No sex outside marriage

Some people claim that the Bible allows sexual
intercourse only within a male-female marriage.

Reasons why the view of “no sex outside male-
female marriage” can be ignored

  • The Bible presents male-female marriage as
    the usual pattern and implies that this is the
    best place for sex.  But the Bible does not
    prohibit or criticize  all sex outside male-female
    marriage.  The Bible simply says that certain
    kinds of sexual intercourse (incest, adultery,
    bestiality, prostitution and male-male sex) are
    wrong *.  These are forms of fornication (illicit
    sexual intercourse).

  • The Creation story explains why men and
    women get married and have sex (Genesis 1:
    28 and 2:24).  The story does not state or imply
    that all sex must be between males and
    females, or that all sex outside male-female
    marriage is wrong.

  • In Jesus’ comments on divorce in Matthew 19:
    4-6, he quoted the Creation story simply to
    show that male-female marriage should be
    permanent.  He did not state or imply that
    sexual intercourse should be restricted to male-
    female marriage only.

  • Note that the Bible does not prohibit sex
    between an unmarried man and an unmarried
    woman except where incest is involved.

    * Bible references are:
    Incest  Leviticus 18:6-18; 20:11-12, 14, 17, 19-21
    Adultery  Exodus 20:14  Leviticus 18:20; 20:10
    Bestiality  Leviticus 18:23; 20:15-16
    Prostitution  1 Corinthians 6:15-16
    Male-male sex  Leviticus 18: 22; 20:13   Romans 1:
    26-27  1 Corinthians 6:9  1 Timothy 1:10