For many, marriage is a major milestone in their faith.
By Madison Kerth — Written on Nov 22, 2019
Most people begin dreaming about getting married, but not everyone's idea of what the perfect marriage will be like is the same.
Some women want to be their own breadwinner and be part of a two-income home with (or without) children.
While dating and looking for a spouse, some court a person who fits in with their ideas of a perfect spouse.
There other couples who want a marriage like their parents had.
Some never want to repeat the past and try something non-tradition like a vow exchange without the legal paperwork. They prefer to feel like their marriage is more about choice.
People of varying faiths view marriage through the eyes of their religion. For Christians, the Bible describes how singles and married people are best designed to do this life.
When Christians get married, they are making a commitment that includes themselves and God.
Marriage is hard. It can truly test your faith. When you start to think your marriage is going to fail or that your commitment to one another is wavering, the Bible can help couples reconnect and grow spiritual roots.
For both non-Catholics and Catholics, marriage as a holy sanction. As some states require marital classes to prepare for marriage, the Bible also explains what marriage is all about and what a god-centered commitment looks like. That doesn't mean everyone will agree, either.
Living in a modern age, you can feel a disconnect between the text of the Bible and your personal views, and what love is.
Social structures have changed drastically since Biblical times. For example, you might feel a strong connection with God and the church, but have a hard time reconciling the verse that says wives are subject to their husbands.
“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:22-23, WEB) seems archaic and even insulting to a modern, feminist.
Is it necessary for a successful marriage to fall victim to gender-based submission? No. Women have risen in power and social acceptability. The perfect Christian wife can be the breadwinner of her family, a title historically reserved for men.
As a Christian, during my own personal Bible study, I tend to stray away from verses that imply this kind of power dynamic between men and women. I acknowledge them for what they are, a product of the past, and move my attention to be focused on the verses I connect to.
There are so many other positive, gender equality-related marriage rules for marriage in the Bible.
Outdated views aside, the Bible can help in describing what marriage is about.
Here are 28 quotes taken from scripture verses on marriage that sum up the Christian Biblical view!
1. Don't cheat on your spouse.
"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." — Hebrews 13:4
2. Finding one person to love is an honorable thing.
"Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor of Yahweh." — Proverbs 18:22
3. Your parents shouldn't meddle with your relationship.
"Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh." — Genesis 2:24
4. A good husband is loving.
"Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also the assembly." — Ephesians 5:28-29
5. Your life is different after marriage.
"A wife is bound by law for so long time as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord." — 1 Corinthians 7:39
6. You become a team.
"And the two will become one flesh so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." — Mark 10:8-9
7. Self-love is required.
"Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." — Ephesians 5:33
8. Marry your best friend.
"Yahweh God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'" — Genesis 2:18
9. Forgive often.
"And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins." — 1 Peter 4:8
10. A wife is a blessing.
"Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies." — Proverbs 31:10
11. Marriage is a source of strength.
"Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
12. Know what you want before saying, "I do."
"I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in lovingkindness, and in compassion." — Hosea 2:19
13. Love is a priority.
"But now remain faith, hope, and love: these three. The greatest of these is love." — 1 Corinthians 13:13
14. Marriage is a family blessing.
"Take wives, and father sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply you there, and don't be diminished." — Jeremiah 29:6
15. Marriage means acceptance.
"Ruth said, 'Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.'" — Ruth 1:16-17
16. Marriage is a call to love.
"Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them." — Colossians 3:19
17. Marriage is a form of spiritual protection.
"Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Yahweh, and you became mine." — Ezekiel 16:8
18. Divorce is permitted when there's domestic violence.
"‘For I hate divorce,’ says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘and him who covers his garment with violence!' says Yahweh of Hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously.’"— Malachi 2:16
19. Marriage is a place for happiness.
"Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving hind and a pleasant doe -- Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love." — Proverbs 5:18-19
20. Marriage is fun.
"Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun." — Ecclesiastes 9:9
21. Your sex life shouldn't die.
"But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn." — 1 Corinthians 7:9
22. Marriage is a trust.
"Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well." — 1 Timothy 3:12
23. Marriage is an on-going commitment.
"You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck." — Song of Solomon 4:9
24. Marriage requires wisdom.
"Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands." — Proverbs 14:1
25. Your spouse is a blessing.
"Your wife will be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of your house; your children like olive plants, around your table." — Psalm 128:3
26. Your family of origin influences how you treat your spouse.
"My son, keep your father's commandment, And don't forsake your mother's teaching." — Proverbs 6:20
27. You have to take responsibility for yourself.
"He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be a servant to the wise of heart." — Proverbs 11:29
28. Marriage goes beyond romance.
"Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with." — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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Madison Kerth is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.