Traditional biblical marriage is under attack in our culture. This has resulted in some people questioning whether marriage between one man and one woman for life under God is even worth it anymore. Equally, so this has led many Bible-believing Christians to examine the Scriptures to understand what the Bible teaches about gender roles and marriage. While many articles and books have been written, and I’ve greatly enjoyed those modern perspectives, what is needed is ancient wisdom unearthed from the church fathers, the medieval period, the Reformation and Puritan period, early evangelicals, and the modern period. We have this wisdom now in the helpful new book, Held In Honor Wisdom for Your Marriage from Voices of the Past edited by Robert L. Plummer and Matthew D. Haste.
In the Patristic Era, we in learn in this book from Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Clement, Athanasius, John Chrstyostom, Augustine of Hippo, Paulinus of Nola, Ambrosisaster, and Opus Imperfectum. In the medieval period, we get instruction from Gregory the Great, Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and more. The Reformation and Puritan section of the book have selected readings on marriage from John Calvin, William Gouge, John Milton, Richard Baxter, Matthew Henry, and more. Early evangelicals featured in the book are Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Andrew Fuller, Adoniram Judson, Charles Spurgeon, and more. Lastly, in the modern era, we’re introduced to the thought of G.K. Chesterton, Karl Bart, J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Francis Schaeffer, Elizabeth Elliot, and John Piper.
Each chapter is relatively short at one or two pages. On the first page, you read from the theologian. After this, you read from Plummer and Haste on how the teaching applies today. The authors leave no stone unturned in their examination of what the ancients taught, even disagreeing with them at times. Held In Honor will help Christians to diagnose how the wisdom of the past applies to our lives today.
Held In Honor is a much-needed book that will help Christians to have a well-rounded perspective on marital issues from some of the church’s greatest theologians. At various points, you’ll likely disagree with the ancients on their marriage advice, and perhaps even the authors perspective on the issues they explore and that’s okay. This book will help couples to balance each day of their lives together under the banner of Christ.
I received this book for free from Christian Focus for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
