Biblical Command to Marry or Remain Single
The Bible presents marriage as a divinely instituted covenant relationship, established at creation and designed for human happiness, population growth, and the raising of godly offspring [6]. Genesis 2:24 is a foundational text, indicating the unity and indissolubility of the marriage bond, as well as monogamy as the original design [5]. While polygamy was practiced in ancient Israel, the Mosaic Law regulated it rather than prohibiting it, and the original design was one man and one woman [4].
However, the New Testament also recognizes singleness as a legitimate and sometimes preferable state for believers, particularly in certain circumstances. The apostle Paul addresses this topic extensively in 1 Corinthians 7. one tradition states that marriage is lawful for all and honorable [6], and that it serves to prevent sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2) [6]. Husbands are instructed to have only one wife and to love and respect them [3].
Despite the positive view of marriage, Paul also offers counsel for those who remain unmarried. He advises remaining single if one can "contain" or exercise self-control (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). This advice is given "by permission" rather than as a direct command from the Lord, suggesting it is a matter of personal discretion and spiritual gift [8]. Paul clarifies that his counsel for singleness is for the believers' "own profit," aiming to free them from the "cares and encumbrances of life" and allow them more liberty to serve the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:35) [9]. This perspective is particularly relevant during times of "present distress" (1 Corinthians 7:26), where singleness might allow for greater devotion and fewer worldly anxieties [7].
The Old Testament also provides an example of divinely commanded singleness. The prophet Jeremiah was instructed by God not to marry, nor to attend funerals or celebrations (Jeremiah 16:1-9). This was a prophetic sign, indicating the severe crisis facing Israel and requiring Jeremiah to be a divine messenger without family obligations, depending entirely on the Lord [7]. In Hebrew society, bachelors were rare, and males were typically expected to marry in their early twenties [7]. Jeremiah's singleness, therefore, was an unusual and significant act, underscoring the gravity of his prophetic calling.
The New Testament explicitly condemns forbidding marriage. In 1 Timothy 4:3, Paul warns against those who "forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving" [1, 2]. This passage identifies such prohibitions as doctrines of demons, contrasting them with God's good creation [1, 2]. Therefore, while singleness can be a chosen and blessed path, the imposition of celibacy as a universal requirement is contrary to biblical teaching.
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:3 (Geneva1599) — Forbidding to marrie, and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be receiued with giuing thankes of them which beleeue and knowe the trueth.”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 4:3 — Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Husbands — Should have but one wife -- Ge 2:24; Mr 10:6-8; 1Co 7:2-4. Have authority over their wives -- Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3; Eph 5:23. Duty of, to wives To respect them. -- 1Pe 3:7. To love them. -- Eph 5:25-33; Col 3:19. To regard them as themselves. -- Ge 2:23; Mt 19:5. To be faithful to them. -- Pr 5:19; Mal 2:14,15. To dwell with them for life. -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:3-9. To comfort them. -- 1Sa 1:8. To consult with them. -- Ge 31:4-7. Not to leave them, though unbelieving. -- 1Co 7:11,12,14,16. Duties of, not to interfere with their duties to Christ -- Lu 14:26; Mt 19”
- 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 ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 16:1: 16:1-18 Jeremiah’s life was to be a sign or a parable (see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note), as the Lord instructed him not to marry (Jer 16:1-4) and not to go to funerals (16:5-7) or celebrations (16:8-9). 16:1-2 In Hebrew society, bachelors were rare and males were expected to get married in their early twenties. However, the severe crisis of the time apparently required Jeremiah to be a divine messenger without family obligations. He needed to depend entirely on the Lord (cp. 1 Cor 7:26-35).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:10: And unto the married I command,.... To the unmarried and widows he spoke by permission, or only gave advice and counsel to remain unmarried, provided they could contain; but if not, it was advisable to marry; but to persons already in a married state, what he has to say to them is by commandment, enjoining what they are under obligation to observe, not being at liberty to do as they will: yet not I, but the Lord; not as if he took upon him the dominion over them, to make laws for them, and, in an imperious authoritative way, oblige them to obedience to them; ”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:35: And this I speak for your own profit,.... The apostle suggests, that in giving the advice he did to unmarried persons to abide single, he had nothing else in view than their temporal and spiritual advantage; that they might be better able to meet and grapple with persecution for the sake of the Gospel; that they might be more free from the cares and encumbrances of life, and more at liberty to serve the Lord; whereby not only his glory, but their spiritual good, might be promoted; not that he thought that marriage was unlawful, or that the single life was a mor”