Modern 1689 Confession

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 25: Of Marriage

1. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.

( Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6 )

2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.

( Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9 )

3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.

( Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27 )

4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.

( Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1 )

Chapter 25

Marriage

1. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman.  A man must not have more than one wife nor a woman more than one husband at the same time.¹

¹Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5, 6.

2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,² for the increase of humanity with legitimate offspring,³ and for the prevention of immorality.⁴

²Genesis 2:18. ³Genesis 1:28. ⁴1 Corinthians 7:2, 9.

3. Everyone who is able to give rational consent may marry.⁵  Yet Christians are to marry in the Lord.⁶  Therefore, those who profess the true religion should not marry unbelievers or idolaters.  Nor should the godly be unequally yoked by marrying those who lead evil lives or hold to damnable heresy.⁷

⁵Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3. ⁶1 Corinthians 7:39. ⁷Nehemiah 13:25-27.

4. Marriage should not occur within the degrees of blood relationship or kinship that are forbidden in the Word.⁸  These incestuous marriages can never be made lawful, so that the individuals may live together as husband and wife, by any human law or consent of the parties involved.⁹

⁸Leviticus 18. ⁹Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1.