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The answer to the above question is absolutely crucial in order for the Christian to understand both the Physical and Spiritual implications of committing either fornication or adultery Our study of these Biblical terms will reveal the fact that there is a parallel between these sins in the physical realm and spiritual realm. Our destination in this Bible topic study series on Fornication and Adultery is to reveal the spiritual meaning of these sins, the implication to the Christian, and its effect in the Church. Once a clear definition is obtained and the differences observed in both the physical realm and spiritual realm then we can proceed to examine the spiritual aspects of these sins After a thorough study and understanding is achieved, we can accomplish three objectives - - - 1) The implication, warnings, and effect these sins have in the Church per the New Testament Epistles 2) The prophetic implication these sins have on the Churches of Pergamous and Thyatira in Revelation Ch 2 3) Why fornication is prevalent in the Tribulation period while adultery ceases to exist. (Rev 14-19) But first, a correct understanding of Fornication and Adultery must be obtained in the physical and fleshly realm. A proper understanding in the physical realm is extremely important. It is often necessary for Christian Counselors to render advice and judgment in troubled family situations in the Church involving issues of immorality, marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. The Bible deals adequately with both the physical and spiritual aspects as we shall see. FORNICATION & ADULTERY - IN
THE FLESH
The difference between the two is found by examining what they are. The Bible makes a distinction between the two and a proper understanding is in order to grasp the understanding and resultant implications of each. A general misunderstanding exists today when trying to make Bible application to real life issues concerning marriage, divorce, and re-marriage when issues of Fornication and Adultery are involved. Our study begins by looking at the definition of these two terms: COMMON
DEFINITION OF ADULTERY
Webster defines Adultery as: Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband. The Bible agrees with the above definition but would also include a "Previously Married" (divorced) person as well. COMMON
DEFINITION OF FORNICATION
Webster defines Fornication as: Consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other. The above definition for Fornication DOES NOT coincide with the New Testament use of this term ! ! ! The English use of the word "Fornication" is sometimes used as an "umbrella" term to include all manner of illicit sexual behavior including adultery, homosexuality, perversion, etc. The Bible does not use the word "Fornication" in this way. The correct Biblical definition is as follows: BIBLE
DEFINITION OF FORNICATION
The act of sexual intercourse by an "unmarried" and "never been married" man or woman. The marital status of the partner is irrelevant. It is unfortunate that our Bible translators did not maintain a consistent translation of the word Fornication, but used in some translations, "sexual immorality". This translation forces the issue that Fornication is a sin applicable only in a physical and fleshly sense. Also, the term "sexual immorality" serves to broaden the "umbrella" aspect of all sexually immoral acts and further deviates from the Bible use of the term. While the above definition may satisfy the common and legal definition of the word "Fornication", the Bible does not combine all "sexually immoral" acts such as homosexuality, perversion, prostitution, etc. into Fornication. This study does not include the term "Harlot" or "Harlotry" which is primarily an Old Testament word, although also found in Revelation. This word refers to the promiscuous and unfaithful activity of either a married or unmarried woman in the physical sense. Harlotry includes the aspects of whoredom and prostitution and may be covered under another topic study if time permits. For Bible study purposes, in the Greek, the noun form of the word "fornication" can be found from Strong's word 4202 (porneia) and the verb form of the word 4203 (porneuo). The New Testament refers to Adultery about 35 times and Fornication about 45 times. Typical misconceptions regarding Fornication held by most Christians have grown to include: a. All sexual activity outside of marriage b. Extra-marital sex c. All who engage in unnatural sexual intercourse. DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN FORNICATION & ADULTERY
In the Flesh, the Bible denotes the difference between the two as follows: Adultery => Illicit Sexual relationship by a Married or Previously Married (divorced) person. (The marital status of the offending partner is irrelevant) Fornication
=> Illicit Sexual relationship by an Unmarried and
Never-Been-Married
person.
