What Bible Verses Do Protestants Use to Justify

[Penitus]

What Bible verses do Protestants use to justify their pastors ability to marry one man and one woman? That is, where in the Bible does it say that anyone can unite two people in Christ’s name?

 

[Christy_Beth]

I take it that you have a problem with that. The same can be said of the Catholic church and in the Jewish tradition. Exactly what, and where, they use for this, I don’t really know. I think it’s a “traditions” thing.

 

[elvisman]

I take it that you have a problem with that. The same can be said of the Catholic church and in the Jewish tradition. Exactly what, and where, they use for this, I don’t really know. I think it’s a “traditions” thing.

**As for the Catholic Church, that would be an Authority thing - not a traditions thing. **

 

[Penitus]

Right. I understand that we Catholics believe that in extraordinary circumstances, anyone can (1) baptize and (2) marry.

I’m just curious if there’s a scripture verse that Protestants use to justify their ability to marry.

 

[Zenas]

It’s more of a legal thing than a Bible thing. State laws generally require that a marriage be solemnized by a minister of the gospel or a justice of the peace. Since all Christians regard marriage as an institution ordained by God, they will normally have their wedding in a church and officiated by a minister.

The Kentucky statute on this matter is typical:

(1) Marriage shall be solemnized only by:
(a) Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination in regular communion with any religious society;
(b) Justices and judges of the Court of Justice, retired justices and judges of the Court of Justice except those removed for cause or convicted of a felony, county judges/executive, and such justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners as the Governor or the county judge/executive authorizes; or
(c) A religious society that has no officiating minister or priest and whose usage is to solemnize marriage at the usual place of worship and by consent given in the presence of the society, if either party belongs to the society.
(2) At least two (2) persons, in addition to the parties and the person solemnizing the marriage, shall be present at every marriage.

 

[fhansen]

The Catholic understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony is that the bride and groom are actually the ministers and the priest has a peripheral role. I don’t know if that’s the commonly held view of other religions or not.