Curated topic guide
What does the Bible say about marriage, sexuality, and singleness?
Jesus grounds marriage in God's creation purpose, carries sexual faithfulness into the intentions of the heart, and honors celibate singleness for the kingdom. Scripture treats bodies as meaningful gifts, people as never disposable, and sexual conduct as part of discipleship rather than a private area outside Christ's authority.
Key passages
- Genesis 1:26-28
- Genesis 2:18-25
- Matthew 5:27-32
- Matthew 19:1-12
- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
- 1 Corinthians 7
What Christians broadly share
Historic Christian teaching locates sexual union within marriage and calls both married and single believers to chastity. Marriage is good, but it is not required for complete humanity, mature faith, deep relationship, or fruitful service.
Where careful distinctions matter
Evangelicals differ over divorce and remarriage in some cases. Individual situations involving abuse, coercion, abandonment, or danger require immediate safety, civil wisdom where relevant, and qualified pastoral care rather than a short formula.
Read these next
These resources explain the passages and the interpretive decisions behind this guide.
Resource 1
Marriage and Sexual Faithfulness
Jesus grounds marriage in creation, carries faithfulness into the heart, and honors singleness while Christians debate remarriage.
Resource 2
Made in His Image
Why the image of God includes the body, what sin did to it, and what the doctrine demands of how we treat people who cannot contribute anything.
Resource 3
What Sin Actually Is
Sin is not mainly a list of bad behaviors. What Psalm 51, Jeremiah 2 and Romans 1 each add, and why the diagnosis decides the remedy.
