Marriage and Singleness in Eternal Context

The institution of marriage originates from the creation of humanity, as described in Genesis 2:18-25 ^[3]. God established marriage as a union between a man and a woman, with the woman being formed from the man ^[3]. This foundational account in Genesis 2:24 establishes several principles: the unity of husband and wife, the indissolubility of the marriage bond (except on the strongest grounds, as referenced in Matthew 19:9), monogamy as the original design, the social equality of man and wife, and the wife's subordination to the husband ^[3]. While monogamy was the initial law, polygamy began early in human history (Genesis 4:19) and continued throughout Jewish history, with the Mosaic Law regulating rather than prohibiting it ^[2].

In the New Testament, marriage is also understood as a profound mystery that illustrates the relationship between Christ and the Church ^[12]. The unity of husband and wife mirrors the unity of Christ and the Church ^[12]. This spiritual marriage, where Christ left the Father's side to "woo" the Church, is seen as the foundation upon which natural marriage rests ^[10].

Regarding singleness, the Apostle Paul discusses its advantages in 1 Corinthians 7:25-35. He provides three main reasons why remaining unmarried can be preferable for some individuals. First, single people generally experience fewer everyday problems compared to those who are married ^[11]. Second, given the imminence of the end times, Christians should prioritize Christ and eternity over worldly concerns like marriage ^[11]. Third, marriage brings earthly responsibilities and can divide one's interests, whereas those who remain single can devote themselves more fully to serving Christ ^[11]. Adam Clarke elaborates on this, noting that a single person has fewer responsibilities, primarily concerning their own salvation, while a married person must also provide for their family and attend to their spiritual well-being ^[13].

The Bible also addresses the legal aspects of marriage in ancient Israel. For instance, Exodus 21:3 states that if a man enters marriage single, he leaves single, but if he is married, his wife accompanies him ^[1]. The law of Moses outlined a wife's legal rights (Exodus 21:10) and duties (Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Timothy 5:14) ^[2]. Divorce was permitted in specific cases (Deuteronomy 22:13-21), though a wife could not divorce her husband ^[2].

The concept of sin is relevant to understanding human relationships, including marriage and singleness. All human beings are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5) ^[4]. Sin is not merely an act but a state of being, a corruption of nature ^[8]. The first sin, committed by Adam and Eve, involved disobedience, ingratitude, and a preference for the creature over the Creator ^[6]. This universal sinfulness means that both Gentiles and Jews are under sin's power and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions ^[7]. God's anger is a necessary response to sin, not a spontaneous outburst ^[7]. Those who commit sin are described as being "of the devil," not by birth, but by imitation ^[5]. This understanding of sin underscores the need for redemption and the ultimate claim Christ has on believers, who are then claimed by God ^[9].

Sources

Exodus “Exodus 21:3 (LEB) — If he comes in single, he will go out single. If he is the husband of a wife, his wife will go out with him.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:31: For--The propagation of the Church from Christ, as that of Eve from Adam, is the foundation of the spiritual marriage. The natural marriage, wherein "a man leaves father and mother (the oldest manuscripts omit 'his') and is joined unto his wife," is not the principal thing meant here, but the spiritual marriage represented by it, and on which it rests, whereby Christ left the Father's bosom to woo to Himself the Church out of a lost world: Eph 5:32 proves this: His earthly mother as such, also, He holds in secondary account as compared with His spir”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:25: 7:25-35 Paul gives three reasons why it is generally preferable for single people to remain unmarried. First, single people have fewer everyday problems than married people. Second, because the end is near, Christians ought not let marriage and the things of the world be their dominant concerns. Their primary concern should be Christ and eternity. Third, because marriage brings earthly responsibilities and divided interests, those who choose to remain single can devote their lives more fully to serving Christ.”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:32: 5:32 it is an illustration: Both the unity of husband and wife and the unity of Christ and the church are a great mystery (see study note on 1:8-10).”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 7:33: But he that is married - He has a family to provide for, and his wife to please, as well as to fulfill his duty to God, and attend to the concerns of his own soul. The single man has nothing to attend to but what concerns his own salvation: the married man has all this to attend to, and besides to provide for his wife and family, and take care of their eternal interests also. The single man has very little trouble comparatively; the married man has a great deal. The single man is an atom in society; the married man is a small community in himself. The former ”

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