I know there is a difference between adultery and fornication.

Adultery is when a married person sleeps with a person other than their legally married spouse.

Fornication is when an unmarried person has sex with a person of any marital status.

My question is, when is a person considered legally married, such that if the person sleeps with another person, it will be considered adultery? Is it after verbal proposal, after bride-price paying, or after traditional wedding?

^^ All of the above.

From the moment the verbal promise is made, you're as good as married to your spouse. Paying the bride price / church wedding / signing the register are mere formalities.

Why d'you ask?

Efemena_xy: Why d'you ask?

I am just curious.

Efemena_xy: ^^ All of the above. From the moment the verbal promise is made, you're as good as married to your spouse. Paying the bride price / church wedding / signing the register are mere formalities.

Are you saying if you propose to a girl, that you are already her husband, and she, your wife?

oga op,hope say u never commit any of the above o

charlsecy:

I am just curious.

Are you saying if you propose to a girl, that you are already her husband, and she, your wife?

When you propose to a girl, what do you say / ask her? You ask her to marry you, don't you?

And what is your understanding of marriage, if not a promise of comittment and faithfulness to your spouse? From the point your proposal of marriage is accepted, you become off-limits to others, and they you. Same thing goes for your partner / intended.

Everything else that follows is/are mere formalities.

If either of you are still intent on chasing / wooing others on the outside, then you have no business planning to get married as it shows you aren't ready for the full comittment it entails.

kreami diva: oga op,hope say u never commit any of the above o

i doubt if he has not committed it/them.

@Efemena_xy
Thanks for your response.

kreami diva: oga op,hope say u never commit any of the above o

greatgod2012: i doubt if he has not committed it/them.

Why is it that whenever a person asks a question, they are accused of one thing or the other?

charlsecy:
Why is it that whenever a person asks a question, they are accused of one thing or the other?

That's Nigerians for you. We're unique, aren't we?

@Obinoscopy
Not really about Nigerians, but about people who are not yet upgraded enough to engage in a stimulating discussion.

@Efemena_xy
I understand your point, but why is it considered sinful if an engaged couple live together, as if they had officially exchanged vows? If marriage is complete as soon as proposal and acceptance are initiated, why is co-habitation not advised?

Sorry if i came hard on you. We all know, this is Africa, once you see people asking some questions that seems ridiculous, that even a kid can provide answers to, it is usually in an attempt to find excuses for their actions.

As per you last question, it depends on your believe and conscience. If you believe that after engagement, you're already one, your ther half agrees to this, and your conscience does not go against having intimacy together, so be it, but if your believe and conscience is against it, why don't you complete every necessary arrangement for you to be together, so that, you wouldn't feel guilty within.
As per co-habitation, if after living tgether for about 3 months, during which she get pregnant and you now discover some attitude you don't like or you can't cope with in her, what will you do? Ask her to abort the baby and go her way, or let her have the baby and later send her away after she might have put to bed.
My opinion, please.

ok o,charly no vex

charlsecy:
@Efemena_xy
I understand your point, but why is it considered sinful if an engaged couple live together, as if they had officially exchanged vows? If marriage is complete as soon as proposal and acceptance are initiated, why is co-habitation not advised?

Who says co-habitation is sinful or is not acceptable?

I'm of the school of thought that supports cohabiting as long as its between financially independent couples intending to wed - and not a pair of ho.rny teenagers attempting to induldge in adult games.

https://www.nairaland.com/1529958/cohabitation-recipe-successful-marriage-live

Obinoscopy: That's Nigerians for you. We're unique, aren't we?

we are world best nah!

charlsecy: I know there is a difference between adultery and fornication.

Adultery is when a married person sleeps with a person other than their legally married spouse.

Fornication is when an unmarried person has sex with a person of any marital status.

My question is, when is a person considered legally married, such that if the person sleeps with another person, it will be considered adultery? Is it after verbal proposal, after bride-price paying, or after traditional wedding?

Biblically and even per tradition, the bride is GIVEN AWAY (usually by her father or rep) to the groom in marriage and the groom accepts her is the seal of a marriage but if you have a 'commitment', you should keep it and stay.
Bethrotal is not the same as marriage, it is not about asking someone to marry you and she accepts and you go meet anyone else. Besides sex is for marriage.

Alwaystrue:
Biblically and even per tradition, the bride is GIVEN AWAY (usually by her father or rep) to the groom in marriage and the groom accepts her is the seal of a marriage.
Bethrotal is not the same as marriage, it is not about asking someone to marry you and you accept and just assume you can do stuff o. You will not like it if your daughter did same.
Love does not behave unseemingly (carrying someone else daughter without consent).

merci!

^^^^^
made some ammendments to correspond with what OP wanted but noticed you had quoted me. Both are still OK though. Thanks.

Alwaystrue:
Biblically and even per tradition, the bride is GIVEN AWAY (usually by her father or rep) to the groom in marriage and the groom accepts her is the seal of a marriage but if you have a 'commitment', you should keep it and stay.
Bethrotal is not the same as marriage, it is not about asking someone to marry you and she accepts and you go meet anyone else. Besides sex is for marriage.

uh huh
Correct.