The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Let me begin by saying that I have no patience for any sort of self-help book, and Christian self-help books even less. Perhaps it's the downside of having studied theology, but light and fluffy just doesn't cut it, and every one that I've (tried to) read has been just that. I've had even less success with books on marriage, even though I recognize it as being one of the most theologically significant events in our lives.

Without being able to overstate that fact, hopefully it gives some context as to the weight that my rating this book with 5 stars carries. This is not a self-help book, although there is practical advice throughout. This is a theology text disguised as light reading, a theology of marriage of a depth that I honestly show more didn't think was possible by any modern academic. And make no mistake that Keller is in academic.

There are deep examinations of every aspect of marriage in both ancient and modern cultures in this book, coupled with real-world examples that somehow manage to not be case studies, and very practical application to the lives of anyone reading today. Somehow, this book is all of these things, and still written in an accessible, conversational style.

I recommend this to any married person of faith, to anyone wanting to delve deeper into a theology of marriage, and to anyone exploring what actually living out a Christian faith in a non-stereotypical manner might look like in modern America. show less

The Kellers take a look at marriage. It is one of the most-balanced treatments of Christian marriage that I've ever read. The authors take a hard look at marriage in the context of contemporary culture while staying true to its Biblical ideal. Marriage is a commitment in a culture where individualism seems to be taking priority; however, it is also a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. The book would work great as a study guide for couples who are looking to be married, for couples who are already married who may be experiencing a rough time in the relationship, and even for those who are not married and never intend to be. Many Christian books on marriage are pure "fluff," but this is not one of them.

This book is one of the books that my husband and I read together over a season. Although it took us a long time to read, that's not any reflection on the quality of the book, more on fitting it in to the myriad other aspects of our life! Both my husband and I would agree that The Meaning of Marriage is one of the best books on marriage we've ever read. It is insightful, wise, and uncompromisingly honest covering much more than the usual 'how to survive the pitfalls and challenges of a marriage' and looking much deeper at the reason for marriage exploring the foundations for a godly marriage. Tim and Kathy Keller have done their research meticulously, so this book has both academic kudos as well as pastoral. I'd recommend this book to show more people considering marriage as well as those already married. show less

Probably one of the best Christian books on marriage I've ever read. I like Keller's writing style. He is clear, smart and careful about making any blanket statements. I learned a lot from this book and appreciated his candor about his own marriage. The only part I wasn't too convinced of was his section on singleness.

Reading this was fantastic for me. It was my first experience with any of Tim Keller's work, and I really enjoyed and was edified by it. It was an engaging read, without anything tedious or hard to get through, as I had originally suspected. While none of the material was ground-breakingly new or shocking to me, it was refreshing and a delight to read this much commentary and insight not only on marriage but on the Christian life all in one place.

This book was a great encouragement to me. Keller discusses not only the problems with the current cultural paradigm of marriage as based solely on human feelings and self-fulfillment, but also some of the errors in contemporary Christian views of marriage. Keller uses statistical evidence on the benefits of remaining married and the level of personal satisfaction, mental health etc. that can be attained through working at a mediocre marriage rather than searching for fulfillment through divorce and remarriage. He does note cases where a spouse who is a victim of unfaithfulness or physical or mental cruelty needs to take steps to protect herself/himself. He is not suggesting that people become martyrs to their spouses. He also show more emphasizes the biblical support for remaining single. I am often troubled by the romanticized view of marriage and motherhood that popular culture and also popular Christian culture seem to feed young women. Keller and his co-author (his wife) are, as always, straightforward and rational. show less

This book is for everyone: young adults, singles looking for a partner, singles who never want to marry, and people who are dating, engaged, or married already! Its aim is to shake off the myths and misunderstanding of marriage, and offer a clear view of reality: Your partner will change, and so will you. Both of you will have to make sacrifices to keep yourself and your partner happy. You both need to show acts of love to each other even when you don't feel "in love," because over time, those feelings can return and deepen.

I couldn't have gotten a better lesson on the meaning of singleness and marriage.