Families in the New Testament

Surveying Scripture to Determine the Nature of Certain Families

Richard Hollerman

The families that we find mentioned and described in the Bible have flaws and were not perfect. Notice a few of these families and marriages, especially in the New Testament.

As we consult the early life of Christ, we find Zacharias and Elizabeth, both Jews who lived just before Christ, from Judea (the southern portion of Israel). Luke says that “they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). We might think that this was an ideal family and a perfect marriage. In some respects this may be true but we must also observe that they had no children! Eventually, Elizabeth did have a child (John) but surely most of their life this couple was childless. They were righteous but they lacked children, at least much of their life.

We too must sometimes face difficult circumstances that may include barrenness. In fact, we may not know why God allows (or causes) such a condition, but it is definitely found in the Bible. But it is sometimes found in our own life!

We next come to Simeon, and “this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). We must also remember Anna the prophetess in Jerusalem. Scripture says that she was quite old (84 years of age, apparently) and “never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers” (v. 17). She was a widow, thus she must have been married in the past, but her later years were spent in the temple. There is no indication that she had any children at all but she definitely was God-fearing. In fact, the Bible says that she “began giving thanks to God, and constantly to speak of Him [Jesus] to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (vv. 37-38). Why was she without children? We do know but she was godly in every way that we have recorded.

We also remember the very apostles of Christ. You know their names and something of their background (cf. Matthew 10:2-3). Think of Peter (also known as Simon or Cephas). He and his brother Andrew were fishermen, along with their partners (James and John), but when we think about this, these four men (whom Jesus chose to be apostles) worked through the night, repaired their nets when they got in, and surely they must have slept sometime—perhaps during the day. We might keep in mind that these people—as good Jews and followers of God—must have been family men and thus they must have had children. And children in those days would be at home, until school time when they may have been age 6 to 12, and then they would accompany their fathers to learn a trade (at age 12). This must have been a typical home, even with a resident mother-in-law (cf. Luke 4:38-39).

We might also consider Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (John 12:2-3). There is no indication that these three (who must have lived together) were married. And there is no indication that they had children. Still, Jesus loved them and spent time with them, even eating with them. Scripture says that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and Lazarus” (John 11:5). Indeed, this was an unusual people!

We might also think of Timothy, the fellow-worker and companion of Paul the apostle. As you might remember, he was from Lystra in present-day Turkey. Scripture says that [Timothy] was “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1-2). He is described as a man who had a good reputation (Acts 16:2), although he was half Jew and half Gentile (Greek). Apparently his grandmother (Lois) and his mother (Eunice) were filled with a “sincere faith” in God (2 Timothy 1:3-5). We don’t know how Eunice may have married a non-Jew (a Greek) (see Deuteronomy 7:3-4 where this was forbidden) but she must have retained her faith in God and taught this to Timothy as well (3:15). This does show that we may seek God and His will yet come from a “divided” home as was Timothy.

It might also be good for us to remember that not every person was married and had a family. Of course we think of Jesus Himself. And this may have been true of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Then there may have been Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, and others. Although it was both Jewish custom to be married and to be an overseer and servant in New Testament times, it was incumbent on a person regarding having a wife (Titus 1; 1 Timothy 2; etc.).

All of this reminds us that it is possible to be people of God with a sincere trust in God as Creator and Lord and still have our physical roots in a compromised family. If this is your own situation, we encourage you to seek God yourself and do His will, under all conditions. Regardless of your situation in life, it is possible to be His people and do His will, regardless of our circumstances.