What is a valid marriage?
A union that is a real marriage in the eyes of God and therefore can be broken only by death. No power on earth, therefore, can break a valid marriage. “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9). This includes the civil government. What is an invalid marriage? A union that was never a marriage in the eyes of God. A couple invalidly married must either separate or have the marriage made valid. Otherwise they are living in adultery or fornication. “Neither fornicators… nor adulterers… shall possess the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) What is necessary for a valid marriage? • A single man and a single woman • Who are of age • Free to marry • Capable of sexual intercourse • Who intend to live together • Who intend to be faithful to each other until the death of one of them • Who intend to have a family • Who are in no other way prohibited by the law of God from marrying. For example, it is forbidden to marry close relatives, such as uncles, a
