After reading these passages, here’s what I think the Bible is saying about marriage. Please feel free to disagree or add to the list.
- One man to one woman.
- Until death of one spouse. But widow/widower can marry again.
- Christians should not marry non-Christians.
- Marriage is a good thing. Honorable. Two are better than one.
- Selection of your mate is very important.
- No divorce. God hates it.
- Love one another.
- No sex outside of marriage.
- God created woman (a wife) because man needed help.
- Old wives should teach young wives to love their husbands and kids.
- I love this one. Honeymoon should be a year long.
=========================================================================
Eph 5:21-33 Think about a company organization chart. You know what that looks like. In our case of the Christian life Christ is the CEO who reports to God the Father. Husband is second level of management and reports to the CEO (Christ). Wife is third level of management reporting to the husband.
Titus 2:4 Extremely important role for older women – teaching the younger ones to love their husbands and children.
Gen 2:18-24 Man needs help so God created a woman/wife for him. God created marriage to be of one man to one woman.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honorable. No sex outside of marriage.
1 Cor 7:1-40 Don’t touch a woman who is not your own wife. Don’t touch a man who is not your own husband. Husband has duty to have sex with his wife. Wife has duty to have sex with her husband. Husband has authority over wife’s body. Wife has authority over husband’s body. Do not deprive one another of sex except to pray. Paul would prefer that unmarried women and widows remain unmarried unless they can’t control their sexual urges. The Lord instructs the wife not to leave her husband and the husband not to leave his wife. It sounds like Paul is not in favor of marriage so we will not be distracted from devotion to the Lord.
Prov 18:22 King Solomon says “he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord”. Wow and double wow! A little different from Paul’s attitude toward marriage.
2 Cor 6:14 Believers should not marry unbelievers.
Prov 21:9 Do not marry a contentious woman. Is it possible to find out before it’s too late?
1 Pet 3:7 Really important for husbands if they want their prayers to be “unhindered”. Be understanding with your wife. Honor your wife. Acknowledge her salvation.
Prov 19:14 A “prudent” wife is from the Lord. Is it possible to find out before hand?
Math 19:3-8 God joins man and wife in marriage , not to be separated by man.
Prov 31:10 The worth of an excellent wife is far above jewels. How can you tell in advance??
Mark 10:2-12 Moses says yes to divorce but Jesus says no.
1 Pet 4:8 Love your spouse fervently in order to cover sin.
1 Pet 3:1-5 (I am an example of this) My wife led me to the Lord by her chaste and respectful behavior.
Col 3:18-19 Wives should be subject to husbands-it is fitting to the Lord. Husbands love your wives and do not be bitter with them.
Malachi 2:13-16 Do not deal treacherously with your wife.
Gen 2:20-24 For what cause would you leave your parents? Marriage?
Deut 24:5 Honeymoon should be one year. (I love this one.)
Prov 12:4 An excellent wife reflects well on her husband but a wife who shames her husband rots his bones.
Gen 1:27-28 Husband and wife are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and rule over it.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is an honorable thing. No sex outside of marriage.
1 Tim 3:2 Church leaders cannot be divorced or polygamous.
Math 19:9 This verse is incorrectly used by Christians to justify divorce but they use it out of context.
Prov 21:19 Yikes! Selection is key. But how can you tell in advance?
1 Tim 5:3-14 Special very important instructions for widows.
Lev 21:14 A priest can only marry a virgin of his own people (I assume that means Jew).
Ex 22:16 If a man has sex with a virgin who is not engaged he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
Rom 7:1-3 A married woman is bound to her husband until he dies.
Mark 12:21-25 There is no marriage in heaven.
Mal 2:16 God hates divorce.
Jer 29:6 Procreate
1 Cor 11:3 God is in charge, then Christ, then man, then woman.
Prov 5:18-19 Love your wife and be sexually satisfied with her.
Eccl 4:9-11 Two are better than one. (Married is better-more productive-more efficient-safer-more comfortable-stronger than single.)
Eccl 9:9 God has given you the woman you love to enjoy for life.
Math 22:26-30 No marriage in heaven.
1 Cor 11:9-12 Woman was created for man’s sake.
2 Cor 6:14-18 Do not marry an unbeliever.
Lev 21:7 Priests should not marry a harlot or divorced woman.