(The marital status of the offending partner is irrelevant) The scriptures clarify that there is a difference between Fornication and Adultery as we shall see. They are listed as separate issues as shown in the following - - - Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, uncleanness, lewdness, . . . The fact that sexual immorality may occur outside the bounds of marriage, the Apostle Paul encourages marriage so that Fornication by UNMARRIED Christians will not occur - - - 1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality (FORNICATION), let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Fornication is ONLY attributable to the "UNMARRIED" and "NEVER BEEN MARRIED" Our Lord clarifies that Adultery occurs ONLY among Married persons - - - Luke 16:18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits ADULTERY; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits ADULTERY. Adultery is ONLY attributable to the "MARRIED" and "HAVE BEEN MARRIED (Divorced)" The following verse makes clear the distinction that Fornication is attributable to the Unmarried and Adultery is attributable to the Married. The term "sexual immorality" should be translated as Fornication in this passage. Matthew 19:9 9 "And I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality (FORNICATION), and marries
another, commits ADULTERY; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits ADULTERY." THE ACT The "ACT of Fornication" and the "ACT of Adultery" are one and the same. In the New Testament, the "Marital Status" of the Offender determines whether it is Fornication or Adultery. Therefore, "ACT"
OF FORNICATION
= "ACT" OF ADULTERY
Both Fornication and Adultery are acts of INFIDELITY (Unfaithfulness). Number 5:12 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'If any man's wife goes astray and behaves UNFAITHFULLY toward him, . . . What is important to note from the following Bible verses is that in the Flesh, both Believers and Unbelievers CAN commit either Fornication or Adultery depending on their marital status. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither FORNICATORS, nor idolaters, nor ADULTERERS, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ADULTERY PENALTY Under "The Mosaic Law", Adultery required the Death penalty: . . . Deuteronomy 22:22 "If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall DIE--the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel. Leviticus 20:10 "The man who commits Adultery with another man's wife, he who commits Adultery with his neighbor's wife, the Adulterer and the Adulteress, shall surely be put to Death. Therefore, Commit
Physical Adultery
=> Death Penalty
This is extremely important to know because it will have a parallel spiritual implication. EXCEPTION
TO ADULTERY
The "Previously Married" exception to Adultery is if the spouse dies, then there is "NO" Adultery upon remarriage. Romans 7 2 For the WOMAN who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband DIES, SHE is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an ADULTERESS; but if her husband DIES, she is free from that law, so that she is NO adulteress, though she has MARRIED another man. FORNICATION PENALTY Under "The Law", Fornication was NOT normally punishable by death. A woman would be put to death for Fornication ONLY if it was consensual AND she was betrothed to another man. This would be such a rare and exceptional case, that it was not included in the 10 commandments but was left as a judicial issue in light of the facts - Deut chapter 22. Normally, in the case of Fornication, the man must pay "Cash" (the Bride-Price) to the woman's father and "Marry" her if her father permitted . . . Exodus 22:16-17 16 "If a man ENTICES a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely PAY the bride-price for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall PAY MONEY according to the bride-price of virgins. Deuteronomy 22:28-29 28 "If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give (PAY) to the young woman's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days. Adultery under Mosaic Law required the death penalty, while Fornication did not normally require the Death penalty. Therefore, : Commit Physical Fornication => Cash Penalty Payment (No Death) This also is extremely important to know because it will have a parallel spiritual implication. MATTHEW 5:32 & 19:9 - IN THE FLESH Two of the most confusing scriptures regarding Fornication and Adultery are found in the following verses - - Matthew 5:32 (KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of FORNICATION, causeth her to commit ADULTERY: and whosoever shall marry her that is Divorced committeth ADULTERY. Matthew 19:9 (KJV) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for FORNICATION, and shall marry another, committeth ADULTERY: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit ADULTERY. The "Except" clause in the above passages refers to an Engaged Couple on their way to the altar TO BE married ! Fornication is NOT APPLICABLE to someone who is married, it is ONLY applicable to someone who is not married or is ENGAGED - - - Therefore, it is a complete misunderstanding of the scripture to come to the conclusion that FORNICATION is a reason or basis for DIVORCE . . . ! ! ! Example: An Engaged (never been married) Man has an affair (commits Fornication) outside the bond of their engagement. The wife-to-be after learning of the situation, as would be expected, cancels the engagement. As a result - - * The Engagement is
terminated
* The couple is DIVORCED from the engagement * The couple is Separated. From the two verses in Matthew it can be determined that - - 1) The engaged man
has not committed Adultery (but
Fornication)
