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What Does The Bible Say About Living Together Without Being Married?
Question- What Does the Bible say about Living together without being married?
Answer- The Bible does not call such behavior marriage. It does call it fornication and
condemns such actions strongly. Galatians 5:19- “now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
discord, wrath, strife, heresies, seditions, envy murder, drunkenness, reveling and such like, of
which I have told you before as I have in times past, that those who do these things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God. “
Marriage requires a man and a woman who are each willing to leave father and mother and
cleave to one another (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6). Also, one must abide buy the laws of the
land regarding marriage and that requires that a public statement or ceremony take place that
marks the exact time when these two people stop being two single people and start their lives as
married people. Romans 13:1-2- “let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no
power but it be of God; for the powers that be are ordained of God and those who refuse to obey
the higher powers disobey God.”
The home is the oldest of all institutions. God performed the first wedding in the garden of
Eden. God made Eve and brought her to Adam and He accepted her as his wife. From that time
on people have recognized that a new home is formed when clear distinction is made that a
couple no longer is to be recognized as two single people, but a married couple in accordance
with God’s word.
Our society requires a wedding certificate or license. People who want to please God also want
to make certain that their marriage is recognized by God and others and that there is no doubt as
to when they became married. This is providing things honest in the sight of all men (2 Cor.
8:21).
Marriage is honorable and to be respected as long as they both shall live (Rom. 7:2). Too many
do not take marriage seriously and want to be free to change partners as often as they change
their clothes. Such behavior is not authorized by God.