ÿWPC ]W'‘‹¦Å 8¥]�é- hCÿþíÔ'oäv7Ë~Á‹¶�‹~úÓ”á/Žpî¨Èei+aÄac–Näz™ìg ÇHBBM¨ˆñõÁìK¯®—ÖX>Ògø…¾Ì/¢0yŸˆ0æ_ĸ=UdÑdP{¿†Ú6ö/¾ „Ì,×”_™`½• _A !{,úÿæwÒ)á9L‹–¹Î/Iñ—Uò ÏUÒ“À,(Þ‚¿è#æ£ç:ü¨冡vóº ³ÜÍ|ø)²tvãþ– ÓYo®¬sû·}8†šŽäøR2£|~Ás>X•¶±#' gQü€°rÓå¢KrF·ÎjÃ>põW™AÊS‡�Š>g…è#xLíoV�Œ‰?ÝÄKªŸeÃ+³ûláéI³ó!8_á¯"y ÂŽ4Œ¸5Äñ}p-y…w}œD„F$b¯Ü,èÕd»Œ~JÀàúIçóŽ£/í&2L4ƒÒæ�~$•.î¤w²BCø`ÿVª}¥Ce# Qù›^?f{ƒ›Ã…w°k½k­›oùPƒáÇé¥ëúü[sc¨¢]áó(ȶd,ýW÷ä™Bo{muÔÞWns"¸Îg*Znß\ãDü‰5Xµ¬yù_#É2U Nû %I 0:O U @‰  É àZé é 0DC 0m‡ ‡ ‡ ^ ô w 4  ' m) †@ 0VÆ b ™6 0~Ï 0DMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM 0V‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘ Bç˜Canon TR8600 seriesìî.**.ìî0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman  honouring8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE($Ó$‘‘òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(.3Ly$¥¥Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.;­a\Â�¢8\3|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ |Ý ƒ½Þ'ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@J J ìàò òWHAT€CONSTITUTES€A€SCRIPTURAL€MARRIAGE?ó ó(.3½Þ$§§Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝPage ù of &ù �Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€Roman€Catholic€and€Protestant€theology€the€so„called€sacraments€are€considered€to€beÐ ° Ðchannels€to€Godððs€saving€grace.€We€would€remind€our€readers€and€listeners€that€Baptists€are€notÐ œì  ÐProtestants.€The€English€word€ð ðòòsacramentóóðð€is€a€transliteration€of€the€Latin€word€ð ðòòÔ_ÔsacramentumÔ_Ôóóðð.Ð d ÐThe€Latin€word€ð ðòòÔ_ÔsacramentumÔ_Ôóóðð€is€the€term€used€to€describe€the€ð ðmysteries€of€a€pagan€religionðð.Ð Pì ÐThese€mysteries€were/are€considered€to€be€initiation€rites€into€pagan€religions.€In€our€case,€thatÐ <Ø Ðpagan€religion€is€ð ðMYSTERY,€BABYLON€THE€GREAT,€THE€MOTHER€OF€HARLOTSððÐ ( Ä Ð(òòRevelation€17:1„18óó).(.(3Æ($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó(%Ã$��òòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó(.3½Þ$¨¨Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡XìXXXÔÖ€ÿÿÖÑ€ÑÑ8€ìXXdìdÈ8ÑÔÿÔò òÑ  Ñà@­­ìàÔ#†XìXXXìI#ÔÔÿÄÔÔ‡¼°è»XXìÔWHAT€CONSTITUTES€A€SCRIPTURAL€MARRIAGE?Ô#†XìX»¼°è-#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìԈР° Ðà@88ìàÔ‡ôÈ…òXXìÔó óBy€Brother€Mike€Sutherlandò òÔ#†XìXòôÈ…Ý#ÔˆÐ Ä ÐÔÿÔà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌLet€me€state€at€the€outset€that€a€Biblical€marriage€is€much€more€than€a€sexual€relationship.€ó óÔÿUÔWeÐ tÄ Ðcan€state€from€Malachi€chapter€2€that€a€Biblical€marriage€exists€in€a€covenant€relationship.€WithoutÐ d´ Ðgetting€into€the€specific€physical€details,€at€the€outset,€God€established€the€marriage€relationship€asÐ P   Ða€blood€covenant.€Think€about€it.€Ô#†XìXXXì–#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔNeed€I€say€anymore?