What does the Bible say about long courtship?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible does not prescribe a required length for courtship, but calls men and women to pursue marriage with purity, self-control, wisdom, and honorable commitment. Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:5 present marriage as a covenantal union in which a man and woman become one flesh. While discerning marriage, believers should flee sexual immorality and youthful passions, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 2 Timothy 2:22 teach, rather than treating prolonged romance as permission for temptation. First Corinthians 7:1-2 recognizes sexual desire and directs it toward marriage, encouraging clear and godly purpose. Christians should patiently seek counsel, pray, and obey Christ, persevering in holiness as Revelation 14:12 urges.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
- 1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
- Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
- Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
- 1 Corinthians 7:2
But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
- Matthew 19:5
and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'
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