Women are talking among themselves -- is sex before marriage a sin according to the Bible?  It appears they may be looking for a loophole.
 

AT ISSUE

A divorced woman had a very simple question: She said, "I am a recently divorced woman in my late 40's. My fellow single women and I have been trying to find a scripture that tells us that sex before marriage is a sin. The only things we came up with had to do with adultery or sex with a prostitute. Can you give me the passage that says premarital sex is a sin?"

OUR INSIGHT

When I first read this question, my mind went to the famous comic actor of a bygone era, W.C. Fields. He had a reputation for being hard-hearted and said all sorts of outrageous things, though he was really a soft-hearted person they say. For example, he once said, "Anyone who hates small dogs and children can't be all bad." Of his heavy drinking he said, "Back in my rummy days, I would tremble and shake for hours upon arising. It was the only exercise I got." You get the picture of the sort of person he was.

It is said that during his last days, a friend walked into his hospital room and was shocked to see him reading a Bible. The friend asked he if was finally getting religion, to which Fields replied wily, "No, I'm just looking for loopholes."

When people are searching the scriptures to see whether or not it can be proven that sex before marriage is a sin, it seems to me they too are looking for loopholes. Of course I don't blame anyone for looking, but they should know what they're looking for.

Some Definitions

By definition, adultery is: "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband" Fornication is: "consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other" -- which includes premarital sex, of course. (Both definitions from Webster).

Don't be confused when you see "adultery" and "fornication" used interchangeably sometimes in the Bible. There really are two different New Testament Greek words underlying the differing concepts of adultery and fornication.

Some translations are not using the Greek word as they probably should be doing. For example Col 3:5 KJV says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

The excellent NIV puts the same verse this way: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

It is the same underlying Greek work for unmarried people having sex -- one place called fornication (GK: "porneia" ), the other translated as sexual immorality. Same thing. Adultery is sexual immorality too, it is just a different Greek word ("moicheuo") with the connotation of intercourse being between married people.

What Does This Mean To You?

Sexual immorality is always a heavy burden on the human soul. People do it because of inner urges and because it's often fun. But there are a lot things that meet this criteria that are not good for us spiritually, and it is sin to us. James hits the nail on the head when he says, "Anyone who knows the good he or she ought to do, and doesn't do it, sins. " (4:17). We know the "good" is to refrain from sexual immorality whether you call it "poneia" or "moicheuo," "adultery," "fornication, "premarital sex," or "playing around."

The urge itself is not bad however. That's why Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 7, that it is better to marry rather than "burn" (with passion). Any desire you have to for sexual activity should be channeled in the right direction. Find a good Christian man, get married, and lavish a lot of attention on each other, both in and outside the bedroom. God wants to bless couples, even the second time around, and you should seek his blessing.
 

-DLH