€The€whole€idea€of€premarital€sex€is€both€aÐ < Œ Ðscriptural€misnomer€and€a€scriptural€oxymoron.€God€takes€this€whole€pagan€idea€of€premarital€sexÐ ( x Ðvery€seriously.€In€fact,€God€takes€it€much€more€seriously€than€most€Baptist€preachers.€In€the€OldÐ  d ÐTestament,€God€ordained€the€death€penalty€for€what€people€today€wrongfully€refer€to€as€ð ðpremaritalÐ  P  Ðsexðð.€The€terms€ð ðpremaritalðð€and€ð ðsexðð€are€Biblically€contradictory€and€redundant€when€usedÐ ì <  Ðtogether.€God€refers€to€ð ðpremarital€sexðð€as€fornication,€whoremongering,€harlotry,€whoredom,€andÐ Ø(  Ða€whoring€around.€Regardless€of€intent,€or€whether€you€realize€it€or€acknowledge€it,€if€a€man€and€aÐ Ä  Ðwoman€have€€a€sexual€relationship,€they€are€announcing€their€intent€before€God€to€live€as€husbandÐ °  Ðand€wife.€There€are€no€one„night€stands€with€God.Ð œì  ÐFrom€the€Scriptures€we€can€state€that€God€had€at€least€a€five„fold€purpose€in€ordaining€a€husband€andÐ ˆØ  Ðwife€relationship:€(1)€To€populate€the€earth;€(2)€To€subdue€the€earth;€(3)€To€have€dominion€overÐ tÄ Ðevery€living€thing;€(4)€To€provide€Adam€with€companionship;€(5)€To€provide€Adam€with€an€helpÐ `° Ðmeet.€We€can€find€this€five„fold€purpose€stated€in€Genesis€1:27„28€and€Genesis€2:18€where€we€see:Ð Lœ ÐÌà8  àGenesis€1:27„28Ð $t �Ðòò27€óóSo€God€created€man€in€his€own€image,€in€the€image€of€God€created€he€him;€maleÐ ` Ðand€female€created€he€them.€òò28€óóAnd€God€blessed€them,€and€God€said€unto€them,€BeÐ üL Ðfruitful,€and€multiply,€and€replenish€the€earth,€and€subdue€it:€and€have€dominion€overÐ è8 Ðthe€fish€of€the€sea,€and€over€the€fowl€of€the€air,€and€over€every€living€thing€thatÐ Ô$ Ðmoveth€upon€the€earth.ÐÀÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àGenesis€2:18Ð ˜è �Ðòò18€óóAnd€the€LORD€God€said,€It€is€not€good€that€the€man€should€be€alone;€I€will€makeÐ „Ô Ðhim€an€help€meet€for€him.ÐpÀÐ Ð  ÐÌThe€first€three€purposes€are€contained€in€òòGenesis€1:28óó€with€òòGenesis€2:18óó€containing€the€last€twoÐ H!˜ Ðpurposes.€God€did€not€create€woman€that€man€might€have€an€adversary€or€a€robot€(slave).€That€is€theÐ 4"„  Ðway€the€Devil€would€have€it.€God€intended€that€a€man€might€be€submitted€to€him€in€the€same€mannerÐ  #p! Ðas€a€woman€is€to€be€submitted€to€her€husband.€It€is€a€chain€of€command€that€was€created€in€love.€GodÐ  $\" Ðcreated€woman€that€the€man€might€have€companionship€and€a€help€meet€for€carrying€out€GodððsÐ ø$H # Ðpurpose.€It€is€in€fulfillment€of€three€of€those€€purposes€that€God€created€the€institution€we€call€ð ðtheÐ ä%4!$ Ðfamilyðð.€Marriage€was€the€act€that€God€ordained€to€establish€the€family.€Godððs€first€commandmentÐ Ð& "% Ðto€mankind€was€to€be€fruitful€and€multiply€(òòGenesis€1:28óó).€That€commandment€was€obeyed€in€theÐ ¼' #& Ðact€of€becoming€one€flesh€and€God€producing€the€fruit€thereof.