Bobzammel

One of the big numero uno sins in the New Testament is Fornication--sex outside of marriage. While Adultery, Incest, and Beastiality were sins, and prostitution was discouraged, it seems like there's no real commendation against people having sex before marriage. In fact, it even seems encouraged, as long as it does not violate the three no-nos above.

Any thoughts?

beyelzu

isrealites,

They were a small tribe and needed to reproduce, plus they were like god's chosen people so no need for the sacrament of marriage. Later as Christianity spread the required marriage could be a testament to an unbeliever converting and then having the sacrament of marriage.

so marraige post nt, keeps the faith pure.

Rousseau_CHN

how accurate is that? from memory, wasn't there a story in the bible about two women who intoxicated then slept with their father?

just asking because I once read in Newsweek an article about a Catholic who was worried about her incestous affair. She sought the Bible for answers; instead of finding verses that condemn incest, to her surpirse, the Bible even encourages it.

Marduk

"how accurate is that? from memory, wasn't there a story in the bible about two women who intoxicated then slept with their father?


Lot's daughters, after the Sodom & Gommorah business. They thought they were the only people left on Earth and this was the only way to start over.

trientalis

Leviticus 8: 6 None of you shall approach any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness [have sexual relations]: I am the Lord.
The following verses (7-20) spell out various forbidden relationships including between child and parent, child and half sister, child and aunt or uncle, and so forth. It also forbids having relations with a mother and her daughter, two sisters, one's neighbor's wife, etc. Relations between brothers are covered under the blanket prohibition "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination." (Lev. 8: 22); bestiality is forbidden for both sexes in verse 23.
If someone claims that there is scriptural justification for incest, it doesn't exist in Leviticus, that's for sure.

spurly

Sex outside of the boundary of marriage was also condemened in the OT. Sex inside of marriage was held up as ideal.

Check out the story of Jacob laboring 7 years for his wife. She was not given to him until they were married.

Off hand I can't remember where they are, but there were also many texts about the proof of someone's virginity.

In addition it seems to me that God got really angry whenever his people participated in the sexual orgies associated with all the fertility gods in the land of Canaan.

I'm sure I could think of more, but the time escapes me right now.

Kevin

Godless Dave

In the parts I read, premarital sex with another Israelite was OK as long as you married her afterwards (this involved a payment to her father). But rape of foreign women as part of war was condoned and even encouraged in some instances. You can also have sex with female non-Israelite slaves but I think you're supposed to marry them too.

Monogamy was definitely not stressed in the OT. Jacob had two wives, Solomon had several plus a lot of concubines, and Leviticus and Exodus have specific rules for how to handle concubines, usually women captured in war.

The virginity proofs only address female virginity; there doesn't seem to have been much value attached to male virginity.

Boro Nut

Adam and Eve weren't married but they were at it like rabbits when they weren't hoggy raiding.

Boro Nut