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NASB | Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. |
Bible Question: I want to know how God sees marriage. Is common law marriage biblically acceptable if all other requirements are met other than a ceremony with a license, i.e. the marriage is between one man and one woman, they are both Christians? This is a subject that has come up in Bible study and we can't seem to find a definitive, scriptural answer. Glad for any help. |
Bible Answer: Hello always, Welcome to the Forum. I honestly don't see "common law marriage" being acceptable or otherwise supported by scripture. It's like playing house without any commitment before God or men! If Heb. 13:4 is any guide, we don't see it here: "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (NASB) This doesn't refer to "common law marriage" but rather a union between man and woman! Further, Eph. 5:24 says, "But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything." (NASB) cf. 5:22. The biblical directive here is to "wives" and "husbands" One cannot be referred to as such without being officially married, can they? Possibly, Naves Topical Bible may be of some help (or use) in studying this? Here's the section from it titled, MARRIAGE. In family blood lines, Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 11:29; 12:13; 20:3, 9–16. Isaac and Rebekah, Gen. 24:3, 4, 67; 28:2. Jacob and his wives, Gen. 29:15–30; see below, in the elaborated text. Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother’s widow), Gen. 38:8, 11; Deut. 25:5–10; Ruth 4:5; Matt. 22:24; Mark 12:19–23; Luke 20:28. Parents contract for their children: Hagar selects a wife for Ishmael, Gen. 21:21; Abraham for Isaac, Gen. 24; Laban arranges for his daughters’ marriage, Gen. 29; Samson asks his parents to procure him a wife, Judg. 14:2. Parents’ consent required in the Mosaic law, Ex. 22:17. Presents given to parents to secure their favor, Gen. 24:53; 34:12; Deut. 22:29; 1 Sam. 18:25; Hos. 3:2. Marriage feasts, Gen. 29:22; Judg. 14:12; Esth. 2:18; Matt. 22:11, 12. Jesus present at, John 2:1–5. Ceremony attested by witnesses, Ruth 4:1–11; Isa. 8:1–3. Bridegroom exempt one year from military duty, Deut. 24:5. Bridal ornaments, Isa. 49:18; Jer. 2:32. Bridal presents, Gen. 24:53; Psa. 45:12. Herald preceded the bridegroom, Matt. 25:6. Wedding robes adorned with jewels, Isa. 61:10. Wives obtained by purchase, Gen. 29:20; Ruth 4:10; Hos. 3:2; 12:12; by kidnapping, Judg. 21:21–23. Given by Kings, 1 Sam. 17:25; 18:17, 21. Daughters given in, as rewards of valor, Judg. 1:12; 1 Sam. 17:25; 18:27. Wives taken by edict, Esth. 2:2–4, 8–14. David gave one hundred Philistine foreskins for a wife, 2 Sam. 3:14. Wives among the Israelites must be Israelites, Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3, 4; 1 Chr. 23:22; Ezra 9:1, 2, 12; Neh. 10:30; 13:26, 27; Mal. 2:11; 1 Cor. 7:39; 2 Cor. 6:14. Betrothal a quasi-marriage, Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:27. Betrothal made with the spirit, Ezek. 16:8. Celibacy deplored, Judg. 11:38; Isa. 4:1; Jer. 16:9; advised, 1 Cor. 7:7, 8, 24–40. Obligations under, inferior to duty to God, Deut. 13:6–10; Matt. 19:29; Luke 14:26. Not binding after death, Matt. 22:29, 30; Mark 12:24, 25. See BRIDE; BRIDEGROOM. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to: Gen. 2:23, 24 1 Cor. 6:16. Ex. 22:16, 17; Lev. 18:6–8 [Deut. 22:30.] Lev. 18:9–18; Lev. 20:14, 17, 19–21; Lev. 21:1, 7, 13–15; Num. 36:8; Deut. 21:10–14; Deut. 24:1–5; Prov. 18:22; Prov. 21:9, 19; Jer. 29:6; Hos. 2:19, 20; Mal. 2:13–16; Matt. 5:31, 32; Mark 6:17, 18; Mark 10:2–12 Matt. 19:2–9. Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:1–3; 1 Cor. 7:1–40; 1 Cor. 9:5; 1 Cor. 11:11, 12; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; 1 Tim. 4:1, 3; 1 Tim. 5:14; Heb. 13:4 Figurative: Isa. 54:5; 62:4, 5; Jer. 3:14; 31:32; Hos. 1:2; 2:19, 20; Eph. 5:30–32; Rev. 19:7–9. Parables from, Matt. 22:2; 25:1–10. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |