Marriage

Old Testament    New Testament    Book of Mormon    Statements of Belief

Origins of the Topic

Old Testament

The ideal marriage is a close union that cannot be separated - Key Verse -
Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

A husband should be focused towards his wife - Key Verse -

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 [14] When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; [15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. [18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: [20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. Commentary: God commands even the king to be like his people, "That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren." This includes not having more than one wife, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself," because doing so is less than perfect, "that his heart turn not away".

A husband and wife should be together and not separated for a time after marriage - Key Verse -
Deuteronomy 24:5 - When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

Marraige can be passionate - Key Verse -
Proverbs 5:18-19 [18] Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. [19] Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

New Testament

There is no marriage in heaven - Key Verse -

Matthew 22:28-30 [28] Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. [30] For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Commentary: This is repeated in Luke 20:33-36 [33] Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. [34] And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: [35] But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: [36] Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Husbands and wives are equal - Key Verse -

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 [3] Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. [4] The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. [5] Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Commentary: See Ephesians 5:22-33 and the description of equality in marriage.

Paul speaks about situations that occurred when only one spouse converted to Christ

1 Corinthian 7:6, 8-17 [6] But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. [8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. [9] But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. [10] And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: [11] But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. [12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. [14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. [15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. [16] For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? [17] But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Commentary: Paul speaks his own opinion and these verses are not a commandment from God (so are not scripture). Paul speaks about circumstances in marriages of mixed faith - usually when one spouse converts and the other does not.

Marriage is not a sin

1 Corinthians 7:25,28-35 [25] Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. [28] But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. [29] But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; [30] And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; [31] And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. [32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: [33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. [34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. [35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. Commentary: Paul speaks his own opinion and these verses are not a commandment from God (so are not scripture). The term "virgins" in verse 25 applied to both sexes. In verse 28, Paul states that it is not a sin to marry (agreeing with the commandments made by God, Genesis 2:24, and confirmed by Jesus, Matthew 19:3-6 and Mark 10:6-9). The remaining verses state that marriage requires attention for the spouse that can be distracting, and that an unmarried person does not have these distractions.

Death of a spouse allows a person to remarry - Key Verse -
1 Corinthians 7:39 - The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Husbands and wives are to treat each other equally - Key Verse -

Ephesians 5:22-33 [22] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. [24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. [29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: [30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. [33] Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Commentary: To understand these verses, consider 1 Corinthians 12:13-31 which talks about the various parts of the body being different but each part has it's own function and the body operates as one ("That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another"). The body in 1 Corinthians 12 is compared to the church ("Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular"). The verses here in Ephesians follow the same analogy in the marriage. The parts are different but quite equal ("Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" - and remember that Jesus put himself equal to men in John 15:13-15, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...Ye are my friends...Henceforth I call you not servants"). This equality is echoed in verse 28, "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies," and this equality is also compared between Jesus and his church in verse 29. This concept is finalized in verse 31 that in marriage, husband and wife "shall be one flesh," just as a marriage between Jesus and the church result in one body. Being able to understand this "unity of separate parts" brings this great mystery to light (see the topic on glory and the mysteries of God).

Marriage is honourable. God will judge those that defile it
Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Book of Mormon

Marriage is one of the blessings given by God - Key Verse -
4 Nephi 1:11-12 [11] And now behold it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceeding fast, and became an exceeding fair and delightsome people. [12] And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.

Statements of Belief

Anabaptism -

Anglican -

Assyrian Church -

Church of Christ -

Church of Jesus Christ (Restoration Branches) -

Epitome of Faith (RLDS Addendum): We believe that marraige is ordained of God, and that the law of God provides for but one companion in wedlock, for either man or woman, except in cases where the contract of marriage is broken by death or transgression.

RLDS Doctrine and Covenants, Section 111:1a-4a [1a] According to the custom of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies: [1b] therefore we believe, that all marriages in this Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose: [1c] and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by other authority. [1d] We believe that it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the church, if it be their determination so to do, but such persons will be considered weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[2a] Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving; and at the solemnization, the persons to be married, standing together, the man on the right, and the woman on the left, shall be addressed, by the person officiating, as he shall be directed by the Holy Spirit; and if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each by their names: [2b] "You both mutually agree to be each other's companion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives?" [2c] And when they have answered "Yes," he shall pronounce them "husband and wife" in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him: [2d] "May God add his blessings and keep you to fulfill your covenants from henceforth and for ever. Amen."

[3] The clerk of every church should keep a record of all marriages solemnized in his branch.

[4a] All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled.