What is the Bible's stance on marriage equality?

Definition of Marriage in Scripture

One foundational theme appears throughout the biblical text: marriage is instituted as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. Genesis records, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This statement not only sets the pattern for marriage but emphasizes the uniting of two distinct, complementary individuals. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus restates this point: “Have you not read…that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:4–6).

This male-female paradigm underlies marriage throughout Old and New Testament teaching. Paul echoes this principle when instructing husbands and wives: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31). The consistent message is that marriage is created by God as a union of man and woman.

Old Testament References to Sexual Boundaries

From the earliest scriptural records, there are directives setting boundaries for sexual expression. Leviticus includes numerous instructions intended to distinguish proper sexual ethics from those of surrounding cultures (Leviticus 18; 20). Among these, there are specific prohibitions against same-sex intimacy (cf. Leviticus 18:22). While these Mosaic laws were part of a larger covenant that ancient Israel had with God, many interpreters note that the moral principles concerning sexual relationships are consistently reinforced in later passages of Scripture.

In addition to laws, the broader narrative of the Old Testament underscores the view that marriage ought to reflect God’s design and order. Even in accounts of polygamous or otherwise problematic relationships, the overall trajectory—from Genesis onward—reveals how divergence from that one-man, one-woman design consistently leads to conflict and disharmony.

New Testament Affirmation of Marriage as Male-Female Union

In the New Testament, Jesus and Paul address sexual morality and marriage within the context of local churches that often encountered various cultural norms. Romans 1:26–27 speaks of same-sex behavior as one result of humanity’s departure from God’s original design. While the passage is more broadly about humanity’s tendency to worship created things rather than the Creator, the reference to exchanging “natural relations” is understood as a call back to the male-female structure of marriage established in Genesis.

First Corinthians 6:9–10 likewise classifies certain sexual practices—including same-sex relations—as incompatible with Christian teaching on holiness. The New Testament consistently affirms that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage, and marriage is always presented as a covenant between a husband and wife.

Unity and Purpose of Biblical Teachings

Throughout the biblical corpus, there is internal consistency on the topic of marriage. Scriptural manuscripts—whether in the Hebrew or Greek texts—contain no variation suggesting an alternative model. Historical document evidence, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls for Old Testament writings and early Christian papyri for New Testament letters, confirms the stability of these passages over centuries. Variants occasionally affect wording but do not alter the consistent framework of a male-female union as the biblical model for marriage.

Scholars who have compared ancient manuscript families—such as Alexandrian, Byzantine, and Western recensions—conclude that no early Christian group formally introduced a view different from the gender-complementary foundation for marriage taught in canonical Scripture. This unity in ancient documents underscores the Bible’s single-threaded stance.

Addressing Cultural Notions of “Marriage Equality”

Contemporary discussions often use “marriage equality” to refer to same-sex unions receiving the same status as opposite-sex unions. Within the biblical text, however, marriage is described in covenant language involving man and woman, set forth as a foundational institution for procreation, companionship, and mutual upbuilding.

These scriptural teachings present an intimate bond that images the relationship between God and His people. Ephesians 5:25–32 compares husband-wife unity to Christ’s love for the Church, emphasizing complementary roles. No text appears to broaden marriage beyond this male-female union. The biblical passages consistently maintain that a marriage covenant reflects God’s specific creative design.

Considerations of Love and Compassion

While the Bible sets clear parameters for marriage, it likewise instructs believers to exhibit grace and love toward all individuals. The example of Jesus, eating with tax collectors and sinners and showing love to those marginalized in society, underscores a call to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:39). Love, however, is not viewed as synonymous with the acceptance of all behaviors. Scriptural teachings on marriage remain rooted in definitions established from the first chapters of Genesis.

The biblical stance calls believers to show kindness and patience in interactions, yet remain faithful to the pattern of male-female union set forth as the standard for marriage. The Church’s necessity to care for people of all walks of life does not override its adherence to the principles consistently taught in Scripture.

Behavioral and Philosophical Foundations

From a philosophical perspective grounded in Scripture, marriage is more than a social construct; it offers a stabilizing framework for families and communities, reflecting the Creator’s design. The union of husband and wife combines relational, biological, and spiritual components, fulfilling what is described in Genesis 2:24 as “become one flesh.”

Behaviorally, monogamous marriage fosters responsibility and covenant faithfulness. Many researchers have noted benefits for children raised in stable, two-parent families, supporting the claim that married households often create favorable environments for moral, social, and personal development. While such sociological findings do not dictate doctrine, they align with biblical principles that exalt marriage as an inherently complementary bond.

The Authority of Scripture

All of these scriptural teachings on marriage rest on the overarching claim that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. In Matthew 5:17–18, Jesus emphasizes the enduring authority of Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul describes Scripture as “God-breathed” and conducive to teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

Where historical manuscripts are concerned, extensive documentary evidence—ranging from early codices such as Vaticanus and Sinaiticus for New Testament texts, to the Masoretic Text tradition for the Hebrew Bible—corroborates the reliability of the Bible’s content regarding marital teaching. These historical affirmations reinforce that the stance on marriage has not been a later innovation but is present from the earliest records.

Conclusion

Scripture’s stance consistently presents marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman. From the creation narrative in Genesis through New Testament teachings, there is a unified message that marriage is to reflect God’s design by joining male and female. For questions of “marriage equality” relating to same-sex relationships, biblical texts uphold a different view, remaining anchored in the complementary union described at the outset of Genesis and reiterated by Jesus and the apostles.

Throughout church history and across manuscripts, no credible biblical evidence indicates an expansion of marriage beyond this design. While believers are called to demonstrate compassion and love toward every person—keeping in mind that all are created in the image of God—those who look to the Bible as final authority generally conclude that marriage, as set forth in Scripture, does not extend to same-sex unions. This teaching aligns with the consistent testimony of Scripture and has been affirmed through centuries of faithful transmission and interpretation.