What Is Fornication?

[free2love]

There have been a few threads lately regarding the bible's perspective on various sexual matters. I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion and that this represents a victory for the adversary and I want to do what I can to share the scriptures to shed light on these things. Further, I believe that through this, Satan has coused us to fall into a trap God warned us against in Isaiah 5:20:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
God invented sex and, just as with all of His creation, He wants us to be happy and enjoy what He's given us. The first question I want to put out is this:
What does the word "fornication" mean?

 

[prophecystudent]

Fornication is having sex with someone other than your spouse.

There are 2 kinds of fornication in the bible. One is physical fornication as in having sex with someone other than your spouse.

The second kind is spiritual fornication which is when a person worships an idol and denies God.

Fred

 

[Sketcher]

Fornication is having sex with someone you are not married to when you are single.

Adultery is the same thing, only one or both of the people involved is married to someone else.

 

[TrustingmyLord]

Fornication is having sex with someone you are not married to when you are single.

Adultery is the same thing, only one or both of the people involved is married to someone else.

I totally agree. Thats it, plain and simple.

 

[JVarner83]

Fornication is having sex with someone you are not married to when you are single.

Adultery is the same thing, only one or both of the people involved is married to someone else.

Find it used in that context in the bible


I can assure you, it won't be easy

 

[SoundCard]

Corinthians
6:13-20 explains it well I think. King James Version if you're wondering.
"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will finally end both and bring them to nothing. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised the Lord to life and will also raise up by His power. Do you not see and know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make parts of a prostitute? Never! Never! Or do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh. But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun imorality and all sexual looseness. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."

 

[msbojingles]

2 Corinthians 12:21
lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication (strong's 4202), and lewdness which they have practiced.


Strong's 4202. porneia por-ni'-ah from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.
1) illicit sexual intercourse
a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12
2) metaph. the worship of idols
a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols


4203. porneuo porn-yoo'-o from 4204; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).

1) to prostitute one's body to the lust of another
2) to give one's self to unlawful sexual intercourse
a) to commit fornication
3) metaph. to be given to idolatry, to worship idols a) to permit one's self to be drawn away by another into idolatry

4204. porne por'-nay feminine of 4205; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater:--harlot, harlot.
1) a woman who sells her body for sexual uses
a) a prostitute, a harlot, one who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain
b) any woman indulging in unlawful sexual intercourse, whether for gain or for lust
2) metaph. an idolatress
a) of "Babylon" i.e. Rome, the chief seat of idolatry


4205. pornos por'-nos from pernemi (to sell; akin to the base of 4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):--fornicator, whoremonger.

1) a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire
2) a male prostitute
3) a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator

 

[bithiah2]

i would like to know why the question was asked in the first place when the meaning of the word could be looked up in any dictionary. just asking...
bithiah2

 

[New_Wineskin]

There have been a few threads lately regarding the bible's perspective on various sexual matters. I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion and that this represents a victory for the adversary and I want to do what I can to share the scriptures to shed light on these things. Further, I believe that through this, Satan has coused us to fall into a trap God warned us against in Isaiah 5:20:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
God invented sex and, just as with all of His creation, He wants us to be happy and enjoy what He's given us. The first question I want to put out is this:
What does the word "fornication" mean?

As has been brought up , the word that the translators usually interpret as "fornication" is much different than how the word has meaning today - at least , how it is used . Prostitution seems to fit better but still does not do the word justice .

 

[msbojingles]

i would like to know why the question was asked in the first place when the meaning of the word could be looked up in any dictionary. just asking...
bithiah2

Because languages change over time and the meaning found in the dictionary does not cover the meaning that the original Greek word does. That's why the Strong's reference was given and the original Greek word with it's meaning in it's fullness was given.

The word that is translated "fornication" is actually "porneia." The Greeks did not have the word "fornication." Things do get lost in translation, especially in generations to come once words lose the meaning they once had.

So to find out what the writer was saying, we need to fully understand what HE was saying, in his own language, so we have to look at the word HE used.

 

[lilymarie]

2 Corinthians 12:21
lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication (strong's 4202), and lewdness which they have practiced.


