What is fornication? It is illicit sexual activity outside of marriage. It is when an unmarried person has sexual relations with someone. In Greek, the word for “fornication” is πορνεία, porneía, which is where the word ‘pornography’ comes from. It is the Strong’s # 4202 and occurs 25 times in the New Testament. In the NASB it is translated as fornication (Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21; John 8:41; Acts 15:20; 15:29; 21:25), immorality (Matt 19:9; 1 Cor 5:1; 6:13; 6:18; 7:2; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; Rev 2:21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2; 17:4; 18:3; 19:2), sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3), and unchastity (Matt. 5:32). In addition, the usage of πορνεία, porneía sometimes includes adultery, which is when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not his or her spouse.
The Bible speaks of the sinful works of the flesh. Gal. 5:19 includes the sin of “immorality” porneia, among the sins of idolatry, strife, dissensions, drunkenness, etc. It is a rebellion against God and the sanctity of marriage where the sexual union is designed by God to occur.
Jesus speaks of sexual immorality (πορνεία, porneía) and relates it to adultery.
- “But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity (porneia), makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery,” (Matthew 5:32).
- “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality (porneia), and marries another woman commits adultery,” (Matthew 19:9).
Types of sexual immorality
There are many types of sexual immorality because people, in their sinfulness, devise various ways to satisfy their fleshly desires. But Scripture tells us to avoid sexual immorality. Here are just a few examples.
- Bestiality
- “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death,” (Exodus 22:19).
- Prostitution
- “Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land will not fall to harlotry and the land become full of lewdness,” (Leviticus 19:29).
- “You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God,” (Deuteronomy 23:18).
- Incest
- “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness,” (Leviticus 18:7).
- Homosexuality
- “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22).
- “and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error,” (Romans 1:27).
Conclusion
Fornication is a sinful practice where sexual activity occurs outside of marriage. It is condemned in the Bible that says the “marriage bed is to be undefiled for fornicators and adulterers God will judge,” (Hebrews 13:4).
