth, such as the families of Adam, Noah, and Abraham.
- An interesting fact is that Jesus' family lineage comes from David (Matthew 1:1), which can represent, among other applications, the idea of a family committed to the Lord, strong, blessed, and serving as a clear example of God's standard for man and woman.
- The family is God's project, so there is nothing that the Lord cannot resolve. It is enough for the couple, the family, to understand and acknowledge God as the Lord of the home and of everyone's lives.
- Jesus changing the status of women in society is also an indication of the Lord's value for the family structure.
What is family according to the Bible?
It is a divine institution, created by God, permanent, and unchanging. It consists of a father, mother, and child(ren). Within this institution, it is necessary to establish some parameters, and according to the Bible, the husband has the task of leading the family (Ephesians 5:24) with love and respect (1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:18-19).
The wife submits to this leadership of the husband (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18), but she also supports and motivates the husband in this responsibility (Titus 2:4) without fear (1 Peter 3:5-6). By fulfilling these responsibilities, the home is built up by the Lord.
Therefore, the role of the husband and father comes with leadership and provision for the household, for the good of all (1 Timothy 5:8). The wife is a supporter and takes care of her house, her home (Titus 2:4-5; Proverbs 31:27).
In the Old Testament, we can find some very interesting Bible passages about the family:
- Proverbs 31:10-12
- Proverbs 18:22
- Psalms 128:1-6
- Psalms 127:3-5
- Joshua 24:15
Therefore, God's purpose and plan for the family is: to grow, bless, populate, and serve the Lord.
Recommendations for Family According to the Bible
We can draw 3 lessons regarding forming a family according to the Bible. "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).
- Leave - Leave the parents
- Unite - Marriage
- Become - Intimate communion of the couple (becoming one flesh)
For the couple, man and woman, here is the recommendation: "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do 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." (Ephesians 5:22-24).
For parents and children, here is the recommendation of authority, but not in a way that manipulates or oppresses: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
For children and parents, the recommendation is to obey: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' - which is the first commandment with a promise - 'so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Family in the New Testament
When we talk about family in the time of Jesus, we identify that the family patterns remained patriarchal, with monogamous marriages continuing.
Perhaps the best example of family in the New Testament is Jesus' own family. Joseph and Mary were a typical Jewish family in Palestine. Joseph worked as a carpenter (Matthew 13:56; Mark 6:3), and the family's livelihood came from this work. Joseph passed on his knowledge to Jesus (Mark 6:3). Here we can see Joseph's care in securing a future source of income, sharing his knowledge, and demonstrating a father's care.
Another very interesting factor is the zeal that Joseph and Mary had for Jesus in matters of traditions, rites, and fulfilling the law. Even as a child, Jesus was already discussing with the teachers of the law. This is recorded in Luke 2:39-52.
More about Family in the Bible: