Articles
1Cor. 5 - Sexual Immorality
1Cor. 5 - Sexual Immorality
Paul wrote to the Corinthians that "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you,…) (1Cor. 5:1). The word 'immorality' translates the common greek work ‘porneia’. This basically refers to sexual activity outside of a legitimate marriage relationship. This in fact was a commonly accepted activity in the first-century Roman world. It was common enough for one to matter-of-factly write: "“Mistresses we keep for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the daily care of the body, but wives to bear us legitimate children,”* There were in fact many varieties of such ’sexual immorality’ that were morally acceptable in the ancient world AND have now become acceptable in our ‘modern’ world. It is neither modern nor moral! This was so prevalent then that it gets mentioned and warned against in almost every letter that Paul writes (cp. 1Cor. 5; 6:9-18; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:7). The apostles included this in the first letter written in Acts 15 (cp. Acts 15:20, 29). John includes a stern warning of the spiritual consequences that befall those who engage in such sexual immorality (Rev. 2:21; 21:8).
However, when God created man he created woman for the man and said: “for this cause let a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife… the TWO shall become ONE flesh. What God has joined together, LET not man put asunder’. Thus the writer of Hebrews stated that the sexual act within the proper marriage relationship was undefiled and was to be held in honor BUT that God would condemn those who are sexually immoral and adulterous (Heb. 13:4). Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Heb. 13:4).
Paul writes in 1 Cor. 7 that to AVOID sexual immorality (the same word as here in 1Cor. 5), each man is to have his own wife, and each wife her own husband. Paul adds that EACH should share with the other this intimate physical relationship. It is more than just the physical aspect however; it is the joining of one’s self to the other in a complete open and vulnerable situation. Such should be exclusive for one’s mate. It bonds the two together physically and emotionally.
Brethren, the biggest danger to marriage is simply the failure of people to hold this relationship in honor - to esteem it, to laud it, to praise and magnify it. We watch TV shows and movies and the only relationships that are lauded and magnified are those that are outside of a solid godly marriage. We read books and magazine articles that extol that which God condemns. People walk out of such marriage commitments with less concern than they give to breaking an apartment lease.
We cannot control what others do in their lives, but we CAN take responsibility for how we conduct ourselves in our marriages. Take your commitments very seriously for God does. Hold yourself accountable for God's will.
Hugh DeLong
* from New International Comm. on the NT on 1 Corinthians, ch. 5.
