“Does the Bible really say sex is just for marriage?”
This tool was designed to help supplement the content from the message shared at
LifeChurch Livonia on 3.1 and LifeChurch Canton on 3.7-8 and is designed to help you answer
the question “Does the Bible really say sex is just for marriage?” This tool will attempt to do 2
things in an effort to help you answer this question. First, it will help you understand how the 1st
century Greek language used the Greek word πορνεια /Porneia. Second, it will provide you
with an understanding of how the New Testament uses the word Porneia. When a person
understands what the word Porneia meant in the 1st century and how the New Testament uses
that word, the answer to the question above becomes very clear.
What does the word Porneia mean? Like so many words, the word Porneia is one that has a
range of meaning. It captures the idea of sexual immorality covering a number of different
forms of inappropriate behavior including prostitution, sex between one married and one
unmarried partner (adultery), forced sex with a slave, and sex between two unmarried partners
(fornication). In the first century Greek language Porneia was a word used to describe most
sexual activities that two people could engage in outside of the context of marriage. Below is
information on the word Porneia from word study tools on the Greek language.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek words - 4202 (Strong’s Number) - Harlotry (including adultery and
incest); figuratively of idolatry; fornication.
BADG (Greek to English Lexicon) – Prostitution, unchastely or fornication, of every kind of
unlawful sexual intercourse.
Moulton and Milligan (Greek Lexicon that specializes in the use of NT words in common Greek
documents during the time of the NT) - Rare in classic Greek, originally meant “prostitution or
fornication but became a word that was applied to unlawful sexual intercourse generally. It was
a wider term than Moichia / μοιχεια, embracing the idea of barter, traffic in sexual vice…”
Theological Dictionary of the NT (10 volume word study resource on NT vocabulary) – Rare in
classic Greek literature but meaning fornication or licentiousness. The word includes sexual
deviation from sex in marriage ranging from two consenting non-married sexual partners, to
forced sex between a slave and slave master, to prostitution, to sex between an unmarried and
married individual.
Dictionary of NT Theology – Includes harlotry and unchastity and is a word that can describe
various extra-marital sexual modes of behavior insofar as they deviate from accepted social and
religious norms. In later Jewish rabbinic language Porneia is understood as including not only
prostitution and any kind of extra marital sexual intercourse but also all marriages between
relatives forbidden by rabbinic law.
Exegetical Dictionary of the NT – Means prostitution, unchastity, fornication and is used of
every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse. When used of sexual infidelity on the part of a
married woman it means the same as adultery, which is normally referred to with Moicheia,
Porneia and Moicheia frequently stand next to one another in vice catalogs.
Greek-English Lexicon Louw and Nida – To engage in sexual immorality of any kind often with
the implication of prostitution – to engage in illicit sex, to commit fornication, sexual
immorality, fornication, prostitution.
How does the New Testament use the word Porneia? The word Porneia is translated in a
number of different ways in different English translations. In the passages below it is translated
as “fornication” by the NASB and KJV and is in bold. The NIV translation is below each of
those passages and usually is translated as “sexual immorality” thus capturing the range of
meaning that the word has in the original language.
Matthew 15:19 – Jesus includes it in a laundry list of sins.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies:NASB
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false
testimony, slander. NIV
19
Acts 15:20 – The early Church included it in the list of things the new Gentile Christians should
make sure they are not doing.
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication,
and from things strangled, and from blood. KJV
Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from
sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. NIV
20
Acts 15:29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. NKJV
You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals
and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. NIV
29
Acts 21:25
25
But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should
abstain from [a]meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from
fornication. NASB
As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from
food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual
immorality. NIV
25
Romans 1:29 – Paul includes it in a laundry list of sins.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers. KJV
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips. NIV
29
1 Corinthians 5:1
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so
much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. KJV
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans
do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. NIV
1 Corinthians 6;12-20 – Paul speaking to the nature of fornication and its unique impact on
people and spirituality.
12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I
will not be brought under the power of any. 13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but
God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and
the Lord for the body. 14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his
own power. 15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the
members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not
that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that
is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the
body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's. KJV
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to
do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the
stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual
immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from
the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ
himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do
you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said,
“The two will become one flesh.”[a] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in
spirit.[b] 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but
whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are
temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your
own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. NIV
12
1 Corinthians 7:2 - Paul prescribes marriage as a solution against the temptation of it.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have
her own husband. KJV
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own
wife, and each woman with her own husband. NIV
1 Corinthians 6:9
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]effeminate, nor homosexuals,
NASB
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men. NIV
9
2 Corinthians 12:21 - In several passages it is included among a list of sins.
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many
which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and
lasciviousness which they have committed. KJV
I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved
over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and
debauchery in which they have indulged. NIV
21
Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness., KJV
19
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; NIV
Ephesians 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints; KJV
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. NIV
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Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: KJV
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. NIV
5
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 – Paul speaks to the far reaching effects of sexual sin, God’s call on our
lives, and the seriousness of the issue.
3
For 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. KJV
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that
each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in
passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should
wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such
sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a
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holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God,
the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. NIV
Hebrews 12:15-17 – The writer compares the sin of sexual immorality to Esau selling his
birthright. In both cases a person sacrifices the good of the future for the pleasure of the
moment.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking
carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause
trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like
Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he
wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he
sought it diligently with tears. KJV
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a
single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he
wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he
could not change what he had done. NIV
15
Hebrews 13:4 – The writer speaks to the place of sex in marriage and the seriousness of the sin.
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for
fornicators and adulterers God will judge. NASB
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the
adulterer and all the sexually immoral. NIV
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