€The€act€of€becoming€one€fleshÐ ¨(ø#' Ðestablished€the€husband€and€wife€relationship€according€to€òòGenesis€2:24óó:Ð ”)ä$( ÐÌÐ l+¼&* Ðà8  àGenesis€2:24Ð d �Ðòò24€óóTherefore€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€his€mother,€and€shall€cleave€unto€hisÐ Pì Ðwife:€and€they€shall€be€one€flesh.Ð<ØÐ Ð  ÐÌòòGenesis€2:24óó€is€at€least€partially€quoted€five€more€times€in€the€Bible€with€the€scriptural€definitionÐ  ° Ðof€marriage€as€being€ð ðone€fleshðð€never€being€changed.€òòGenesis€2:24óó€is€also€partially€quoted€inÐ  œ ÐòòMalachi€2:15óó€with€the€use€of€the€phrase€ð ðAnd€did€he€not€make€one?ðð.€òòGenesis€3:24óó€is€quoted€in€theÐ ì ˆ Ðfollowing€passages:Ð Ø t ÐÌà8  àÔ#†XìXXXì_#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔMalachi€2:14ð!ð15€(KJV)аL Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔUKUS.,Ôòò14óó€ÔUS.,UK.,÷ÔYet€ye€say,€Wherefore?€Because€the€LORD€hath€been€witness€between€thee€and€theÐ œ8  Ðwife€of€thy€youth,€against€whom€thou€hast€dealt€treacherously:€yetòò€isóó€she€thyÐ ˆ$  Ðcompanion,€and€ò òòòthe€wife€of€thy€covenantóó.ó ó€ÔUKUS.,Ôòò15óó€ÔUS.,UK.,,Ôò òòòAnd€did€not€he€make€oneóó?ó ó€Yet€had€heÐ t  Ðthe€residue€of€the€spirit.€And€wherefore€one?€That€he€might€seek€a€godly€seed.Ð d  ÐTherefore€take€heed€to€your€spirit,€and€let€none€deal€treacherously€against€the€wifeÐ Pì  Ðof€his€youth.Ô#†XìXXXì•#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔÐ<Ø Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àMatthew€19:4„6€Ð°Ð Ð  Ðà8  à4€And€he€answered€and€said€unto€them,€Have€ye€not€read,€that€he€which€madeòò€themóóÐ œ Ðat€the€beginning€made€them€male€and€female,€5€And€said,€For€this€cause€shall€a€manÐ ìˆ Ðleave€father€and€mother,€and€shall€cleave€to€his€wife:€and€they€twain€shall€be€òòò òoneÐ Øt Ðfleshó óóó?€6€Wherefore€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€òòò òone€fleshó óóó.€What€therefore€God€hathÐ Èd Ðjoined€together,€let€not€man€put€asunder.иTÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àMark€10:6„8€Ð�,Ð Ð  Ðà8  à6€But€from€the€beginning€of€the€creation€God€made€them€male€and€female.€7€For€thisÐ | Ðcause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€cleave€to€his€wife;€8€And€theyÐ h Ðtwain€shall€be€one€flesh:€so€then€they€are€no€more€twain,€but€òòò òone€fleshó óóó.ÐTðÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àEphesians€5:31„32€Ð0!ÌÐ Ð  Ðà8  à31€For€this€cause€shall€a€man€leave€his€father€and€mother,€and€shall€be€joined€unto€hisÐ "¸ Ðwife,€and€they€two€shall€be€òòò òone€fleshó óóó.€32€This€is€a€great€mystery:€but€I€speakÐ #¤ Ðconcerning€Christ€and€the€church.Ô#†XìXXXì¡#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔÐø#” Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àÔ#†XìXXXìG#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔ1€Corinthians€6:15ð!ð17€(KJV)ÐÐ%l"Ð Ð  Ðà8  àÔUKUS.,Ôòò15óó€ÔUS.,UK.,ÔKnow€ye€not€that€your€bodies€are€the€members€of€Christ?