What does the Bible say about marriage? The Bible says a lot about marriage. In this article we will discuss 7 biblical truths regarding what the Scriptures say about marriage.
The Bible Says Marriage Is from God and Is Good
The Bible says God created humans, and when he made humans he made us to be able to create and invent things on our own. While God is in control of everything because he is sovereign and ordains everything that happens, humans are the source of many things on earth.
This is not so with marriage. While humans created certain governments, certain religions, and certain ideas, the Bible says that marriage was created by God. Genesis 2:24 states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Notice it does not say that man will be united to a “woman.” The Bible says “his wife.” Here we can see that God created marriage and thus marriage is good (Proverbs 18:22).
This does not mean that singleness is bad. Singleness and marriage are both a gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7). No one should ever try to trick you to think that the Bible says marriage or singleness is bad (1 Timothy 4:1-5). We each need to walk with God to see what his plan is for our lives.
The Bible Says Marriage Is Good for Non-Christians Too
Not only is marriage a godly pursuit that most Christians should seek after, marriage is also an expression of common grace to the whole world. The Bible’s endorsement of marriage and childbearing within marriage not only applies to Christians but to all people groups on earth (Genesis 1:28).
When traditional marriage is forsaken, study after study show that societies break down. The health of a community is directly tied to the health of the family units within that community. When the Bible says things like, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22) and “House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD” (Proverbs 19:14), we should not assume these verses apply only to Christians.
All good things are from the Lord (James 1:17, Matthew 5:45-48). While the entire world does not taste God’s saving grace, the entire world does drink from God’s common grace, even if they refuse to admit this. Marriage glorifies God, is good for society, and is good for individuals; therefore the Bible says marriage should be encouraged amongst Christians and non-Christians.
The Bible Says People Should Not Be Unequally Yoked in Marriage
While the Bible says that marriage is for the whole world and not just Christians, the Bible also says that Christians and non-Christians should not intermarry. Marriages between different races, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses should be celebrated and encouraged. The only type of union that is forbidden are what the Bible calls “unequally yoked” relationships which point to a union between a believer and an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, 1 Corinthians 7:39).
(For more on this read, “What Does the Bible Say About Marrying a Non-Believer?”)
The Bible Says Marriage Can Only Be Between One Man and One Woman
While marriage should be encouraged for all people, the type of marriage the Bible endorses is that between one man and one woman. While polygamy was practiced by many Old Testament characters, the Bible never says this was good. The Bible says polygamy is sinful.
The one man to one woman relationship in marriage also leaves out the possibility of homosexual marriages as well (Romans 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Christians should never sinfully judge or condemn the world. It is not our place to hatefully point out the sins of others. While Christians should seek to promote biblical practices for the societies in which they live, we must also strike the balance between “respecting” the government’s decision to endorse gay marriage.
This does not mean Christians should celebrate or agree with gay marriage, but since many of our societies do allow gay marriage, we must learn to stand for Christ and the clear teaching of the Bible while not casting stones or being unloving to homosexuals.
If we want the world to respect our practices and to allow us to live the type of life we want, we must be willing to allow others to freely to the same when their rights do not infringe on ours. It is not always clear when the freedom of one group infringes on the freedoms of another. May we pray for wisdom and love to guide us as we seek to always be the light of the world.
(Read this for more on “What Does the Bible Say About Gay Marriage?”)
The Bible Says Marriage Creates a Unique Bond Between the Husband and Wife
The Bible says that intimacy and commitment must always be paired together. This truth can be seen through the unique relationship that exists between a husband and a wife. There are many other special bonds on earth, but there is none more intimate than marriage.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Because marriage is the highest commitment two individuals can make with one another, the Bible says marriage is the place for the most intimate of connections between a man and a woman. Premarital sex is a mismatch between intimacy and commitment and thus it always leads to wounds that need the healing of Christ.
The Bible Says What God Has Joined Together in Marriage, Man Should Not Separate
Divorce is a large topic in the Bible. Basically, the Bible says that people should not divorce accept for adultery. And even when unfaithfulness in the marriage does occur, the Bible does not command divorce but it does allow for it.
While in the Old Testament there were laws on how to write a certificate of divorce, Jesus made clear in Mark 10:4-9 that this was done only because of man’s hard heart. Because Christians have been given a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), we are expected to follow what God originally intended for humanity, including in marriage, which is why Jesus condemns divorce in ways that Moses did not.
(For more on what the Bible says about divorce, read “What Does the Bible Say About Abuse and Divorce?” or “Why Won’t God Fix My Marriage?”)
The Bible Says Marriage Symbolizes Christ and the Church
As you can see, the Bible says that marriage is an amazing gift from God that captures a special love bond between two humans that is found in no other relationship. Other relationships can be filled with unique types of love (parenting love, family love, love for siblings, etcetera), but marriage is certainly among the highest forms of love.
It should not be a surprise that God uses marriage to show the world the unique love relationship between Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Within the Christian marriage, a wife and a husband play different roles to reflect the different roles Christ and the church play. God designed husbands and wives to operate in these roles, and when they fail to do this the marriage suffers.
(For more on this read “Complementarianism in Context: What Does the Bible Say About Roles in Marriage?”)
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
As you can see, the Bible says a lot about marriage. The Bible says that marriage is created by God and is good. The Bible also says marriage should be encouraged for both Christians and non-believers but not between them. The Bible says marriage benefits society, marriage populates the earth, marriage should not end in divorce, and the Bible says that marriage ultimately reflects Christ and the church.