One problem with modern 'dating' and even the proposed substitution of 'courtship' is that of entanglement, or, the term that others have used is 'defrauding'.

The idea here is that when we encourage our young people to think about others with a view toward marriage; they begin forming heart to heart relationships. They begin to think about that other person in emotional, social, spiritual and sexual ways... ways which are innappropriate for them to think about anyone that is not their spouse. With dating, and even courtship, it is likely (or possible) that this person will turn out NOT to be their spouse. So they have, in effect, formed these relationships with someone else's spouse!

No one is claiming that in this sinful world we can prevent our young people from thinking in this fashion. From the time that they became old enough to have any understanding at all of Mommy's relationship to Daddy, they began thinking this way. But what we see in Scripture is method, which we here call the Covenant of Betrothal, that at least prevents the young person's authorities from *encouraging* these false feelings.

If I tell my son, 'go into the world and seek who you would like to marry' I am, in effect, telling him to go and form a series of mental relationships (however temporary) with an entire variety of girls. Even if we proceed down the courtship path, then I tell him to seek out a girl to court.... and he goes and begins the same thought process.

What we see in Scripture, in the Godly examples of Adam, Isaac, and Christ... is that the father first covenants for the bride, and *then* she is introduced to the son... as a woman already in covenant with him.



Defraud - Strongs - 650
Mark 10:19
1 Cor 6:7-8; 7:5

Apostero; from 575 (APO - a primitive particle "off") and Stereo (to deprive); to despoil:-defraud, destitute, kept back by fraud.

Defrauded - Strongs - 4122
1 Thess 4:6
2 Cor 7:2

Pleonekteo; from 4123; to be covetous, i.e. (by implication) to over-reach:-get an advantage, defraud, make a gain.

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I Thess 4:3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

The problem is that a young man or woman forms an emotional and sexual attatchment (even where no physical contact has occured) with someone; someone that is not their spouse and may well not become their spouse.