2) The engaged woman has not committed Adultery (impossible) 3) The engaged woman has not committed Fornication 4) Each member of the previously Engaged Couple is FREE to marry at a later date without Adultery implications. What our Lord is saying in the above verses, is that : 1) Unfaithfulness PRIOR to the wedding vows IS NOT Adultery, but is Fornication 2) Unfaithfulness AFTER the wedding vows IS ADULTERY, but not Fornication When our Lord used the term "Fornication" in the above verse in Matthew, he was referring to a Non-Married, Never Been Married person who was under a "Pledge To Be Faithful". The Wife He was referring to in the case of Fornication is the "Wife-To-Be", the "Betrothed Wife", "Espoused Wife", in our English terminology, a "Woman who is Engaged To Be Married". Again, by definition - - Fornication => Illicit Sexual relationship by an UNMARRIED and never been married person Adultery => Illicit Sexual relationship by a MARRIED or previously married (divorced) person This is evident from scripture: Luke 2 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his BETROTHED WIFE, who was with child. Thus, a Married man divorcing his wife was breaking his "Vow To Remain Faithful". When the divorce occurred, her "Vow" would automatically be broken also, whether or not she re-married or not had nothing to do with it, because her responsibility to fulfill HER Vow to REMAIN FAITHFUL could not be accomplished. (ie, in sickness and in health til death do us part, etc, etc.) At this point, our heart usually goes out to the "innocent" divorced wife whose husband was unfaithful. However, the key to understanding the verse is the fact that the WIFE is now separated and isolated from her former husband. FORNICATION & ADULTERY EXAMPLES Examples of sexual and consensual illicit relationships of Fornication and Adultery in the "Flesh" are as follows: Married Man Case 1: If a married man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, not betrothed) woman, the man is committing Adultery, while the woman is committing Fornication. Case 2: If a married man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, but betrothed) woman, the man is committing Adultery, while the woman is committing Fornication. Case 3: If a married man has a relationship with a married woman, the man is committing Adultery and the woman is committing Adultery Case 4: If a married man has a relationship with a divorced woman, the man is committing Adultery and the woman is committing Adultery Divorced Man Case 1: If a divorced man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, not betrothed) woman, the man is committing Adultery, while the woman is committing Fornication. Case 2: If a divorced man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, but betrothed) woman, the man is committing Adultery, while the woman is committing Fornication. Case 3: If a divorced man has a relationship with a married woman, the man is committing Adultery and the woman is committing Adultery Case 4: If a divorced man has a relationship with a divorced woman, the man is committing Adultery and the woman is committing Adultery Unmarried Man Case 1: If an unmarried (never been married, betrothed or not) man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, not betrothed) woman, the man is committing Fornication and the woman is committing Fornication. Case 2: If an unmarried (never been married, betrothed or not) man has a relationship with an unmarried (never been married, but betrothed) woman, the man is committing Fornication and the woman is committing Fornication. Case 3: If an unmarried (never been married, betrothed or not) man has a relationship with a married woman, the man is committing Fornication and the woman is committing Adultery Case 4: If an unmarried (never been married, betrothed or not) man has a relationship with a divorced woman, the man is committing Fornication and the woman is committing Adultery DIVORCE COUNSELING ERRORS The basis for confusion and error in marriage and divorce counseling today arises because: Misunderstanding Bible Terms => Misinterpretation of Scripture => Misapplication of Scripture Failure to understand the Bible definition and use of the word Fornication results in misapplication of scripture which causes many Christian Marital Counselors to have error in judgment. If the Physical application and implication of such acts are misunderstood, then what is to happen when the same principles are applied in the Spiritual sense? Certainly, the same path of misapplication, misuse and misguided counseling are sure to follow... It is common for marriage counselors or even Church overseers to state that a Divorce is not Scriptural unless a spouse commits Fornication. To conclude that a divorce is "Scriptural" or "Unscriptural based on "FORNICATION" is a technical error and in view of the definition and application is completely illogical, nonsensical, and even impossible. When a married person becomes involved in sexual immorality, it is ADULTERY, NOT Fornication. We can now conclude that - - - 1) Fornication and Divorce are mutually exclusive terms ! ! ! 2) Fornication and Adultery are mutually exclusive terms ! ! ! Only an unmarried and never-been-married person can commit Fornication. What they really mean is that an act of INFIDELITY or UNFAITHFULNESS has occurred. Trying to fit Matthew 5:32 & 19:9 and Fornication into the situation is total misapplication of scripture. In Matthew, our Lord Jesus was not giving a counseling session on when, where, how, or if a Divorce could or should be allowed. He was at this point saying that under the veil of Divorce, the Sin of Adultery was being committed. This was foundational teaching to reveal to us the nature of Spiritual Adultery in the Kingdom of Heaven which we now know as the Church. The Apostle Paul will later go in to the details of Divorce and Re-marriage in his Epistles. Another Bible topic study will be prepared and devoted to these issues. MATTHEW 5:32 & 19:9 - IN THE SPIRIT The Law and Christ were two separate issues to the Unbelieving Jews. Jesus pointed this out by saying: Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy The Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets (The Law), He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. John 5:46 For if you BELIEVED Moses (The Law), you would BELIEVE Me; for he wrote about ME (Jesus Christ). Their relationship to the LAW was of WORKS, not of FAITH ! They were married to THE LAW ! Therefore, they could not believe Jesus Christ. They were UNBELIEVERS - - - Romans 9 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by FAITH, but as it were, by the WORKS of THE LAW - - THE LAW would become a source of ADULTERY to anyone who joined themselves to it by WORKS instead of by FAITH. The message that Jesus was preaching was - - - Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “REPENT
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.”
Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is PRESSING into it. The UNBELIEVING Jews were attempting to get into the Kingdom of Heaven through DIVORCE. They were MARRIED to the LAW !!! Therefore, they were committing ADULTERY !!! One enters the Kingdom through the Born Again experience which requires that a DEATH occur first. If death of the spouse occurs, then re-marriage can occur and there is NO ADULTERY and most importantly, "NO DEATH PENALTY". The spouse that must die in this analogy is the BELIEVER ! Romans 6:4 Therefore we were BURIED (DIED) with Him through baptism into DEATH, that just as Christ was raised from the DEAD by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become DEAD to THE LAW through the body of Christ, that you MAY BE MARRIED (currently engaged) to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 that the unbelieving Jews were attempting to enter the Kingdom through DIVORCE. Divorce was merely a cloak for ADULTERY, therefore, they were committing ADULTERY ! ! ! The unbelievers in the above passages are the scribes and pharisees. The spiritual analogy of Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 now become clear when we view it as follows: Matthew 5:32 (NKJV) But I say to you that whoever (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER) Divorces his wife (THE LAW) for any reason, EXCEPT sexual immorality (a FORNICATOR, A BELIEVER), causes her (THE LAW) to commit Adultery; and whoever (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER) marries a woman who is Divorced (THE LAW) commits Adultery (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER). Matthew 19:9 (NKJV) And I say to you, whoever (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER) Divorces his wife (THE LAW), EXCEPT for sexual immorality (a FORNICATOR, A BELIEVER), and marries another, commits Adultery; and whoever marries (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER) her who is Divorced (THE LAW) commits Adultery (an ADULTERER, an UNBELIEVER)." Just as Fornication or Adultery in the flesh is SEXUAL, it shall be shown that Spiritual Fornication or Spiritual Adultery is also of the flesh, but is SENSUAL. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SPIRITUAL FORNICATION & SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
The spiritual analogy of these two verses (Matthew 5:32 and 19:9) is what is most important and Jesus is stating that the unbelieving scribes and pharisees are the ADULTERERS !!! The use of the word Fornication and Adultery are actually being used in contrast to each other. Both acts are sinful acts, but the point He is making is that Spiritual Adultery is associated with Unbelievers, while Spiritual Fornication is associated with Believers Therefore the correlation is - - - SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
=>
UNBELIEVERS
SPIRITUAL FORNICATION => BELIEVERS This relationship becomes more clear when we realize that when the Apostle Paul speaks of married and unmarried persons in the following passages, he is speaking of the Spiritual - - - 1 Cor 7 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is UNMARRIED (Saved) cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is MARRIED (Unsaved) cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife. We know he is not talking of physical marriage because scripture says - - - Hebrews 13 4 MARRIAGE is HONORABLE AMONG ALL, and the bed undefiled; but Fornicators and Adulterers God will judge. We have concluded that Spiritual Adultery is associated with the Unbelievers, Unsaved, Unredeemed, while Spiritual Fornication although a sin also is associated with the Believers, Saved, Redeemed, a Child of God. Why does Jesus include the word "Fornication" in Mathew 5 &19 while he does not use it in Mark and Luke? Because in Matthew, he is addressing the Pharisees AND the disciples (Unbelievers and Believers), whereas in Mark 10 and Luke 16 he is addressing the Pharisees (Unbelievers only). In Mark, he addresses the disciples (believers) also, but you must note in this passage they were simply "REPEATING" the question of the Pharisees (unbelievers). Therefore, Jesus uses only the term "Adultery" in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Mark 10 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits ADULTERY against her. 12 "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits ADULTERY." Luke 16 18 "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits ADULTERY; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits ADULTERY. THE ACT OF
