Can a Christian man marry a older Christian woman?
Does the Bible speak to this at all?
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Asked March 17 2014
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Mani Maran
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Mathew Muranda
my opinion is that they can marry as long as they truly love each other.
Singapore Moses
Eve was younger than Adam! The headship of the husband and submission on the part of the wife are naturally easier when the husband is older than the wife. But when the wife is of the same age or older, factors like the maturity of the spouses, their intelligence and experience will play a significant role for a good relationship.
Age difference is also reckoned to be an important factor for sexual compatibility between husband and wife. In India the average age of menarche is 13 years and that of menopause is 45. There's a declining sexual desire when menstruation ceases. An average boy enters puberty at 14. Most men begin to experience a slowly declining sexual function in their 50s. Therefore an age difference of about five years is considered ideal.
Men usually marry between 25 and 30 years of age and women between 20 and 25. In appearance women seem to age faster than men due to childbearing and such stressful ordeals. Medical science also does not recommend childbearing after 35.
With the number of arranged marriages on the decrease, boys and girls choose their partners in the campuses, workspots and from among their peers. Unlike olden times, girls also spend five to seven years in college after they are 17. Due to these social changes, the age difference between spouses nowadays seems to be small.
The Bible is not explicitly against a man marrying someone elder to him. The younger brothers of the husband marrying his widow for the sake of procreation was commonplace. In one instance a man's sixth younger brother married his widow! (Mt 22:24-26).
Ephesians 5:22-24 -- The husband is head of his wife as Christ is head of the church. Neither his wife nor their parents are the authority in his family (cf. Gen. 2:24). In the light of this, it is better to marry an younger bride!
Nesih Loveline
Age is just a number when it comes to love.