Please.. no b/s .... question about the bible and marriage ???

Question

ok ..here goes ...dont be mean, but i have seen some questions similar to this and the answers always seem to avoid the real question ... "what constitues marriage in the bible?? - does it require a license or document?? - cannot a man and woman go before God and give their vows and ask the Lord to bless this union?? ....come-on now, no flaming, just give me some scripture that addresses this matter ... thx

Answer 1

Marriage in the bible is between one man and one woman, vowing to stay true to one another and become one flesh for the rest of the time that they live here on earth.

So, yes in some parts of the world , you may be able to simply declare your vows to one another before God and that would be the end of it.

Now,onto scripture and why in America and other countries you will need to follow the laws of your country.

In the book of romans, it states point blank to obey the laws of your country. This means that obeying God is also obeying the rules and laws of your country. If a marriage license is required by your country in order to be considered married, then you must get a marriage license.

The only time that we are allowed to go against the rules and laws of our country is when a rule or a law would go directly against the word of God.

There is a big difference between something being legal, but wrong according to Gods word, and a law being passed that states that we must go against Gods word.

Answer 2

I hope this will answer your question about marriage. Marriage was instituted by our Creator. He joined the first human pair Adam and Eve, in marriage. Genesis 2:22-24.

Matthew 19:4-6 also is a good scripture on marriage.

In ancient times there is no record of a formal religious ceremony associated with weddings. And there was no such thing as a marriage license, but steps were taken that made the marriage tie legally binding.

Also marriages affected the family or patriarchal community. It was natural that the selection of a wife and the arrangement of all contractual and financial matters connected with it should be decided upon by the parents or guardians involved. The initial steps or proposals were generally made by the parents so it stands to reason that there would be witnesses at the ceremony although it was not always the case.

Anyone contemplating marriage must abide by the laws of the land. A marriage that conforms to legal requirements protects those involved.

Answer 3

David T is a gentleman, but I need to disagree w/ his submission. The witnesses in Ruth were for the legal transaction w/ included the transfer of a woman (property) and a redeemer/kinsman.
In the Bible, betrothel constituted the period w/in which adultery could be charged. In the time of Abram, coming from the area of the Hurrians and Ur, the socially elite would adopt a woman as their sister before marrying her. This gave her extra legal rights.
The Bible does not have an example of a "marriage" ceremony.
The covenant of marriage occurs in God's eyes when the couple has slept together - cf. rape law of another answer, the war bride booty issue, Tamar and her brother-in-law, etc. For most of the OT, women were still considered property to be bought and sold. The marriage laws grew up around that consideration. Hence Jesus remark about what God has joined together - you can't return to Wal-Mart.
Practically it is a confusion between the sacral - divine blessing and the civil - state licensing w/ all the abuse that has entailed through the years.
Increasingly, elderly individuals are having to forego marriage (state terms) in order to protect retirement/insurance benefits. As a pastor, I have been honored to bless unions w/o the necessity of civil authority's authorization, approval. The act is simply not registered at the county auditors.
Confused?

Answer 4

The Bible honestly does not mention that a person has to go to a priest and get some marriage certificate and wear a ring. Cause if you read in Genesis about Jacob he just asked Rachel's hand in marriage, they had a ceremony and they went to bed together (use your brain here about the bed) and then they were husband and wife. So I guess to be married is to go to the parents and ask for the daughter's hand in marriage and then you're married. I think this marriage certificate came in at the latter stage because MAYBE when marrying in community of property and the person has to identify that they really are married or if the spouse past away and that person has to identify that they really were married, for inheritance.

So if no one knows that marriage took place the family can always come and take their child's belongings when the child passes away and the living spouse cannot say anything because in nowadays such marriages are not recognized.

So to answer your question, yes the couple can go before God and exchange vows before God and ask God to bless the union BUT the man has to ask the female's parents for her hand in marriage so the father/family has to give their consent.

Answer 5

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 24:1 ... then let him write her a bill of divorce. Evidence of paperwork. It goes much deeper than that. much. be very careful here. There were many Jewish laws regarding marriage. The parents had to verify the virginity of the daughter they were offering for marriage Deut. 22:13. We don't do that today. Deut. 22:5 says women must not wear men's clothing .....

There are lots of passages about marriage -- I am looking in my concordance for you right now. I think it is important to understand the writings within the cultural context. In old times and now, there are specific expectations and responsibilities you assume in marriage. Marriage is a legal issue. So, no, you can't just pray for God's blessing and be married. But if you try it, you may find that after a certain time period of living together, it could be considered a "Common Law" marriage; depending on what state you live.

Answer 6

I'm sorry, I do not know them ... But I know one thing for sure, the bible does not condone rape and buying a woman. Some people take text too litlerally, even cultures back then respected maintaining virginity until marriage not taking it to marry her. Marriages, in whatever form were arranged back then and gifts of money and treasures were set up for the brides family to give to the groom once the marriage happened. I hope you find an answer that is exact.

What is wrong with mine? I was more commenting on something that an answer above said about being able to pay off a family if a guy rapes someone ... And personally, I don't agree that marriage has to be between man and woman, despite what the bible says. That is my personal opinoin, please do not take it as fact.

Answer 7

ok , here's the thing... there is no ACTUAL rite in the Bible that describes how a marriage is to take place. The usual example given is in Genesis 2:23-25
However, in the Jewish tradition and law, Marriage is a contract, a covenant, between the man and the woman and their families.
The man's part of the contract is to protect the woman, provide for her and her children and not to abuse her.
the woman's part is to support the man, give him children and be a partner in the home they create together. Furthermore, if the families involved have goods and services ie. the Golds are farmers and the Smiths are soldiers... the Golds' feed the Smiths and the Smiths protect the Golds...

Answer 8

As the others have said, there is no scripture in the Bible (that I'm aware of anyway) that states you must have a license in order to be married in the eyes of God. The real question is why would you not want one? It's a written, public declaration of your intentions to live as husband and wife. There are benefits to having your marriage legally recognized by the state. Why wouldn't you want one?

If my husband had only wanted to exchange vows, only to be married in the eyes of God, but not legally by the state when there was no good reason not to, I would have had second thoughts. I would have questioned his committment.

Answer 9

The Bible condemns sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage. The general distinction between fornication and adultery is that adultery involves married persons while fornication involves those who are unmarried. The New Testament often uses the term (fornication) in a general sense for any unchastity. Of the seven lists of sins found in the writings of the apostle Paul, the word fornication is found in five of them and is first on the list each time (1 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 3:5).

Colossians 3:5
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
NIV

Marriage is the only place in the Bible where sexual intercourse is approved.

Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
NIV

However, even among married couples, sex is not a game to be withheld, but each to honor the other in the relationship.

1 Corinthians 7:2-3
2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
NIV

1 Corinthians 6:9
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.
NIV The word that is translated "sexually immoral" is the word "fornication."

There is no difference before, during or after marriage, sex outside of one's own marriage is condemned in the Bible. Such an act is either fornication or adultery.

God created mankind in His own image as "male and female" (Gen 1:27; 5:2). The act of sexual intercourse is part of God's first command to mankind: "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28). This relationship, obviously, would not preclude sexual intercourse for pleasure within marriage.

This command, however, is addressed to a husband and wife. It is interesting to me to observe God's laws about sex as it was taught in the Old Testament. Sex was a very sacred privilege and violations of that privilege were treated as criminal acts.

Leviticus 20:10-15
10 "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
11 "'If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
12 "'If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.
13 "'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
14 "'If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.

To answer your question, sex before marriage (sex outside of one's own marriage) is a sin.

Also read this: Mathew 5, Epesians 5:21-33
1Kings 11:1-6

You should get married!!! good luck, and God Bless ;)

Answer 10

Marrage, as defined in The Bible is a vow between a man and woman made before God... This binds them togeather under God's law... regardless of what man's law is they are married in God's eyes... and the rules stated in The Bible bind them...if you are familier with The Bible then you know God's law on the subject... man's law is for man... that is a legality of this world...That is not what the Bible refers to when speaking of marrage...

the services of a pastor are not required... however any pastor of the True Christian Faith should perform a union of two believers if he is assured of the sincerity of their vow...of course it would not have "legal" status...but the two and God are all that is required to bind them to God's law... it is good to have witnesses of The Faith present though on such a joyous occasion.... and making it legal is a good idea asap.