Does the bible say you have to be legally married?

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Marriage in the Bible simply consists of a man and a woman, with the consent of the woman's father or guardian, living together and trying to procreate. No votes, no priest, no ritual, no prayer, no pronouncement, no license, no registration. This is very different from the way we define and enact marriage today. If a couple is legally and ceremonially married but for some reason cannot have sexual relations, that couple is still considered married.

Third, there are some governments that impose unbiblical requirements on marriage before it is legally recognized. Obviously, for those who have strong disagreements with the Catholic Church and the Catholic understanding of marriage as a sacrament, it would not be biblical to submit to marriage in the Catholic Church.

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Reginald Thomson

Reverend Thomson is a pastor and Bible scholar with over 10 years of experience in ministry and biblical studies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies, a Master of Divinity degree. As a Bible scholar, Rev Thomson has published numerous articles and books on various topics in biblical studies, including hermeneutics, exegesis, and biblical theology. He is widely respected for his expertise in the original languages of the Bible, and he is frequently invited to speak at conferences and seminars on biblical scholarship. He loves working with his church youth group. He is a frequent guest on the Scripture for Todaypodcast.