A Defense of Dating

By dating, I understand a special relationship of fellowship between an unmarried young man and an unmarried young woman, the nature and purpose of which is the possibility of marriage. There is some biblical defense of dating. Jacob dated Rachel seven years with a view to marrying her (Gen. 29:20). In the New Testament, there was the peculiar practice in the covenant community of “espousal.” Joseph was espoused to Mary (Matt. 1:18). Espousal was not the same as present-day dating. It was more...