€shall€I€then€take€theÐ ¼&X # Ðmembers€of€Christ,€and€makeòò€themóó€the€members€of€an€harlot?€God€forbid.€ÔUKUS.,Ôòò16óó€ÔUS.,UK.,Ôò òòòWhat?Ð ¨'D!$ Ðknow€ye€not€that€he€which€is€joined€to€an€harlot€is€one€body?€for€two,€saith€he,Ð ˜(4"% Ðshall€be€one€fleshóó.ó ó€ÔUKUS.,Ôòò17óó€ÔUS.,UK.,ÕÔBut€he€that€is€joined€unto€the€Lord€is€one€spirit.Ô#†XìXXXìµ#ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔЄ) #&Ð Ð  ÐÌThis€particular€passage€is€quoted€in€òò1€Corinthians€6:16óó€in€the€context€of€the€longest€passage€onÐ `+ü$( Ðmarriage€in€the€New€Testament€with€that€being€1€Corinthians€chapter€7.€The€law€of€first€mentionÐ d Ðdefines€a€wife€as€woman€who€has€become€one€flesh€with€a€man€in€òòGenesis€2:24óó.€The€word€ò òð ðòòmarryóóó óððÐ Pì Ðsees€its€first€mention€in€òòGenesis€38:8óó€where€the€word€ò òð ðòòmarryóóðð€ó óis€defined€as€a€man€going€in€unto€aÐ @Ü Ðwoman€for€the€purpose€of€producing€seed:€that€is,€producing€children.€This€verse€states:Ð 0 Ì ÐÌà8  àGenesis€38:8Ð  ¤ �Ðòò8€óóAnd€Judah€said€unto€Onan,€Go€in€unto€thy€brotherððs€wife,€and€òòò òmarryó óóó€her,€and€raiseÐ ô � Ðup€seed€to€thy€brother.Ðä €Ð Ð  ÐÌUnmarried€people€become€guilty€of€fornication€when€they€come€together€sexually€and€then€do€notÐ ¼X  Ðlive€together€as€husband€and€wife€as€commanded€in€the€Scriptures.€God€considered€the€sexualÐ ¨D  Ðrelationship€to€be€of€such€importance€that€the€law€required€death€for€those€who€violated€BiblicalÐ ”0  Ðcommandments€concerning€it.€Married€people€who€come€together€sexually€with€someone€they€areÐ €  Ðnot€married€to€commit€fornication€and€adultery.€Adultery€comes€under€the€broad€umbrella€ofÐ l  Ðfornication€in€the€New€Testament.€(We€understand€that€adultery€and€fornication€come€from€twoÐ Xô  Ðdifferent€Greek€words,€but€donððt€pull€out€your€Greek€sword€yet.€You€may€give€yourself€a€deadlyÐ Dà  Ðwound).€Now,€òòGenesis€2:24óó€and€òòGenesis€38:8óó€€would€normally€be€enough€to€convince€most€BibleÐ 0Ì Ðstudents€that€a€husband€and€wife€relationship,€or€marriage,€is€established€by€the€act€of€becoming€oneÐ ¸ Ðflesh,€but€that€is€not€the€case€in€the€subject€before€us.€Tragically,€many€men€in€our€pulpits€and€menÐ ¤ Ðand€women€in€our€pews€have€been€blinded€by€teaching€and€preaching€that€is€more€holy€than€theÐ ô� ÐScriptures.€In€fact,€it€is€a€teaching€that€exceeds€the€righteousness€of€the€Scriptures.Ð à| Ðà  àThe€words€marriage€and€wedding€are€used€interchangeably€in€the€New€Testamentòòò òó óóó.€The€wordÐ Ìh Ðð ðmarriageðð€is€used€17€times€in€the€New€Testament€while€the€word€ð ðweddingðð€is€used€7€times.€MostÐ ¸T Ðof€the€time,€the€two€terms€are€used€to€refer€to€the€marriage€supper€and€the€wedding€feasts€thatÐ ¤@ Ðfollowed€the€man€and€woman€becoming€one€flesh.€€That€is€true€of€the€marriage€(supper)€in€òòJohn€2:1„Ð �, Ð11óó€and€of€the€marriage€supper€in€òòRevelation€19:7„9óó.