Marriage Contracts and the Bible

Question?  -  Newsletter  -  New!  -  Ad Space
Dating / Sex / Marriage Series
Marry Cousin?   -   Adultery   -   Birth Control
Marriage License?   -   Wedding Rings   -   Kissing
Defiled Sex?  -  Sodomy  -  Polygamy  -  MORE!
Does the Bible approve of marriage contracts? My future mate and I were planning on being wed but now he says he wants an agreement first. This is due to his experience when he wed for the first time. What should I do?

No Direct Mention

It is true, admittedly, that the Bible never deals with the subject of marriage contracts (prenuptial agreements) with built-in clauses regulating the disposal of assets and the custody of children, etc., in the event of divorce. However, there is a problem with them intrinsically from a Christian viewpoint.

Marriage should be lifelong. The grounds for divorce are very narrow when those married are both Christians (e.g. adultery), which is why Jesus gave a warning.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife . . . they are no longer two but one flesh (through marriage) therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate (Matthew 19:5 - 6).

Although a Christian couple could divorce on other grounds (other than what Matthew 19), neither partner could be married to anyone else.

Conditional Commitment?

A marriage contract is a built-in way for a couple to marry "with their fingers crossed" when saying, "I do." If a couple makes their commitment to each other conditional, then that by itself could lead to what is feared ahead of time and covered in the prenuptial.


Bride price dowry from Thailand engagement ceremony
Bride price dowry from
Thailand engagement ceremony

A marriage contract shows a lack of commitment to the other partner in such a fundamentally important and intimate relationship to have such mental reservations in advance of committing to him or her. Furthermore, there is always the issue of materialism that must be addressed.

A Christian Principle

We, as Christians, should not be so terribly upset if half of our assets are lost due to a broken relationship. Our Savior's words concerning the prioritizing of the accumulation of material wealth should be taken seriously.

Are we put on earth to serve Mammon (money, wealth) instead of God, and to heap up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19 - 33)? This is a hard thing to say, but it's worth serious consideration even when a man or woman may be very wealthy. We must be willing to let go of what we own if we have to.

Christians, based on the Bible, should generally not sign a marriage contract. Of course, this has serious considerations for you personally. For you are not just looking at this issue as a theoretical issue, but it directly affects your relationship with a man who you have been very seriously involved with romantically.

The site wishes you well and asks for God's blessing in your decision and marriage contract discussions with the man you wish to wed.

Recommended Articles
Does Spousal Abuse Justify Divorce?
Outlines of Biblical Books!
What Special Relationship Does God Want?
What Is Mammon?




Dating / Sex / Marriage
Does Bible Approve of Dating?
Is It Better to Be Single?
Should God Choose Our Mate?
What Is the Best Age for Marriage?
What About Interracial Dating?
Are Couples Living Together Married?
Arranged Marriages
Sex Before Marriage
What Does Bible Say About Sex?
Sex During a Woman's Period
Can a Husband Rape His Wife?
Abusive Husbands
Best Bible Verses For Weddings
How Does the Bible Define Marriage?
What Is Unequally Yoked?
Best Bible Verses About Marriage
Best Bible Verses About Family
Humorous Marriage Quotes
Traits of a Virtuous Wife!
Can a Husband Convert His Wife?
Adultery in Proverbs
Should Wives Be Submissive?
Parents In Proverbs