FORNICATION - WORD STUDY

Society has long accepted the definition of "fornication" as, "illicit" sexual intercourse. Illicit presumably referring to, "out of wedlock". However, we seem to have come to a point (not recently) where society now has done away with the term "illicit" and replaced it with "consenting." The Encarta ® World English Dictionary now defines fornication as, "consenting sex involving somebody unmarried: sexual intercourse between two consenting adults, who are not married to each other." It expands on the meaning in reference to the Bible to include, "sexual behavior considered immoral: in the Bible, sexual intercourse between a man and woman who are not married, or any form of sexual behavior considered to be immoral."


This has further evolved into "acceptable" behavior because "consenting" validates it as appropriate "adult" activity. But wait… it does not end there. This "appropriate adult behavior" is so "wonderful" and so "accepted" that when children do it, it is now looked upon as a "rite of passage"… never mind the age. I personally know (within the extended family) of a couple, husband and wife, who are so progressive and "hip" that they did everything but "turn down the sheets" for their 16 year old daughter with her first boyfriend (and I do mean "boy"). They actually "coached" and (to their credit? what??) gave "parental advice". Oh Lord… how long, oh Lord.

Now… I do not want to talk about the "world's" view of fornication any more. You go do your own ugly research. I want to talk about OUR understanding of fornication.

Fornication is from the Greek, Porneia, por-ni'-ah… it is a feminine noun (interesting) meaning…
"illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. sexual intercourse with close relatives (Lev. 18); sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman (Mk. 10:11);  metaphorically, the worship of idols, of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols."
Additionally… (word origin from) Porneuo:
"to prostitute one's body to the lust of another, to give one's self to unlawful sexual intercourse, to commit fornication; metaphorically, to be given to idolatry, to worship idols, to permit one's self to be drawn away by another into idolatry."
Furthermore… (word origin from)  Porne:
"a woman who sells her body for sexual uses, a prostitute, a harlot, one who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain, any woman indulging in unlawful sexual intercourse whether for gain or for lust; metaphorically, an idolatress of "Babylon" i.e. Rome, the chief seat of idolatry."
But wait… it's not just about "a woman"… (word origin from) Pornos, masculine noun:
"a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire, a male prostitute, a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator."

Can anyone read all that and conclude that fornication is merely sexual intercourse outside of marriage? We have here many "werds" which define the physical behaviors, and we should note that they include homosexuality, bestiality, adultery, incest, prostitution, debauchery, etc. So, in the broader sense, fornication (in the flesh) means "sexual immorality". In Jude 1:7 it means, sexual immorality, but the implication is as an "excessive indulgence" describing Sodom and Gomorrah. The reason why the world no longer views fornication as a sin, is because they have compromised and diluted its meaning to, "it is just sexual intercourse. How can that be a sin?" (they say).

We should also note that these Greek words give us the word "pornography" today. Both of these (fornication and pornography) are more "categories" than they are "events." Pornography, for example, is not just "adult" videos. To me, this photo is pornographic… in a spiritual sense, and believe me…I hesitated to post it, but there is a lesson here.

I would like for us to focus on the word "metaphorically" in the definitions. The metaphors and symbolisms are necessary… very necessary to our carnal minds because the Word is speaking to us of spiritual things. God, our Father, is trying to teach us of spiritual things, which is where He wants us to realize our existence, but corporately we seem to be lacking. He cannot show us "spiritual" fornication, because it does not tangibly exist, it has no physical form. It exists spiritually in the heart and soul, and in a sense, we cannot relate to it… we cannot identify it with our human senses. This is somewhat lengthy to use as a reference "verse", but it is important to UNDERSTAND. Please read it over, and dissect it verse by verse, word by word.

"We speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" 1 Cor. 2:6-15. 

In addition to the message of the text, d o   w e   u n d e r s t a n d   t h e   p r o n o u n s? I know some are saying, "what relevance does this have to fornication?" Probably none. But it has relevance to the "understanding" of spiritual. I wish I could get the feedback of how everyone interprets, (understands) this 1 Cor. passage. I would like to learn more myself from anyone who has "plumbed" the depths I have not yet. I am not going to say why I posted this passage. Why not? Because I want each one to study it and learn what God reveals to YOU.

God's relationship to the nation of Israel is often symbolized (metaphorically) as a marriage… clearly in Hosea 2. That "union" has "produced" a Savior Who is taking to Himself a Bride, Jn. 3:29; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7. Israel went (spiritually) a-whoring (as they say)… she was (spiritually) adulterous. The "virgin" Bride (church) too, commits (spiritual) fornication. But there is a huge difference. Israel is not "divorced", but she is "estranged." Israel will be "restored". But Christ will take only the pure "virgin." To the rest He will say, "I never knew you." So, "metaphorically" is NOT to be dismissed as "not real". There is a great depth of meaning here to the "metaphors."