Strong's 4202. porneia por-ni'-ah from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.
1) illicit sexual intercourse
a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12
2) metaph. the worship of idols
a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols


4203. porneuo porn-yoo'-o from 4204; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).

1) to prostitute one's body to the lust of another
2) to give one's self to unlawful sexual intercourse
a) to commit fornication
3) metaph. to be given to idolatry, to worship idols a) to permit one's self to be drawn away by another into idolatry

4204. porne por'-nay feminine of 4205; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater:--harlot, harlot.
1) a woman who sells her body for sexual uses
a) a prostitute, a harlot, one who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain
b) any woman indulging in unlawful sexual intercourse, whether for gain or for lust
2) metaph. an idolatress
a) of "Babylon" i.e. Rome, the chief seat of idolatry


4205. pornos por'-nos from pernemi (to sell; akin to the base of 4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine):--fornicator, whoremonger.

1) a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire
2) a male prostitute
3) a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator

This is the correct answer.

Fornication comes from the words above and includes all sexual acts outside a marriage between one man and one woman.

The Greek words above are where we get out English word "pornography. -The word pornography includes all roots of the Greek words mentioned above.

 

[baddhabbitt]

In the Bible, fornication is defined as idolatry or adultery, that is, the breaking of the covenant vow with God or the breaking of the holy wedding vows. To worship another god (idol) is to cheat on God, and is against the 1st commandment. In the Bible, God says that those Israelites who worship idols have fornicated against Him.
Orthodox Judaism restricts sexual activity to a legally permissible marriage between a Jewish man and a Jewish woman. A man and women are even prohibited from being in a closed room alone together if they are not married, a law called yichud, nor are they allowed to have physical contact (a law referred to as negiah).
Sexual relations between a man and a woman who are not married are considered less serious (they are referred to as zenuth) than the Biblically prohibited unions such as adultery (a married woman having relations with another man) and incest; the later are referred to as ervah (literally "nakedness"), have more severe penalties and there are serious restrictions on children of these prohibited unions (mamzerim).
Sexual relations is one of the ways the Talmud(Kiddushin 1) specifies for effecting a marriage, though this method is frowned upon by the Rabbis. Children of a Jewish woman are considered Jewish regardless of whether she was married.

 

[MaidforHim]

Fornication, the illicit sex acts of unmarried persons which is likewise forbidden (I Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; Ephesians 5:3).

Fornication is also used to describe behaviors like when God's people turned from Him to Idolitry.

If you look it up in a Bible dictionary these words also come up in the definition:
FORNICATION ;

See ADULTERYhttp://www.speedbibledictionary.com/kjv30/nave/nave0121.htm See LASCIVIOUSNESShttp://www.speedbibledictionary.com/kjv30/nave/nave2999.htm
One dictionary also turned up "whoredom".

for·ni·ca·tion Sexual intercourse between partners who are not married to each other.
Word History: The word fornication had a lowly beginning suitable to what has long been the low moral status of the act to which it refers. The Latin word fornix, from which fornicti, the ancestor of fornication, is derived, meant “a vault, an arch.” The term also referred to a vaulted cellar or similar place where prostitutes plied their trade. This sense of fornix in Late Latin yielded the verb fornicr, “to commit fornication,” from which is derived fornicti, “whoredom, fornication.” Our word is first recorded in Middle English about 1303.
​

 

[free2love]

Fornication is having sex with someone other than your spouse.

Hi Fred, thanks for your response. This statement well represents what most of us think fornication is but it is not. This belief is so widespread and has been around so long it is even in our bible dictionaries and concordances but, as another poster pointed out, to find biblical foundation for this statement is, well, I think they said 'good luck'.

There are 2 kinds of fornication in the bible. One is physical fornication as in having sex with someone other than your spouse.

Yes, this is pretty much what we get from the reference books and it does give us a clue but it is only partly true, the part about it being idolatry.

The second kind is spiritual fornication which is when a person worships an idol and denies God.

What they fail to see and explain in the references is that fornication was/is the actual act of idol worship. In other words the idol worshipers worshiped their 'gods' by sexual acts. Those sexual acts are what constitute fornication. The worship ritual itself was an orgy.

 

[free2love]

Fornication is having sex with someone you are not married to when you are single.