€Ô#†XìXXXì_ #ÔÔ‡XìXXXìÔò òÐ | Ðà  àÔÿÔWARNING,€it€should€now€be€abundantly€clear€that€mass€confusion€is€the€result€ofÐ h Ðmankind€separating€the€act€of€marriage€from€the€institution€of€the€family.€God€never€intendedÐ Tð Ðfor€them€to€be€separated.€In€fact,€God€in€effect€òòòòmarriedóóóó€the€word€ð ðmarriageðð€to€the€wordÐ @ Ü Ðð ðfamilyðð€when€he€ordained€and€established€the€relationship€between€Adam€and€Eve.Ôÿõ+Ô€ó óWhen€youÐ ,!È Ðstart€discussing€the€Biblical€concept€of€marriage,€you€have€to€be€very€careful€how€you€parse€yourÐ "¸ Ðwords€because€the€Biblical€definition€of€marriage€does€not€agree€with€the€pagan€and€the€legalÐ #¤ Ðdefinition€of€marriage.ò òÐ ô#�  Ðà  àMany€Baptist€and€fundamentalist€preachers,€teachers,€and€pastors€hold€to€a€veryÐ à$|! ÐRoman€Catholic€doctrine€of€what€constitutes€a€scriptural€marriage.€ó óHere€is€why€we€say€that.€TheÐ Ì%h" ÐRoman€Catholic€Church€holds€that€a€marriage€is€a€ceremony€to€be€presided€over€by€the€church€whichÐ ¼&X # Ðis€the€same€view€held€by€many€Baptists€including€many€Independent€Baptists.€That€doctrine€will€notÐ ¨'D!$ Ðstand€the€test€of€the€Scriptures.€Marriage€is€one€of€the€seven€sacraments׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€of€the€Roman€CatholicÐ ”(0"% ÐChurch.€Because€they€unscripturally€declare€marriage€to€be€a€sacrament,€they€feel€that€they€are€theÐ d Ðonly€earthly€authority€divinely€authorized€to€dispense€marriage.€This€makes€the€authority€to€contractÐ Pì Ða€marriage€to€be€vested€in€the€Roman€Catholic€Church.€The€custom€of€having€a€ceremony€with€aÐ <Ø Ðpriest,€pastor,€or€preacher€present€came€slithering€up€out€of€the€crypts€of€Roman€Catholic€theology.Ð ( Ä ÐHere€is€the€proof:Ð  ° Ðò òÌà8  àó óThose€who€shall€attempt€to€contract€marriage€otherwise€than€in€the€presence€of€theÐ ì ˆ Ðparish€priest,€or€of€some€other€priest€by€permission€of€the€said€parish€priest,€or€of€theÐ Ø t ÐOrdinary,€and€in€the€presence€of€two€or€three€witnesses;€the€holy€Synod€renders€suchÐ Ä ` Ðwholly€incapable€of€thus€contacting€and€declares€such€contracts€invalid€and€null,€asÐ °L  Ðby€the€present€decree€It€invalidates€and€annuls€them.€Moreover€It€enjoins,€that€theÐ œ8  Ðparish€priest,€or€any€other€priest,€who€shall€have€been€present€at€any€such€contractÐ ˆ$  Ðwith€a€less€number€of€witnesses€(than€as€aforesaid);€as€also€the€witnesses€who€haveÐ t  Ðbeen€present€thereat€without€the€parish€priest,€or€some€other€priest;€and€also€theÐ `ü  Ðcontracting€parties€themselves;€shall€be€severely€punished,€at€the€discretion€of€theÐ Lè  ÐOrdinary.€(Council€Of€Trent,€Seventh€Session,€Decree€On€Reformation€Chapter€1,Ð 8Ô  ÐJuly€15,€1563)Ð$ÀÐ Ð  Ðò òÌThe€authority€to€contract€marriage€is€not€Scripturally€vested€in€any€church€including€theÐ ü˜ ÐRoman€Catholic€Church.