SPIRITUAL FORNICATION & SPIRITUAL ADULTERY
The parallel acts for committing Fornication or Adultery in the Flesh and in the Spirit is as follows - - - Adultery => Illicit sexual act committed by the MARRIED Fornication => Illicit sexual act committed by the UNMARRIED Spiritual Adultery => Illicit sensual act committed by the UNBELIEVER Spiritual Fornication => Illicit sensual act committed by the BELIEVER The question before us is - - -"Even though Spiritual Adultery is classified with Unbelievers and Spiritual Fornication is classified with Believers, are they the same sin? We begin by going back to the fleshly aspects. In the flesh, is "THE ACT" of Adultery same as "THE ACT" Fornication? The answer is YES, both are acts of illicit sexual immorality and both are related to Unfaithfulness. Therefore, in the Flesh - - - THE ACT of
Fornication
= THE
ACT
of Adultery
The "Marital Status" of the Offender determines whether it is Fornication or Adultery. It shall be proved in the next Bible Topic Study and the New Testament Epistles that the same is true in the spiritual realm, that is - - - THE ACT of Spiritual
Fornication
= THE
ACT
of Spiritual Adultery
The "Salvation Status" of the Offender will determine whether it is Spiritual Fornication or Spiritual Adultery. This is key to understanding whether a particular passage is referring to a "Believer (saved)" or an "Unbeliever (unsaved)". THE PENALTY
OF FORNICATION &
ADULTERY
Our basis for determining the penalty for committing Fornication or Adultery was determined from the Old Testament for sexual immoral acts of the Flesh. Therefore, it was revealed that the penalty was - - - In the Flesh - - - Adultery (Married)
=>
Death Penalty Fornication (Unmarried) => NO Death Penalty (but, Must pay Bride Price) We can assume at this point that there will be a parallel penalty relationship when applied to the spiritual realm. Our basis for determining the penalty for committing Spiritual Fornication or Spiritual Adultery will be determined from the New Testament for unbelievers. Therefore, it will be revealed that the penalty will be - - - In the Spirit - - - Spiritual
Adultery (Unbelievers) =>
ETERNAL Death Spiritual Fornication (Believer) => EVERLASTING LIFE (but, Must pay penalty) Although the Spiritual Fornicator has the security of everlasting life, there will be a penalty or price to pay for committing this sin. This penalty will be examined later in another Bible Topic Study. John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does NOT BELIEVE is CONDEMNED already, because he has NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 "He who BELIEVES in the Son has EVERLASTING LIFE; and he who does NOT BELIEVE the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." SUMMARY
The use of the words Fornication and Adultery as associated with two of the Seven Churches in Revelation chapter 2 are confusing to many Christians. The Churches in Revelation are using these words to describe Spiritual acts and not Fleshly acts as we shall see later. However, the implications in both the Physical and Spiritual realm are the SAME. As a result, commentaries on the Seven Churches in the book of Revelation tend to be rather shallow in this area because the Bible use of these words do not correspond with the popular understanding and use of the words. It is not the intent of this study to get into issues of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage, but another Bible topic study will be prepared and devoted to these issues. However, it is important at this point to learn that the Physical and Spiritual implications and aspects of Fornication and Adultery are paralleled. With a correct Bible based understanding and correct Bible use of the terms Adultery, Fornication, and Divorce, the New Testament reveals fascinating insights to issues and implications of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. With correct Bible terminology, definitions, and applications in proper perspective, the Bible student is now ready to examine the Spiritual aspects of Fornication and Adultery in the Church. John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe (understand), how will you believe if I tell you heavenly (Spiritual) things? Be sure and visit other Bible Study Topics studies on: "ADULTERY" & "FORNICATION" |  Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery  Adultery: Penalty Paid  Fornication Calculating the Bride Price  Jesus the Risen Savior
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