What is Biblical Dating?

 In the bible there is nothing specific about dating. Basically, none of the people mentioned in the Bible ever dated but rather participated in prearranged marriages and betrothals. The modern Western idea of dating did not exist in biblical times and even many cultures today do not practice dating either. If this is the case, then some may say Christians should not be encouraged to date, but instead wait for the divinely chosen person whom God intended for them to marry.

As Christians, we are called to be distinct in the ways we think and act about all issues that confront us and those around us. This topic is no exception.

There are consistent indications that professing Christians behave almost exactly like non-Christians in terms of sexual involvement outside of marriage. The truth is that when it comes to dating and relationships, perhaps more than in any other area of the everyday Christian life, the church is largely indistinguishable from the world. This truth has brought immeasurable emotional pain and other consequences to many Christians. Worse, it has brought great dishonour to the name of Christ and to the witness of individuals and the church.

This is not the way it is meant to be. For Christians, the Lord has given us His Word, and the Holy Spirit helps us to understand it. We have brothers and sisters in Christ to hold us accountable and to help us apply the Word to our lives. If you are a Christian that is the biblical life you are called to.

Biblical dating therefore can be defined as a method of carrying out of a pre-marital relationship between a single man and a single woman in accordance with the ordinances of scripture.

The Bible is sufficient to guide and instruct us authoritatively in all areas of our faith and life, and there is no area of life about which the Bible has no guidance for us. This topic “DATING” is no exception. The    sufficiency of Scripture is taught explicitly and implicitly in many passages, but perhaps the most obvious is 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture does provide a few general principles that can be applied to the modern practice of dating and courtship, including maintaining a proper perspective while dating and focusing on purity in romantic relationships.