Sexual Intimacy Before Marriage in Christian Context
Christian teaching consistently presents marriage as the divinely instituted and appropriate context for sexual intimacy [2, 4]. This understanding is rooted in biblical accounts of creation and reinforced throughout the New Testament. Marriage was established in Paradise, with its original charter confirmed by Jesus as the basis for all regulations concerning it [4].
The Bible defines marriage as a covenant relationship [2], designed for human happiness, the increase of population, and the raising of godly offspring [2]. It is also presented as a means to prevent sexual immorality [2]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, states that "if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry" [3]. He further clarifies, "But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned" [6]. These passages underscore that marriage legitimizes sexual relations.
Sexual intimacy within marriage is considered a mutual right and responsibility for both spouses [7]. The Christian perspective emphasizes that God's will for believers includes holiness, which encompasses abstaining from sexual sin (Greek porneia), defined as any sexual union outside of marriage [10]. This contrasts with the broader Mediterranean world, where prostitution was often tolerated, and extramarital affairs for men were sometimes permitted, though Jewish and Christian authors prohibited all sexual involvement outside of marriage [9].
The New Testament highlights the sacredness of the body for Christians, describing it as a temple of the Holy Spirit [11]. Therefore, sexual sin is seen as a violation of this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence [11]. Believers are considered to have been "bought with a high price," meaning their bodies and lives are claimed by Christ for God's glory, and they do not belong to themselves [11]. Paul uses the metaphor of betrothal to Christ, presenting the church as a "pure virgin" prepared for one husband, Christ, to illustrate the exclusive and sacred nature of this relationship [1, 5]. This spiritual union with Christ means believers are not free to violate their bodies through sexual acts outside of marriage [8].
Sources
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 11:2 (Geneva1599) — For I am ielous ouer you, with godly ielousie: for I haue prepared you for one husband, to present you as a pure virgine to Christ:”
- 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”
- 1 Corinthians “But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry. -- 1 Corinthians 7:36”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:18-24). Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed (Matt. 19:4, 5). It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced (Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the patriarchal age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30, etc.). Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Espouse — (2 Sam. 3:14), to betroth. The espousal was a ceremony of betrothing, a formal agreement between the parties then coming under obligation for the purpose of marriage. Espousals are in the East frequently contracted years before the marriage is celebrated. It is referred to as figuratively illustrating the relations between God and his people (Jer. 2:2; Matt. 1:18; 2 Cor. 11:2). (See [193]BETROTH.)”
- 1 Corinthians “But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. -- 1 Corinthians 7:28”
- 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 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 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 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 6:18: 6:18-20 For Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 3:16-17; cp. 2 Cor 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence. • You do not belong to yourself: Christians can no longer claim their bodies as their own, as they have been bought . . . with a high price, the blood of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 5:9), and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God’s glory (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).”