This treatise affirms that marriage, as instituted by divine Law, is inherently good and ordained for the natural purposes of propagation, faithfulness, and the sacrament, but it also emphasizes that continence and spiritual obedience are higher goods.
It explores the nature of marriage, the virtues necessary for a holy life within marriage, and the superiority of virginity and celibacy as a means of dedicating oneself fully to God, particularly in the context of the Christian pursuit of spiritual perfection.
Augustine ultimately advocates for a mindset where marriage is honored as good and legitimate, yet subordinate to the higher virtue of continence, which leads to greater spiritual purity and union with God.
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