Bible verses about "marriage" | Mace

² where multitudes of people followed him, and he healed their sick. ³ The Pharisees likewise came to him, and maliciously propos'd this question, may a man lawfully put away his wife at discretion? ⁴ and he answered them, have ye not read, that when the creator, at the beginning, made male and female, ⁵ he said, "for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and be attach'd to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?" ⁶ so that they are not now two, but one. what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ⁷ why then, said they, did Moses permit to give a writ of divorce to repudiate the wife? ⁸ he answer'd them, 'twas because of your perverse temper that Moses suffered you to repudiate your wives: but from the beginning this was not in practice. ⁹ and I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except it be for adultery, and shall marry another, he committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her that is put away, causeth her to commit adultery.

⁸ consequently they are no longer two, but one person. ⁹ let no man therefore separate what God has designed to be one. ¹⁰ When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again concerning this matter, and he said to them, ¹¹ whoever repudiates his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her: ¹² and if a woman quits her husband and is married to another, she committeth adultery.

³⁹ The wife is bound as long as her husband lives: but if her husbnd be dead, she is at liberty to be married, if she pleases; provided it be to a christian.

¹⁴ Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

²⁵ You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: ²⁶ to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, ²⁷ that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. ²⁸ in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." ²⁹ no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: ³⁰ of which we are the several parts constituting his body. ³¹ the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." ³² these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. ³³ wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

⁴ Social affection is patient, is kind; is a stranger to envy; is not insolently vain, nor arrogant: does not behave indecently, ⁵ is not self-interested, is not easily provoked, nor suspects any ill; ⁶ it does not countenance injustice, but smiles upon virtue; ⁷ it excuses all things, believes what is favourable, hopes for the best, and suffers the worst.

²² let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord. ²³ for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body. ²⁴ as the church then is subordinate to Christ, so let women be to their husbands upon all occasions. ²⁵ You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: ²⁶ to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, ²⁷ that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. ²⁸ in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." ²⁹ no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: ³⁰ of which we are the several parts constituting his body. ³¹ the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." ³² these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. ³³ wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

⁴ Marriage is every where honourable, and that state is innocent: but the licentious and adulterers God will punish.

¹ Now as to the question you writ to me about; "whether it is best for a man not to marry?" ² I answer, with regard to the licentious, it is best for a man, to have his wife; and for a woman to have her husband. ³ let the husband discharge his obligations to his wife: and likewise the wife to the husband. ⁴ the wife has not the right of her own person, but the husband: and so likewise the husband has not the right of his own person, but the wife. ⁵ don't desert one another, unless you mutually consent to retire for a time, to the solemnity of prayer; and then come together again, lest satan make an attempt upon your continency. ⁶ but as for the rest, I speak it by way of counsel, and not of command. ⁷ for I wish that all men were as I myself am: but every man hath his proper gift from God, some one way, and some another. ⁸ As to the unmarried and widows, I say, it is best for them to continue so, as I do. ⁹ but if they have not the gift, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be in pain. ¹⁰ as to the married, I enjoin this rule, not as from my self, but from the Lord, that a woman should not leave her husband: ¹¹ but if she has separated herself, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹² But as to the other cases, which were not decided by the Lord; I say, if any brother has a pagan wife, who likes to live with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ and if a woman has a pagan husband, who likes to live with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ for the unbelieving husband is christianiz'd by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is christianiz'd by the believing husband: else were your children heathens: whereas they are christians. ¹⁵ but if the infidel will separate, let him go: a brother or a sister is not inslaved in such cases. but God has called us to peace; for how do you know, ¹⁶ O wife, but you may save your husband? or how do you know, O man, but you may save your wife? ¹⁷ Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches. ¹⁸ does a Jew turn Christian? let him not pretend to be uncircumcised: does a Gentile turn Christian? let him not become circumcised. ¹⁹ circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, in comparison of obeying the divine commands. ²⁰ let every man continue in the same state he was in when he turn'd christian. ²¹ were you called being a slave? be not perplex'd about it; but if you can obtain your freedom, don't refuse it. ²² for the slave that turns christian, is the Lord's freedman: likewise, the freeman that becomes a convert is Christ's servant. ²³ have you been redeemed from slavery? then, don't turn slaves. ²⁴ brethren, let every man conscientiously continue in the state he was in when he was converted. ²⁵ As to the case of celibacy, I have no positive instructions: yet my advice deserves to be regarded, as coming from one the divine favour has distinguished. ²⁶ I think therefore it is best, considering the present distress, I say, it is best, for a single person to continue so still. ²⁷ are you contracted to a wife? seek not to be disengag'd. are you disengag'd from your wife? don't look out for another; ²⁸ not that it is a sin for you to marry; nor is it so if a virgin marry; but they that do, will be troubled for their relations, and that I would prevent. ²⁹ This I say, brethren, because the time is coming, when they who have wives will be as those that have none; ³⁰ and they that weep, as those that are unconcern'd; and they that rejoice, as those that do not; and they that buy, as those that have no possessions; ³¹ and they that possess this world, as those that can't make an ill use of it. for the scene of this world is continually shifting. I would have you free from anxiety. ³² the unmarried is religiously concerned, how he may please the Lord: ³³ he that is married is worldly concern'd, how he may please his wife. ³⁴ there is the same difference between a married woman and a virgin: the last is religiously concern'd to be holy, both in body and mind: but she that is married is taken up with worldly cares to please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your particular advantage, not to lay any constraint upon you, but as that which is most suitable to a state of uninterrupted attendance upon religion. ³⁶ if any man thinks it would be a reflexion upon his manhood to be a stale batchelor, and so ought to marry; let him follow his bent, he is at liberty, let such marry. ³⁷ but he that has been steady in his purpose, and finds no necessity to alter it; if he is a master of his passion, and is heartily determin'd to keep his virginity, it is well. ³⁸ so that he who marries, does well; but he who lives single, may have less trouble. ³⁹ The wife is bound as long as her husband lives: but if her husbnd be dead, she is at liberty to be married, if she pleases; provided it be to a christian. ⁴⁰ but she will be happier, if she remain a widow, in my opinion: and I think the divine spirit suggests the same.