What about contraception?

Question 12015

The Bible does not mention contraception directly. There is no verse that says “thou shalt not use contraception” and no verse that says “family planning is commended.” This means the question must be approached through broader biblical principles rather than proof texts. Christians who hold strong convictions on both sides of this question often claim more certainty than the biblical evidence warrants. What Scripture does provide is a clear framework of principles about children, the body, the purpose of marriage, and the stewardship of life that helps believers think through the question with wisdom and integrity.

Children as a Blessing

Scripture consistently presents children as a gift from God and a blessing, not a burden. Psalm 127:3-5 is the classic text: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.” Psalm 128 paints a picture of the blessed household with children gathered around the table “like olive shoots.” The consistent tone of the Old Testament is that fruitfulness is a sign of God’s favour and that barrenness is a source of grief. This biblical posture toward children should shape the Christian’s starting point. Any approach to family planning that treats children as an inconvenience, a financial liability, or an obstacle to personal goals is operating from a framework fundamentally at odds with the biblical view.

The Genesis 38 Question

The one passage sometimes cited in discussions of contraception is Genesis 38:8-10, where Onan is struck dead by God. Onan’s offence is often described as contraceptive behaviour, but the context is more specific than that. Onan had a levirate duty to raise up offspring for his deceased brother. His refusal was not a private family-planning decision but a deliberate violation of a covenantal obligation, combined with deception, since he was willing to take the sexual benefit of the arrangement while refusing to fulfil the purpose for which it existed. The text does not support the conclusion that all contraception is equivalent to Onan’s sin. What it does demonstrate is that God takes the misuse of sexuality and the refusal of covenantal duty seriously.

Principles for Thinking It Through

Several biblical principles bear on this question without resolving it into a simple yes or no. Marriage is designed for companionship and intimacy as well as procreation; the Song of Solomon celebrates marital love without any reference to childbearing, and 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 addresses the sexual relationship between husband and wife in terms of mutual obligation and the prevention of temptation, not procreation. The “one flesh” relationship has intrinsic value beyond reproduction. This means the Roman Catholic position that every marital act must remain open to procreation, while internally consistent within Catholic moral theology, goes beyond what Protestant exegesis of Scripture requires.

At the same time, the deliberate, permanent refusal to have children within marriage is difficult to reconcile with the biblical picture. Genesis 1:28 commands fruitfulness as part of the creation mandate, and while not every couple is physically able to fulfil this, the willing rejection of children as a lifestyle choice sits uncomfortably alongside the consistent biblical portrayal of children as a blessing to be welcomed.

Stewardship is a relevant category. Responsible stewardship of health, finances, and emotional capacity may inform the timing and number of children a couple has. A couple who prayerfully decides to space their children for the wellbeing of the mother, the family, or existing children is exercising stewardship, not rejecting God’s design.

A Distinction Worth Making

There is a meaningful moral distinction between methods that prevent conception and methods that may destroy a fertilised embryo. If personhood begins at conception, as Scripture indicates (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5), then any method that prevents the implantation of a fertilised egg raises serious ethical concerns. Barrier methods and natural family planning methods that prevent conception do not carry this concern. Hormonal methods that may, as a secondary mechanism, prevent implantation of an already-fertilised embryo are more ethically complex, and couples should be informed about how their chosen method actually works before making a decision.

So, now what?

Contraception is not a black-and-white biblical issue, and Christians should be cautious about claiming more certainty than the text provides. What is clear is that children are a blessing to be welcomed, that the sexual relationship in marriage has value beyond procreation, that stewardship of health and resources is a legitimate consideration, and that any method that may destroy a human life at its earliest stage requires serious moral reflection. Couples should approach this question prayerfully, with open hearts toward children, and with careful attention to how their choices align with the broad sweep of biblical teaching on life, marriage, and the goodness of God’s created order.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3