Bible Study where does it say that premarital sex is wrong?

[manimal2878]

I know it says a lot about adultery, but can't you only be adulterous when married?

And I know in the old testament some stuff but be read that way, but wouldn't those laws have been erased like all others by the new covenant?

 

[Merry Menagerie]

Fornication (sex before marriage) is under the new covenant

 

[Rick W]

1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

"to burn"
I think this refers to burning with passion but I'm not real sure.
Anyway, Paul is saying here that to be single is best so one can give more attention to God whereas marrying divides attention between God and the spouse. And if two marry then giving time to God in harmony is also the way to go.

Holding onto one's virginity until marriage is something society does not support anymore. Sex before marriage is applauded these days and as we see happening deviation from biblical principles is the trend. In a nutshell nobody wants to be told "No". Besides, the institution of marriage carries little weight in a society that doesn't teach long-term commitment to another or cares little about any restrictions at all concerning marriage.

 

[SputnikBoy]

Where does the Bible say that pedophilia is wrong? One might think that the offense that today raises the emotional ire of most would surely have rated a specific mention in the Bible. But it doesn't. I don't know that we need a specific command or instruction from the Good Book to determine for us what is right and what is wrong. Our brain and reasoning abilities are also God-given.

 

[SputnikBoy]

Incidentally, my above post was not intended as a 'let's beat up on pedophiles' since I don't believe in that. I used that offense merely as an example to make my point. There COULD be present or past offenders of this particular offense reading these posts and they need to know that God loves them too.

 

[Free]

One need only look at the biblical purpose for sex to see that it is only to be within the context of marriage between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all else.

 

[SputnikBoy]

While I'm not, again, pointing the finger at any specific person, our common sense alone should dictate that premarital sex is wrong. How would any of you, especially those in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, like to keep on running into others who had previously been intimate with your wife?

And, just in case that sounds sexist, how would any of you like to keep on running into others who had previously been intimate with your husband? Whichever way one looks at it, scripture or no scripture, the idea of premarital sex doesn't have any good thing going for it. It's simply good old fashioned sexual immorality.

 

[manimal2878]

Where does the Bible say that pedophilia is wrong? One might think that the offense that today raises the emotional ire of most would surely have rated a specific mention in the Bible. But it doesn't. I don't know that we need a specific command or instruction from the Good Book to determine for us what is right and what is wrong. Our brain and reasoning abilities are also God-given.

OK, I Agree we have to use our god given brain and analytical ability to use reason and what not, but if something is not specifically mentioned then what do we do when two peoples reason leads them to different conclusions. Pedophilia you may think is universally wrong, and I am not trying to defend it, but in some countries don't people marry off there kids at very young ages and in some tribal societies the coming of age rights involve sex with very young children, there reason and societies say this is right, we as americans, say it is wrong and the bible is silent. So how do we know?

 

[manimal2878]

While I'm not, again, pointing the finger at any specific person, our common sense alone should dictate that premarital sex is wrong. How would any of you, especially those in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, like to keep on running into others who had previously been intimate with your wife?

And, just in case that sounds sexist, how would any of you like to keep on running into others who had previously been intimate with your husband? Whichever way one looks at it, scripture or no scripture, the idea of premarital sex doesn't have any good thing going for it. It's simply good old fashioned sexual immorality.

NOt everyone lives in a very small town.

Plus I think the concept that we have of marriage today did not exist in biblical times but was developed in the 11th century ad. I have been told that marriage in those day just meant someone you were committed to, or had been given to as property if you were a woman, after all the old testament is pretty clear that polygamy is fine. Didn't David have like hundreds of wives and all?

Also the common reference is Corinthians but, wasn't that a specific sermon to a specific church? And it seems the writer advocated people not getting married unless they had already been having sex. He didn't want them to marry so they would be "clean" for the return of jesus which he thought would be in there lifetimes, or it seems to me anyway. So if we follow this advice christians would soon die out from not getting married and waiting for the return.

This is why i have so much trouble with believing it seems you can read so many things in different ways, and how do i know the current accepted church teaching is right? After all Luther rejected his current church teaching in favor of what he thought was right using his reason. What if we are expected to do the same? How can we know? I guess I will be told to listen to what god tells me, but God is silent to me. And trust me NObody looks harder than an somebody who faces eternal nothing if what they think is true or hell if what they see is wrong.

 

[Orthodox Christian]

Plus I think the concept that we have of marriage today did not exist in biblical times but was developed in the 11th century ad. I have been told that marriage in those day just meant someone you were committed to, or had been given to as property if you were a woman, after all the old testament is pretty clear that polygamy is fine. Didn't David have like hundreds of wives and all?

Hi- you have been misinformed about a couple of things.

First, the scriptures bear out that Christ, quoting Genesis 2:24, said the following:

Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The Christians IMMEDIATELY understood this to mean that Christ disallowed divorce and polygamy

Secondly, by the time of Tertullian, late second century, the Church was already officially blessing and sanctioning marriages, and the marriage rite that we use to this day in the Orthodox Church took shape long before Constantine.