Again, yes, this is the widely held popular belief as to what this word means but it is simply not true and has nothing to do with what fornication actually is.

Please be patient with me and I will explain. I am just trying to catch up on all these posts, ok?

 

[free2love]

Find it used in that context in the bible. I can assure you, it won't be easy

Right on! You win the prize for the first one having a clue.

 

[ROGER459]

The PREVIOUS two postings that listed the Word, IN THE GREEK, has it right!

But in simple English... May include but not limited to.....

ANY SEXUAL ACT, OR ACTIONS, OR ANY MEETING OF MAN AND WOMAN, IN THE WAY ONLY PROVIDED BY GOD FOR THE MARRIAGE BED, [Hebrews 13:4] IS FORNICATION.

IT CAN INCLUDE, THE DEFILEMENT BY LANGUAGE, ACTIONS, VISUAL OR AUDITORY TRAPPINGS AND THE SAID LIKE!

(Matthew 5:28) But I [JESUS] say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman [man] to lust after her [him] hath committed adultery with her [him] already in his [her] heart.

This can be inclued in FORNICATION, for GOD looks at the Heart!

Thanks, Roger459

 

[free2love]

Corinthians
6:13-20 explains it well I think. King James Version if you're wondering.
"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will finally end both and bring them to nothing. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised the Lord to life and will also raise up by His power. Do you not see and know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make parts of a prostitute? Never! Never! Or do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become one flesh. But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun imorality and all sexual looseness. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."

Well, actually that is definitely not from the King James Version... and did you mean first or second Corinthians? Well, I looked it up and it looks like the New King James Version from first Corinthians.

This certainly is a great section of scripture worthy of much discussion but to just paste it in there with no feedback from you, I'm sorry, but I have no idea, without assuming, what it is you mean to say. I mean, that's a bunch of verses and what they say collectively is not necessarily self-evident so I'm not sure how to respond. We could label it a witness for the prosecution or a witness for the defense. LoL!!! See what I mean?

Please state what it is you see in there, ok?

Thanks

 

[SoundCard]

Well, actually that is definitely not from the King James Version... and did you mean first or second Corinthians? Well, I looked it up and it looks like the New King James Version from first Corinthians.

This certainly is a great section of scripture worthy of much discussion but to just paste it in there with no feedback from you, I'm sorry, but I have no idea, without assuming, what it is you mean to say. I mean, that's a bunch of verses and what they say collectively is not necessarily self-evident so I'm not sure how to respond. We could label it a witness for the prosecution or a witness for the defense. LoL!!! See what I mean?

Please state what it is you see in there, ok?

Thanks

Sure thing. To me it seems to be plainly saying don't act in manners unbeffiting a member of the Body of Christ. The other poster did a better job of pointing out what was more to the issue, but it talks about not making yourself like a prostitute, and while you might say that's different than fornicating, and granted, it is, it's still not something I think Christ would want people doing. I can't read Greek or the original translations, but from my own personal experiences and such, it really just doesn't seem like an act a person should be taking part of, that being intercourse with someone outside of marriage. What more that speaks to me in that passage is it says to honor God and bring glory to Him in our body, but being so frivolous as to have relations outside of marriage, it might just be my own views, but I see no honor or glory in such a thing that could POSSIBLY be His.

 

[bod44]

Fornication by definition is unlawful sex. One dictionary said it was sex with anything or anyone other than your spouse. Fornication is sex out of marriage, masturbation, perverting sex(homosexuality, other forms that don't need to be mentioned,), and bestiality. Sex is a God given absolutely beautiful thing! The desire for sex is totally natural and God given, lust, is allowing it to become fantasies, masturbation, etc. Joshuah Harris has a great book called Not Even a Hint. It goes into detail and was very very insightful. I would recomend it to anyone that really wants to find out whats wrong with lust, which is the desire for fornictation. Lust by definition is a desire for something God given that you aren't able to lawfully have, like sex without marriage, enjoying sexual pleasure aside from sex with your spouse(like masturbation, in or out of marriage).


πορνεία
porneia
Thayer Definition:
1) illicit sexual intercourse
1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mar_10:11,Mar_10:12
2) metaphorically the worship of idols
2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols