Customer Reviews

Heirs Together

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This is the book I purchase for engaged friends. It's one of the books that helped us stay out of divorce court years ago and still helps us stay happily married.

If you can only purchase one book to help build your marriage, this is the one to get.

Besides clearly explaining the biblical basis of mutual submission, this book really talks to you in a practical, down-to-earth fashion about what marriage is and how you should shape your own marriage to make it best fit you and your partner. I really appreciated the scriptural exposition of what submission is and who is "supposed" to submit to whom. This was easy to read, not full of jargon like "hermenutics," so it's perfect for the lay person who wants to know more about this thing called "biblical equality" and "mutual submission."

This is an excellent book that teaches the Biblical way for marriage. It began an incredible journey for us of a new level of oneness in our marital union -- living as husband and wife who submit to one another as we submit to Christ. We owe a great deal to Patricia Gundry. I highly recommend this book for all!

Instead of harping on female subordination, and who is in charge of who, this book encourages you to create your OWN marriage. It describes putting both parnter on the same playing field with equal responsibility within the marriage. A lot of Christian marriages fail because they are constantly trying to force themselves into the roles they are told to be "women stay at home with your kids, clean your house and be happy about it. and if you don't, if your kids are 'bad' its all your fault. but not really because its your husbands." I really like that my husband and I are creating OUR OWN marriage and not trying to fit in to what we are "suppose" to be doing other than doing what works for us. She doesn't get into great detail "exegeting" the passages hugely, but emphasizes serving one another because you love each other and God.

Not your typical Christian marriage book. Very practical, down-to-earth advice and remarks on a Christian marriage - with sound basis in biblical principles. A must read for anyone who is married, thinking of getting married, thinking of getting divorced, or giving advice to a friend regarding marriage.

This is the best first book on marriage advice on the market. I'm still buying copies and giving them away after many years of doing so.

"Heirs Together" is a well written, thoroughly researched book on mutual submission in marriage. It is designed to be meaningful to any persons serious about using biblical principles to decide what their marriage should be like. It covers theory and practice plus a closing chapter dealing with typical, down-to-earth questions. In a warm disarming style Pat Gundry exhibits great skill in presenting a sensible nonpolemic case for mutuality in marriage.

Ninety pages are devoted to building our understanding of the biblical material relating to marriage, as well as historical facts that are essential. One of the strong features of the book is a chapter of hermeneutical (interpretive) principles to use in the reader's study of any passage. Building on these principles, the author deals at length with the first marriage (Eve and Adam), mutual submission and headship.

A section on the purpose of analogy deals with a seeming contradiction brought up by Christians suspicious of equality in marriage. "But equality between husband and wife ruins the analogy of Christ and the Church." Gundry explains that an analogy is useful for illustrating. It never is the thing it illustrates; it's only like that. In the above analogy, there are huge differences between the husband and Christ, as well as between the nature of earthly marriage and the spiritual marriage of Christ and the Church. The specific point illustrated is that, as Christ gave up his advantage of power and position by dying for the Church, so the spouse who has an advantage should use it as a way to lift up the other. In a patriarchal society, the husband usually has this advantage.

The last fifty pages are provide strength in an area where many books on marriage fall short. Gundry deals with the practical working out of mutual submission. Here she includes topics such as dividing work and responsibilities, making decisions, solving problems, setting goals and fighting constructively.

One thing that immediately impressed me about this book was the author's respect for my ability to study and come to conclusions. Instead of laying out formulas and rules that will guarantee success if followed, she encourages the reader to read and study the Bible, talk about it, pray and decide as God leads. The sense of freedom that she expressed made me more willing to take seriously what would follow.

The author's biblical and logical presentation, as well as her spirit, makes this a book to be shared with others. I have done so over the years.

(This review was previously published in "Daughters of Sarah" Mar/Apr 1981.)