Sexual Immorality

Sexual Immorality (Gk. porneia) denotes a series of sexual behaviors that were largely tolerated in the Greco-Roman World while Hellenistic Jews and Christians labeled as unacceptable not only for Jews but also for God-fearers and baptized Gentiles.

Overview

The Torah of Moses imposes very strict rules in terms of sexual conduct. While Gentile were not expected to follow the same rules, both Hellenistic Jews and Christians expected God-fearers and baptized Gentile were required to abstain from sexual impurity. According to the Acts of Apostles, this was made explicit in the so-called Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:20.29; 21:25) with the consent of all components of the early Church.

See also Romans 1:29 Rec.; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:13, 18; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Revelation 9:21; it is distinguished from μοιχεία in Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; and Galatians 5:19 Rec.; used of adultery ((cf. Hosea 2:2 (4), etc.)), Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9.

Adultery

Adultery was always condemned without exceptions in case of women. Sexual relationships of a married man with (female and boys) slaves and prostitutes were considered acceptable and amply justified, unless the husband would neglect his marital duties or disgrace publicly his wife. More questionable was the relationship of a married man with another free woman, especially of an equal rank as his own wife, since it was a threat to the unity of the family and the stability of the marriage.

Prostitution

Prostitution in ancient Rome was legal, public, and widespread. Restricted to the enjoyment of free males only, it involved the exploitation of both women (of every age) and boys.

There was no stigma attached to men even of the highest social status engaged in prostitution or purchasing women or boys for sexual exploitation, as long as it was done with moderation, discretion and no neglect of family responsibilities. A free male was expected to have a wife and children and be a good husband and a caring father; any public extravaganza which would disgrace the honor of the family, was sharply condemned.

On the other hand, the condition of prostitutes was considered shameful. Prostitutes were generally slaves or former slaves; abandoned children were often raised and sold as prostitutes. They served their own masters or worked in brothels under terrible conditions of exploitation; only a few professional prostitutes who cultivated elite patrons, had the possibility to emerge to a better life and acquire some wealth.

While prostitutes were despised, prostitution was considered not only a legal and legitimate activity but was also praised for its religious value. Ancient mythologies described married gods engaged in occasional sexual intercourses with women and boys. Sex played a central role in fertility rites and public festivals especially at the beginning of spring. In Rome female prostitution and boy prostitution were celebrated on Apr 23 and Apr 25, respectively, with processions and temple sacrifices.

It was the association with idolatry in particular that made prostitution a suspected activity in the eyes of Hellenistic Jews and Christians, who refused to take part in this rituals.

It must be remembered however that when Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire sexual exploitation of slaves and prostitution of women and boys was not forbidden. The only concern was to severe the ties with pagan cult and idolatry.

Incest

Roman civil law prohibited marriages between relatives. However, in some parts of the Roman Empire, especially in Egypt sibling marriages were widespread among all classes during the Graeco-Roman period. The fascination of this "Eastern" practice also affected some Roman aristocratic families.

Hellenistic Jews and Christian maintained a firm opposition against this practice.

Pederasty

Prostitution with boy slaves was considered completely acceptable for a male citizen of any age and social condition, while it was a shameful stigma for the slaves forced in such a practice, and even more so in case of free adolescents who would sell their body for sex. The condition of boy slaves was particularly pitiful; they were often abandoned children raised by unscrupulous merchants. As slaves and minors they had no rights, being considered mere properties; they could be even castrated to stop their puberty, prolong their youthful appearance and increase the pleasure or the profit of their owners.

However, in Greece pederasty was widely accepted as part of a free male's coming-of-age. In this case the pais (boy, generally a teenager) was regarded as a future citizen, not an inferior object of sexual gratification, as in the case of slaves, and was treated with the highest respect by his mate and portrayed with honor in art and poetry. Pederasty was understood as educative, as the teenager received mentorship and support by a respected adult. Teens usually had to be courted and were free to choose, meet and leave their mate; they often did it with the open consent of the parents. These connections were in fact an advantage for both the youth and his family, as the relationship with an influential older man resulted in an expanded social network. Typically, after their sexual relationship had ended and the young man had married, the older man and his protégé would remain on close terms of friendship throughout their entire life.

Hellenistic Jews and Christians strongly opposed this practice.

In the Letter to the Romans, Paul issued a strong condemnation against those "men, who having left the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." (Rom 1:26-27). These men are included among "the unrighteous [who] shall not inherit the kingdom of God" in the Letter to the Corinthians (6:9-11).

Sources

Acts (15:20): I [James] have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. -- (15:28-29) 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. -- (21:25) But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 -- For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality:

1 Corinthians (5:1-2) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you? -- (6:9-10) Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. -- (6:13) The body is meant not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. -- (6:18-19) 18 Shun sexual immorality! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? -- 2 Corinthians (12:21):

Galatians (5:19)

Romans (1:26-27) -- For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

Ephesians 5:3 -- But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints;

Colossians (3:5)

Mark 7:21

Matthew 5:32 -- 15:19 -- 19:19

Revelation (2:21) -- (9:21) -- 14:8 -- 17:2 -- 18:3 -- 19:2