Beginning from Man and Woman

Aiming to articulate a Christian vision of marriage and the household, Dr Wong does not shy away from the hardest and most perplexing questions, and his constructive vision of the family as a school of love deserves attention and careful consideration.

Gilbert Meilaender, PhD
Senior Research Professor, Valparaiso University

Beginning from Man and Woman is an important contribution to the literature on Christian marriage and family. Bernard Wong tackles many vital issues in a direct, forthright, and engaging manner, offering invaluable critical and constructive insight. This is a must read for anyone who takes seriously the theological and moral significance of the family, especially as a witness to Christ’s love.

Brent Waters, PhD
Director of Stead Center for Ethics and Values,
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

1. Chapter 1
1. Introduction
1. 1.1 From the Beginning
2. 1.2 Marriage in the Contemporary World
3. 1.3 A Christian Response
4. 1.4 Chapter Outline
2. Chapter 2
1. Uniformity between Man and Woman
1. 2.1 Farley: Personhood as Self-Transcendence
2. 2.2 Thatcher: Personhood as Love
3. 2.3 Sexual Ethics of Farley: Coming Together of Minds
4. 2.4 Sexual Ethics of Thatcher: Coming Together of Bodies
5. 2.5 The Gendered Ethics of Farley and Thatcher
6. 2.6 Theological Assessment
7. 2.7 Conclusions
3. Chapter 3
1. Equal-Regard between Man and Woman
1. 3.1 Critical Familism and Children
2. 3.2 Critical Familism and the Democratization of Family
3. 3.3 Male Problematic and Family Cohesion
4. 3.4 Family as a Liberal Democracy
5. 3.5 Theological Assessment
6. 3.6 Conclusions
5. Chapter 4
1. Complementarity between Man and Woman
1. 4.1 Gender Relationship in Complementarianism
2. 4.2 Formulation of “Biblical Manhood and Womanhood”
3. 4.3 Theological Assessment
4. 4.4 Conclusions
6. Chapter 5
1. Love between Man and Woman
1. 5.1 A Retrospective
2. 5.2 Dualities of Human Existence as Framework of Gender Relationship
3. 5.3 Christ’s Love as Moral Vision of Gender Relationship
4. 5.4 The Moral Vision
5. 5.5 Conclusions
7. Chapter 6
1. Witnessing Christ’s Love: The Ephesian Household Code
1. 6.1 A Survey of Contemporary Interpretation
2. 6.2 Interpreted through Christ’s Love
3. 6.3 Conclusions
8. Bibliography
9. Index