There are at least four perspectives:
2. From an OT law's perspective, NIV Exodus 22:
3. From the couple's inter-personal perspective, Ephesians 5:
4. From the church's perspective, when you are married publically by a pastor in a church with witnesses.
5. From the civic perspective, when you have the civic legal paper, you are married. Judges 3:
Yes, e.g., in the province of New Brunswick in Canada.
- From God's perspective, Mark 10:
Genesis 24:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
People today do not accept this definition of marriage because they want to have sex without marriage commitment.67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife.
2. From an OT law's perspective, NIV Exodus 22:
You have sex with a virgin; you take care of her. However, in this case, her father may intervene:16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.
Her father can prevent the marriage.17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
3. From the couple's inter-personal perspective, Ephesians 5:
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
The two are committed to each other. There are practical consequences. The husband gives himself up for his woman.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
4. From the church's perspective, when you are married publically by a pastor in a church with witnesses.
5. From the civic perspective, when you have the civic legal paper, you are married. Judges 3:
Matthew 24:6 They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Would it be possible to get married in church without involving the state?38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.
Yes, e.g., in the province of New Brunswick in Canada.