The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. … Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. … Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.

1Co 7:3, Ps 127:3; Ge 1:27-28, Ge 9:1; 1Co 2:5-7; He 13:4, Mt 19:5, Mr 10:7

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.