Premarital Sex Forbidden in Bible and Christian Tradition
The Bible and Christian tradition consistently prohibit premarital sex, viewing marriage as the divinely instituted and proper context for sexual relations [1, 5]. This prohibition is rooted in both Old and New Testament teachings.
Marriage is presented in Scripture as a covenant relationship, established by God from creation [1]. Genesis 2:24 describes the man leaving his parents to cleave to his wife, becoming "one flesh" [1]. This union is intended for human happiness, increasing population, and raising "godly seed" [1]. The New Testament further affirms marriage as "honourable for all" and a means of preventing "fornication" [1 Corinthians 7:2, 28, 39; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 5:14] [1].
The term "fornication" (Greek porneia) in the New Testament broadly refers to sexual immorality, encompassing sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage [5]. Paul, for instance, instructs believers to "abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and warns against "lustful passion" [5]. He contrasts the sexual practices of the Gentile world, where prostitution was tolerated and extramarital affairs for men were common, with the Jewish and Christian prohibition of all sexual involvement outside of marriage [5]. This is evident in passages such as Acts 15:20, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, and Colossians 3:5-6 [5].
Christian tradition understands marriage as a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people [3, 4]. Just as adultery symbolizes Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to God, sexual activity outside of marriage is seen as a violation of the sacred nature of the marital bond [3, 4]. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that marriage should be "only in the Lord," meaning between Christians [1 Corinthians 7:39] [1, 6]. The idea that forbidding marriage is contrary to God's design is also noted in 1 Timothy 4:3, which criticizes those who prohibit marriage [2].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:3 (DRC) — Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by them that have known the truth.”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:4: 23:4 Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a symbol for the covenant relationship between God and his people (e.g., Isa 54:1-8; Eph 5:22-33). Adultery symbolizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness (e.g., Hos 1–3). God makes his covenants in spite of, not because of, his people’s character (Rom 5:6-11).”
- 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).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:39: bound by the law--The oldest manuscripts omit "by the law." only in the Lord--Let her marry only a Christian (Co2 6:14).”