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What does the Bible say about dating non believers?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that Christians should not pursue dating relationships aimed at marriage with unbelievers, because marriage is a deep spiritual union meant to honor Christ. Second Corinthians 6:14-18 warns believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelief, while Deuteronomy 7:3-4 shows the danger of intimate ties drawing God’s people away from wholehearted devotion to him. First Corinthians 15:33 cautions that close companionship shapes character, and Proverbs 4:23 calls for guarding the heart. Yet if someone is already married to an unbeliever, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 urges faithful, peaceable love rather than separation when the unbelieving spouse is willing to remain. Christians should seek a spouse whose faith, character, and love reflect Christ.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14 10 votes

    Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

  • 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 8 votes

    But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33 7 votes

    Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 6 votes

    Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

  • Proverbs 31:30 4 votes

    Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 3 votes

    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, and endures all things.

  • Proverbs 4:23 3 votes

    Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

  • Deuteronomy 7:3-4 3 votes

    You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. For that would turn away your sons from following me, that they may serve other gods. So Yahweh’s anger would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.

  • 2 Timothy 3:1-5 2 votes

    But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

  • Deuteronomy 7:3 2 votes

    You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son.

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