Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)

Chapter 25 MARRIAGE

25.1 Marriage is to be between one man and one woman. It is not lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.¹

(1) Gen 2:24 with Mat 19:5-6; 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:6

25.2 Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,¹ for the increase of the human race with legitimate children,² and for preventing immorality.³

(1) Gen 2:18; Pro 2:17; Mal 2:14
(2) Gen 1:28; Psa 127:3-5; 128:3-4
(3) 1Co 7:2,9

25.3 It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able to give their rational consent,¹ yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord.² Therefore those who profess the true faith should not marry unbelievers or idolaters. Nor should the godly be unequally yoked by marrying those who lead evil lives, or who maintain heresy.

(1) 1Co 7:39; 2Co 6:14; 1Ti 4:3; Heb 13:4
(2) 1Co 7:39; 2Co 6:14

25.4 Marriage must not to be contracted within the degrees of blood relationship or kinship forbidden in the Word, nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any human law or consent of parties so that such people may live together as man and wife.¹

(1) Lev 18:6-18; Amo 2:7; Mar 6:18; 1Co 5:1

[The following two paragraphs are in the Westminster Confession, but not in the Baptist Confession]

25.5 When adultery or fornication committed after an engagement contract is detected before marriage, there are just grounds for the innocent party to dissolve the contract.¹ In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue for a divorce,² and after the divorce to marry another—it is as if the offending party were dead.³

(1) Mat 1:18-20
(2) Mat 5:31-32
(3) Mat 19:9; Rom 7:2-3

25.6 Human corruption is such that clever arguments will be brought to separate those whom God has joined together in marriage. Yet nothing but adultery, or wilful desertion that cannot be healed by the church or civil authority, is sufficient cause for dissolving the bond of marriage.¹ Such dissolution is to be conducted in public and an orderly course of proceedings is to be observed; the persons concerned in it should not be left to their own wills and discretion.²

(1) Mat 19:8-9; Rom 7:2-3; 1Co 7:15; Mat 19:6
(2) Deu 24:1-4

Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 2: God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: God’s Decree
Chapter 4: Creation
Chapter 5: Divine Providence
Chapter 6: The Fall, Sin and its Punishment
Chapter 7: God’s Covenant
Chapter 8: Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Free Will
Chapter 10: Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Justification
Chapter 12: Adoption
Chapter 13: Sanctification
Chapter 14: Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Chapter 16: Good Works
Chapter 17: The Perseverance of Believers
Chapter 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: The Law of God
Chapter 20: The Gospel and its Gracious Extent
Chapter 21: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 22: Worship and the Lord’s Day
Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 24: Civil Government
Chapter 25: Marriage
Chapter 26: The Church
Chapter 27: The Fellowship of Believers
Chapter 28: The Ordinances
Chapter 29: Baptism
Chapter 30: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 31: The State of People after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 32: The Last Judgment
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