The basic definition of a patriarch is “the male head of family or tribe”, and is, in part, an accurate definition of what we embrace here at Joshuah’s House. The father and husband is the one who has been charged with the duty and responsibility to lead his family.
Another good definition of a patriarch can be gleaned from Wikipedia. We would replace “autocratic” with theocratic. …
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a composition of πατήρ (pater) meaning “father” and ἄρχων (archon) meaning “leader”, “chief”, “ruler”, “king”, etc.
In our biblical worldview, there are three options when it comes to marital relationships: monogamy, polygyny, and celibacy. Most people are monogamous. A few of us may be either polygamous or celibate. All three options are morally, ethically and spiritually equal. |