That warning was especially relevant in Corinth given the thousands of prostitutes. The second interpretation at least has some Biblical basis. It argues that becoming one flesh refers to the wife becoming part of the husband's family. The description of this unity as being in the flesh is significant. Therefore, the third phase of marriage, is making a life together in this world, with common interests and desires.
Marriage occurs when all three phases are in effect.
Let us apply the Biblical definition in a number of areas in which tradition often reigns for Christians. For one, based on this definition a young person should not be compelled to get married simply as a result of sexual immorality. Another application involves cases in which a legal marriage has occurred. We should not assume that every relationship called a marriage by society equals the Biblical definition of a marriage. Some couples who have a marriage license issued by the civil authority are not married Biblically speaking.