Marriage Ceremony
A Christian marriage is an intimate relationship between two people who vow to honor, serve, obey, and remain faithful to one another as long as they both shall live. No detailed teaching of marriage is found in the Gospels however there are some scriptures where we can build a foundation.
Colossians 3:18-19 "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Paul in first Corinthians chapter 7 gives a lot of detail on marriage. Verse 3 "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband."
Marriage is a partnership. It is a life long commitment
In biblical times marriage was a cultivated event. The ceremonies were more elaborate and took much longer.
Both the bride and groom bathed, anointed themselves with oil and perfume and dressed in special clothes (Psalm 45:7-14). Jewelry and garlands were also worn. Throughout the ceremony the bride was veiled (Genesis 24:65).
The bride was accompanied be bridesmaids (Psalm 45:14) and the groom had attendants too; the chief of these, the friend of the bridegroom, acted as best man (Judges 14:20-John 3:29).
Sometimes the groom would read a public declaration to the bride (Hosea 2:19-20).
Biblical weddings were great celebrations of song and dance.
The evening concluded with the groom wrapping his cloak around the bride (Ezek. 16:8) and, escorted by the parents and bridal attendants, leading her to the specially prepared marriage chamber.
These marriage celebrations would last up to a week with making music, eating, drinking and story telling (Genesis 29:27-Judges 14:12-18).
Both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament view marriage as an image of the relationship between God and his people. (Isaiah 25:6-9, Matthew 22:1-13, Matthew 25:1-12, Revelations 18:6-10, Revelations 21:1-4).
This is a brief an un-detailed outline of marriage ceremonies in the Bible. Not much more is really said of the ceremony itself.
In Christ Jesus,
Dale Thompson