What does the Bible say about dating?

The Bible has nothing specifically to say about dating. In Biblical times marriages were arranged by parents, but the Bible has some principles that would apply to that question. Here are a few:

In 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Paul tells Christians they are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers: “Light has no fellowship with darkness” (verse 14b). The way this would be applied is that Christians shouldn’t date non-Christians, as that would be the first step towards eventually marrying one.

The Bible tells Christians to keep themselves pure (1 Timothy 5:22) and to flee from sexual immorality because their bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). So to keep yourself pure, it’s better to avoid “making out” and doing other things that are sexually arousing.

I’d suggest you date for quite a while and really get to know each other before committing yourselves to marriage. According to God, marriage is for keeps. So if someone has a quick temper, can’t hold a job for long, watches pornography, seems immature in various ways, criticizes others, or complains a lot, these would be warning signs not to get serious with such a person. Ask the Lord for wisdom in discerning what the person you are dating is really like.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good Scripture to obey in this situation: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

May the Lord be your guide!


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