Also the common reference is Corinthians but, wasn't that a specific sermon to a specific church? And it seems the writer advocated people not getting married unless they had already been having sex. He didn't want them to marry so they would be "clean" for the return of jesus which he thought would be in there lifetimes, or it seems to me anyway. So if we follow this advice christians would soon die out from not getting married and waiting for the return.

Actually, Paul advocated for the single life so that those who followed Christ could do so with singular focus. However, knowing that not all were called to such an ascetic existence, Paul stated that it was better to marry than struggle with overwhelming human passions. In so saying, he was not denigrating marriage, simply placing it as second in glory to the life devoted to Christ only.

This is why i have so much trouble with believing it seems you can read so many things in different ways, and how do i know the current accepted church teaching is right? After all Luther rejected his current church teaching in favor of what he thought was right using his reason. What if we are expected to do the same? How can we know? I guess I will be told to listen to what god tells me, but God is silent to me. And trust me NObody looks harder than an somebody who faces eternal nothing if what they think is true or hell if what they see is wrong.

I understand what you are saying, and I urge you to consider the Church's teachings on morality for one reason above all: I can tell you that sexuality within the bounds of marriage- loving marriage- is worth waiting for. How do I know? Because I did not wait. After marrying my wife, and then each of us struggling with the baggage of past relationships for years, we finally broke through to mature, married love, and I can tell you that sex outside of marriage vs sex in marriage isn't beer vs champagne- it's a meal of filet mignon vs a mouthful of cardboard (the filet mignon being marriage, of course).

Jesus made the intent of God regarding sex and marriage very clear. This commandment to fealty and exclusiviy between one man and one woman is not prudishness, nor is it anti-sexual- on the contrary, it is God's directive toward a blissful life.

God bless you
James

 

[manimal2878]

Thanks Otrthodox those are good points you bring up.

Of course I am still learning which is why we question right?

I will keep studying.

 

[Orthodox Christian]

Right on, Manimal- may God lead you in your study

James

 

[bmeasure]

I completely concur with OC on this one! I was also involved in various relationships (sexual) with women before I got married. (2 1/2 years ago). I could not believe when I found out that she was still a virgin at 36! It was an incredible thing to be able to know a woman that you loved had saved herself just for you. There is little here on earth that compares to being pure. In fact (this is gonna sound crazy) after we had started dating and were about to kiss, she didn't feel right about it, and we talked and God actually placed the desire in my heart to wait until the pastor said "you may now kiss the bride"! Now I want to be VERY CLEAR.....I was not capable aside from the power of God to go through with this. We actually waited about a year and a half before getting married. It was extremely awesome (we actually had it announced) to have our first kiss ever with my wife wearing a white gown (symbolizing purity). I must say that that was an intense time that I can not stop thanking God for.

Now I don't mean to imply that it is wrong to kiss before marriage. I don't think this is the case, but when God puts something on your heart.....obey it....it will be worth it in the end! Purity in the home is the only way to go!

 

[Amity]

bmeasure,

Your story is beautiful.




As to the OP....

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.



In Christian love,

 

[PHIL121]

Any sexual relationship outside of marriage is fornication.

And there is plenty of Scripture that condemns fornication.

 

[Rick W]

There is much wisdom in this. Not only that which Orthodox Christian pointed out (nice post by the way OC) but also in respect to health. Going further to shun adultery after marriage pretty much decreases sexual health risks dramatically. By not having premarital sex and fleeing adultery STD's and HIV would not be at epidemic proportions as it is today.

This is God's way to keep healthy those who follow Him. The secular method is to have recreational sex, premarital sex or just about any sex you may chose but to use protection. But, it's not working as well as it should for various reasons so we're yoked with the task of finding a cure for sexually transmitted diseases while dumping millions (or more) into the project to do so.

God's way is a lot tougher so most opt for the more liberal methods. And God's way may not be very popular but it beats having to suffer through an STD or giving it to someone else.

Then there's the children.
When sex is mentioned we seem to zero in on ourselves, our wants, our desires. But we leave out the kids. It's no secret children raised in an atmosphere of love between a man and woman have a better chance at mental health, better devolopment ... a better life in general. What we do now regardless if it's only a "private thing" has an effect on the next generation, that is, their stance on morality and how they will live their lives. We are not hermits but individuals living within a society. What we do does indeed affect others either now or in the future... directly or indirectly.

Yes, there is much wisdom in the Word of God. But that wisdom doesn't fit well with what society accepts. Yet, for the believer it's a means to a better life with much less risk from the behavior accepted by the world in general.

 

[von]

So true- Sometimes we can't understand God's reasoning, but He is so much smarter than us and His rules are there for our protection. His rules are there for our blessing. He really has our best interest at heart.