The Christian marriage finds itself in a crisis. Churches worldwide are struggling to find answers to address the problem in their communities. The book of Adrian Thatcher “Marriage after modernity, Christian marriage in postmodern times”, is a resent publication which endeavours to formulate guidelines for marriage in postmodern society. This article is an attempt to give an overview of, as well as a critical reflection on the Biblical models as identified in his research. Although Thatcher\'s “models” are of utmost importance in the recent debate, it is necessary to select certain perspectives within his models that are still applicable in postmodern times. This first article describes and evaluates his
models, whilst the second article focuses on the relevancy thereof in postmodern times.

HTS Theological Studies Vol. 63 (2) 2007: pp. 625-651