€ó óNeither€does€the€Roman€Catholic€Church€have€any€scriptural€authorityÐ è„ Ðto€annul€€marriages.€If€you€are€a€New€Testament€preacher€or€pastor,€you€do€not€have€the€scripturalÐ Øt Ðpower€or€authority€to€state:€ð ðBy€the€power€vested€in€me,€I€pronounce€you€husband€and€wifeðð.€AÐ Ä` Ðchurch€or€state€authority€may€have€wrongfully€granted€you€that€authority,€but€it€is€not€scriptural.€TheÐ °L Ðauthority€to€contract€marriage€is€scripturally€vested€in€the€family€and€its€individuals.€For€those€of€youÐ œ8 Ðwho€will€not€marry€divorced€couples,€you€do€not€have€the€scriptural€authority€to€ð ðmarryðð€anyoneÐ ˆ$ Ðregardless€of€whether€they€have€been€divorced.€Though€civil€authorities€regulate€marriage,€they€haveÐ t Ðno€scriptural€authority€to€contract€marriages.€In€the€Old€Testament,€it€was€generally€the€father€of€theÐ `ü ÐBridegroom€that€sought€out€a€Bride€for€the€Son.€You€never€see€an€Old€Testament€priest€in€that€role.Ð Lè ÐNor€do€you€see€an€Old€Testament€priest€officiating€at€any€marriage€ceremony,€period.€Nor€is€theÐ 8 Ô Ðkingððs€representative€there€officiating!€The€same€pattern€is€repeated€in€the€New€Testament.€We€areÐ $!À Ðnot€opposed€to€weddings€and€marriage€ceremonies,€but€they€are€not€required€in€the€eyes€of€God€forÐ "¬ Ða€marriage€to€be€Scripturally€valid€and€binding.€It€is€the€sexual€act€that€makes€a€marriage€scripturallyÐ ü"˜ Ðbinding.€While€we€are€not€opposed€to€weddings,€we€have€seen€many€so€called€Christian€brides€onÐ è#„  Ðtheir€wedding€days€dressed€in€the€most€ungodly€fashion€that€leaves€little€to€the€imagination.€GodððsÐ Ô$p! Ðstandards€for€Christ€honouring€dress€do€not€get€thrown€out€of€your€bedroom€into€the€publick€arenaÐ À%\" Ðon€your€wedding€day.€Ð d Ðà  àThroughout€this€study,€I€have€continued€to€rebuke€the€idea€that€it€is€a€ceremony€that€makesÐ Pì Ðfor€a€Biblical€marriage.€You€will€not€find€one€commandment€in€the€Old€Testament€to€a€priest€or€inÐ <Ø Ðthe€New€Testament€to€a€pastor€or€preacher€that€directs€them€to€conduct€marriage€ceremonies.€NeitherÐ ( Ä Ðwill€you€find€one€example€in€either€Testament€of€a€religious€or€governmental€official€conducting€aÐ  ° Ðmarriage€ceremony€or€vows.€What€you€will€find€in€the€Old€Testament€is€that€all€instructions,Ð  œ Ðcommandments,€and€charges€regarding€marriage€are€given€to€the€parents.€There€is€no€scripturalÐ ì ˆ Ðauthority€vested€in€the€church€or€in€the€government€to€institute€marriages.€In€òòExodus€22:16„17óó,€theÐ Ø t Ðfather€even€had€the€right€to€refuse€to€allow€a€man€to€live€with€his€daughter€as€his€wife€even€when€theÐ Ä ` Ðman€had€taken€her€virginity€away!€Ð °L  ÐÔ#†XìXXXì²+#ÔIn€closing€this€discussion€of€ð ðòòWhat€Constitutes€A€Scriptural€Marriageóóðð,€I€must€say€that€I€have€studiedÐ œ8  Ðand€written€in€much,€much€greater€detail€on€this€subject€than€I€can€document€in€these€brief€five€pagesÐ ˆ$  Ðon€the€subject€before€us.Ð t  ÐÌ