There are many couples in the Bible; however, not all of them are models of good couples. The Bible contains true events; therefore, it is important to remember that none of the couples are perfect, just as no couples are perfect in the present day.
Couples should strive to follow Jesus and glorify Him in their relationships, and here are a few couples that sought to do that in their relationship. While this list is limited, it is not exhaustive of all of the couples who served God in their relationships.
1. Ruth and Boaz
One of the best couples in the Bible is Ruth and Boaz. Their love story is found in the Book of Ruth. Ruth’s husband had died, and she was now traveling with her mother-in-law, Naomi. She gave up going back to her home of Moab to stay with Naomi (Ruth 1:16).
Naomi and Ruth travel towards Bethlehem where Ruth starts working as a gleaner in the field. Boaz was a wealthy man who owned the field. Boaz is kind to Ruth and asks his other workers to leave behind some extra grain in order for Ruth and Naomi to have some extra food (Ruth 2:16).
When Naomi finds out that Ruth is working in Boaz’s field, Naomi tells Ruth that he is a guardian-redeemer or a kinsman-redeemer. This is someone who was related and had the responsibility to act on behalf of a relative in need of help.
Ruth tells Boaz that she needs a kinsman-redeemer, and he accepts. Within this contract, Boaz would also marry Ruth. There was a man who was closer in lineage to Ruth and could fulfill this role to Ruth, but he declined (Ruth 4:1-10).
Since this man declined to be her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz was able to marry Ruth and become her kinsman-redeemer.
Boaz and Ruth get married, and they have a son whom they name Obed. Through Ruth and Boaz’s line comes King David and, later on, Jesus Christ. From Ruth and Boaz’s relationship, we see a beautiful portrait of how two should love each other.
Boaz was caring, loving, and compassionate towards Ruth, and she respected and loved him. Both of them were loyal, caring, and loved each other, which is what is needed in a relationship.
Boaz could have turned Ruth away; however, that was not within his nature. He was a kind and caring man who truly loved God and loved Ruth.
This is why it is important that couples center their relationships around Jesus. If Jesus is not the foundation of the relationship, the relationship will fail. If you are looking into getting into a relationship with someone, make sure they are also a believer, who loves the Lord.
If they are not a believer, it is not going to be a good match because they will not follow what God has said nor will they even believe in God. Strive to follow the example of Boaz and Ruth and seek out someone who truly loves Jesus.
You will be able to see this in their own proclamation of knowing Jesus as well as how they act and how they treat you.
2. Mary and Joseph
Another best couple in the Bible is Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph are found in the New Testament, and they are the earthly parents of Jesus Christ. Mary was a young woman when she was engaged to Joseph. She finds out from the angel Gabriel that she is with child (Luke 1:26-38).
This pregnancy was supernatural as Mary was a virgin. Mary was a virgin, yet she was pregnant with the Messiah. When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant, he was going to silently divorce her (Matthew 1:19).
He didn’t want to put her through public shame because of what he believed to have happened. In those days, Joseph could have even had her killed, yet he doesn’t. This shows us Joseph’s kind and caring nature.
After Joseph considers divorcing her, an angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20b-21). Joseph did as the angel told him and took Mary home with him as his wife (Matthew 1:24).
Joseph and Mary travel together during the census, and Joseph is a faithful husband to Mary. He is there with Mary as she gives birth to the Messiah, and he helps raise Jesus. Joseph also trains Jesus in his craft of carpentry, which shows his caring attitude toward his son.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, Joseph isn’t mentioned nor is he mentioned at the crucifixion. This most likely means that Joseph had already passed away before this time.
However, both Mary and Joseph were loyal, faithful, and loving toward each other throughout their entire relationship and marriage. This displays to us a couple who centered their relationship around God and what He says.
3. Aquila and Priscilla
Aquila and Priscilla are also one of the best couples in the Bible, and they are found in the New Testament. They are Jews, who are found in the Book of Acts. Similar to Paul, they were tentmakers, and that’s how they met Paul.
Aquila and Priscilla were already married when they met Paul, and Paul often stated how they were an encouragement to him and the ministry. In fact, in many of his letters, he specifically calls them out in name (Romans 16:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:19).
Priscilla is not a passive wife, as she was a teacher to the new believers. Aquila supported his wife in this way and never condemned her for teaching the people instead of himself.
Aquila and Priscilla had a church meet in their home, and they often went out of their way to help, teach, and disciple believers.
Similar to many of the couples listed here, their relationship was centered on Jesus. Through their faith in Christ, their relationship grew stronger, and they became closer to each other in the process.
As we can see, Aquila and Priscilla are a couple we can look to as a godly relationship. They respected each other and treated each other the way God designed them to. Aquila could have put his wife down for teaching, yet he doesn’t object and is supportive of her teaching.
In the same way today, wives do not need to be passive or believe they don’t have a role in the ministry. Priscilla displays to us that one can be married while at the same time serving the church and helping new believers learn more about Jesus.
4. Jesus and the Church
The final relationship we need to discuss in the Bible is the relationship between Jesus and the church. While this isn’t an earthly couple relationship, it is the relationship we all have with the Lord.
Jesus loves the church, and all marriages, couples, and relationships need to mirror the love Jesus has for the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). This means husbands need to love their wives as Jesus loves the church — respect their wives and protect them.
Never should a husband hurt, abuse, or mistreat his wife. This would go against God’s design for marriage and His desire for there to be only love, respect, kindness, and gentleness in marriages.
All of us become part of the church when we place faith in Christ. One day in the future, the Wedding of the Lamb will occur, and we, as the Bride of Christ, will enter (Ephesians 5: 27; Revelation 19:1-14).
As the Bride of Christ, all believers need to live their lives in devotion, worship, and love for God. Whether a person is in an earthly relationship or not, we all need to strive to glorify, serve, and love God in everything we do.
For further reading:
Why Ruth and Boaz's Story Should Inspire All Christians, Single and Married
How Can Mary and Joseph's Faithfulness Encourage Us This Christmas?
The Church Is the Bride of Christ - What Does That Mean?
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