Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Matrimony below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that matrimony is a sacrament by which a baptized man and woman establish an indissoluble covenant, signifying Christ's union with the Church. It holds that a valid, consummated sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power.
Source: CCC 1601–1666 ↗
The Orthodox Church teaches marriage as a holy mystery in which the couple are crowned as king and queen of their household, united by God's grace into one flesh. It holds marriage to be ideally lifelong, while allowing remarriage in mercy (oikonomia) after divorce or widowhood.
Lutherans do not count matrimony a sacrament, teaching that marriage is a holy estate instituted by God in creation for companionship, children, and the restraint of sin. They hold that marriage is blessed by God and honored by the Church, though its validity does not depend on a sacramental rite.
The Reformed tradition teaches that marriage is ordained by God for the mutual help of husband and wife, the increase of the human race, and the prevention of uncleanness — but is not a sacrament. It holds that divorce is permitted on the scriptural grounds of adultery and willful desertion.
Baptists teach that marriage is God's gift — the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime, picturing Christ's love for the Church. They hold that marriage is an ordinance of creation rather than a sacrament of the Church.
Source: BFM 2000, XVIII ↗
Methodists teach that Christian marriage is a sacred covenant blessed by God and celebrated in the Church’s worship — defined since the 2024 General Conference as ‘a sacred, lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another,’ a change that remains contested among Methodists worldwide. They hold that marriage is a means of grace for mutual growth in holiness, though not numbered among the sacraments.
Source: 2024 Book of Discipline ¶161.D; UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: