Bride price in the new testament

In the New Testament, the concept of "bride price" is not explicitly mentioned. However, there are some passages that touch on the idea of a payment or gift given by the groom to the bride's family as part of the marriage ceremony.

In Matthew 22:23-30, Jesus is asked about the relationship between the five unmarried sisters and the seven brothers, and whether the brothers will marry the sisters in the resurrection. Jesus responds by saying that in the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be like the angels in heaven.

In this passage, some interpreters have seen a reference to the Jewish custom of the "bride price" or "dowry," which was a payment made by the groom to the bride's family as part of the marriage contract. However, this interpretation is not universally accepted, and some scholars argue that Jesus is simply addressing the question of marriage and resurrection in a more general sense.

In 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, Paul writes about marriage and singleness, and discusses the importance of sexual purity and the freedom to choose whether to marry or remain single. While Paul does not specifically mention the "bride price," he does discuss the idea of a "gift" or "present" that a husband gives to his wife (1 Corinthians 7:3-4), which some interpreters have seen as a reference to the Jewish custom of the "bride price."

In summary, while the New Testament does not explicitly mention the "bride price," there are some passages that touch on the idea of a payment or gift given by the groom to the bride's family as part of the marriage ceremony. However, the significance and interpretation of these passages are subject to debate among scholars.