Fornicators – “And Such Were Some Of You”

by Micky Galloway

In I Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul says, “Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” In this and other such lists of sins, Paul makes it abundantly clear that “they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-23). It is our purpose in this series of studies to define the terms used by the Holy Spirit so that we will have no difficulty in perceiving the sinfulness of such action. Surely, an understanding of these terms should stir the feeling of abhorrence for what they indicate in the heart of every child of God.

Definition: What Is Fornication?

Some have been confused about the meaning of fornication. Authorities on the language of the New Testament define fornication as “illicit sexual intercourse in general.” This definition includes, “… every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.” Fornication is a broader word than adultery. It sometimes includes adultery (as in I Corinthians 5:1), and it is sometimes distinguished from it (as in I Corinthians 6:9).

Since fornication is a broad term, it includes any and all sexual intercourse outside the bonds of lawful marriage. It includes the sin of premarital sex, whoredom, concubinage, adultery, incest, prostitution of one’s body to the lust of another, whether it be male or female, homosexuality, bestiality. It includes the sexual unfaithfulness of a married man or woman (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). In its broadest sense, fornication includes any and all adultery. When used as a synonym for adultery, it includes the sin of all who are unscripturally divorced and remarried, or are married to someone who is unscripturally divorced.

The Greek word underlying the English word “fornication” is porneia, which is found 26 times in the Greek New Testament. Paul, in listing some of the evil works of the first century Graeco-Roman world includes “fornication,” porneia, in five such lists putting it first on the list each time (I Corinthians 5:11; 6:9; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5: 3; Col. 3:5). This undoubtedly emphasizes the type of sexually corrupt environment in which early Christians lived. The social, economic, political, and religious conditions of the first century were severely hostile towards Christianity. Each of these elements posed a great threat to the stability of local congregations, especially in the Corinthian culture. If these factors are properly understood, it becomes imminently apparent why Paul so violently assailed the “works of the flesh.”

Porneia is defined by Arndt-Gingrich's Lexicon Of The Greek New Testament (page 699) as “prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.” The New International Dictionary of the New Testament Theology states (page 497) that porneia means “unchastity, harlotry, prostitution, fornication.” Thayer's Lexicon (page 532) has the following regarding porneia, “properly of illicit sexual intercourse in general.” These quotations establish that porneia refers to the overt illicit sexual act.

In the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology a very significant analysis is made on page 497, by H. Reisser as he states, “The word group (porneuo, porne, pornos, and porneia) can describe various extramarital sexual modes of behavior insofar as they deviate from accepted social and religious norms (e.g. homosexuality, promiscuity, pedophilia, and especially prostitution).” Historical data leads one to conclude that porneia in its ancient setting also included the gruesome act of homosexuality. A discussion of porneia as it relates to homosexuality can be read in a book entitled Flesh and Spirit by William Barclay (pages 24-28). Barclay cites historical sources which substantiates the homosexual tendencies of such men as Socrates and Julius Caesar who were lovers “of boys” and Caesar being a lover of King Nicodemes, of Bithynia.

In the New Testament we find at least four different usages of the term porneia which are as follows: (1) Of unlawful voluntary intercourse of an unmarried person with anyone of the opposite sex (I Corinthians 7:2; I Thessalonians 4:3). In the two texts, Paul, by guidance of the Holy Spirit, advocates marriage to help prevent fornication. (2) Please note that in at least two passages, fornication (porneia) is used in a broader sense as a synonym for adultery (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). All adultery is porneia (fornication), but not all porneia (fornication) is adultery (moicheia). (3) In other texts porneia refers to all forms of unchastity in a general sense (Acts 15:20,29; 21:25; Romans 1:20; I Corinthians 6:13,18; Ephesians 5:3). (4) In other Scriptures, porneia refers to harlotry and prostitution (Revelation 2:14,20,21). The idea in these texts is the abandonment of the true worship of the true God, thus becoming harlot like. How porneia is used in a given text depends on the context. In any context or culture however, fornication is sinful and we must be reminded that fornicators, shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21).