Marital Sexuality and Anal Intercourse in Christian Ethics
Christian ethics regarding marital sexuality emphasize fidelity, procreation, and the avoidance of sexual immorality, though specific interpretations of what constitutes "immorality" can vary across traditions [7, 10]. The Bible consistently condemns sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage, using terms like porneia (sexual immorality) and adultery [1, 2, 4].
The concept of porneia in the New Testament is broad, encompassing any sexual union outside of marriage [7]. This includes fornication, adultery, and other forms of sexual debauchery [2, 9]. For instance, Jesus states that divorce, except for reasons of sexual immorality, causes a woman to become an adulteress [1]. Paul similarly instructs believers to avoid sexual immorality, stating that God's will is for Christians to be holy and abstain from such acts [7, 9]. He also addresses specific instances of sexual immorality within the church, such as a man having sexual relations with his stepmother, which he describes as intolerable even among pagans [5, 6, 12].
Within marriage, sexual intimacy is presented as a mutual right and responsibility, intended to prevent sexual immorality [3, 8]. Paul advises that spouses should not withhold sexual intimacy from each other, recognizing that marriage involves yielding authority over one's body to one's spouse [8]. This mutual obligation is framed within the context of avoiding temptation [8].
While the Bible clearly defines and condemns various forms of sexual immorality, it does not explicitly address specific sexual acts within the confines of a heterosexual marriage, such as anal intercourse. Therefore, Christian ethical discussions on this topic often rely on broader principles derived from biblical teachings on marriage, the purpose of sexuality, and the nature of sin.
One perspective, particularly prevalent in some historical Christian traditions, emphasizes the procreative purpose of sexual intercourse. This view often suggests that sexual acts should be open to the possibility of procreation. However, other interpretations emphasize the unitive and relational aspects of marital sexuality, recognizing that intimacy serves purposes beyond procreation, such as bonding and expressing love between spouses.
The absence of direct biblical prohibition on specific marital sexual acts has led to diverse interpretations. Some theologians argue that if an act is not explicitly forbidden and does not violate the principles of love, mutual respect, and the unitive nature of marriage, it may be permissible. Others maintain a more restrictive view, often drawing on natural law arguments or interpretations of biblical passages that condemn "unnatural" acts, though these passages are typically understood to refer to non-procreative acts outside of marriage or homosexual acts, rather than specific acts within marriage.
The broader biblical framework for sexual ethics centers on the sanctity of marriage and the avoidance of impurity [4, 10]. The apostle Paul argues that believers' bodies are "parts of Christ" and should not be used to violate this spiritual union through sexual immorality [11]. He also counters the idea that "all things are allowed," emphasizing that true Christians must lead disciplined lives and that not all permissible actions are helpful [13]. These principles guide discussions on marital sexuality, even in areas where specific biblical injunctions are absent.
Sources
- Matthew “but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. -- Matthew 5:32”
- Galatians “Galatians 5:19 (BSB) — The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;”
- 1 Corinthians “But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. -- 1 Corinthians 7:2”
- Hebrews “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. -- Hebrews 13:4”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 5:1 (BSB) — It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.”
- 1 Corinthians “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife. -- 1 Corinthians 5:1”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: 4:3 God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 13:20-21). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4, 7) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:3: 7:3-4 Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, married Christians must always be considerate of the sexual needs of their spouses. Sexual intimacy is a mutual right for both spouses in a marriage and must not be withheld. Marriage includes yielding the authority over one’s body to one’s spouse, though such authority is clearly not to be abused.”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:5: 4:5 Willful ignorance of God and his ways is the root of moral corruption (Rom 1:18-32; Eph 4:17-18). • lustful passion: Sexual immorality was often tolerated in the Mediterranean world. Prostitution was allowed, but sexual relations with another man’s wife were prohibited. Roman marriage customs barred women, but not men, from extramarital affairs. By contrast, Jewish and Christian authors alike prohibited all sexual involvement outside of marriage (Acts 15:20; 1 Cor 6:12-20; Col 3:5-6).”
- Deuteronomy (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Deuteronomy 22:13: Laws of Chastity and Marriage. - Higher and still holier than the order of nature stands the moral order of marriage, upon which the well-being not only of domestic life, but also of the civil commonwealth of nations, depends. Marriage must be founded upon fidelity and chastity on the part of those who are married. To foster this, and secure it against outbreaks of malice and evil lust, was the design and object of the laws which follow. The first (Deu 22:13-21) relates to the chastity of a woman on entering into the married state, which might be called i”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 5:1: 5:1-8 Paul confronts sexual immorality in the church and instructs the Christians to expel a shameless offender from their fellowship. 5:1 sexual immorality: A man was having sex with his stepmother. Such behavior even pagans didn’t do: It violated both the law of Moses (see Lev 18:7-8) and Roman law (Gaius, Institutes 1.63).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:12: 6:12-20 Paul gives several reasons why Christians must not engage in sexual immorality. 6:12 “I am allowed to do anything” seems to have been a popular attitude among some Christians who were sexually immoral. Paul counters this attitude by emphasizing that not all things are helpful; true Christians must lead disciplined lives (cp. 10:23; Gal 5:13).”