FORNICATION --- ADULTERY COMPARISON ^©

Regarding impure sexual relationships, the occurrence of rape is not to be considered within the context of the other sexual relationships listed above.   Deut 22:25,28 give examples of rape and the ensuing consequences.  It can be seen from those examples, and specifically the context of Deut 22, that the victim of the rape was dealt with in an unusual manner (not consistent with the consequences of the impure sexual relationships listed).  Rape is never called fornication, homosexuality, etc., and therefore must be considered an exception among other impure sexual relationships, since the victim is never a voluntary or willful participant.  The following is a graphic illustration of the potential avenues through which physical fornication and adultery and metaphorical (spiritual) fornication and adultery may occur.  There are avenues common to both physical fornication and adultery as well as metaphorical (spiritual) fornication and adultery.

Sexual intercourse is the one element common to both physical and metaphorical fornication and adultery.

Physical Fornication ( unlawful male/female sexual relations )

Woman/Girl/Girlfriend Father/Mother/Sibling Aunt/Uncle/Niece/Nephew Man/Boy/Boyfriend

Physical Adultery ( =marital sexual unfaithfulness )

Woman/Girl/Girlfriend Father/Mother/Sibling Aunt/Uncle/Niece/Nephew Man/Boy/Boyfriend

Metaphorical / Spiritual Fornication ( idol worship )

Sexual Relationships ( as listed above ) Material Goods / Money Statues / Icons Human Sacrifice Demon worship Enchantment with Drugs

Metaphorical / Spiritual       Adultery ( =spiritual unfaithfulness )

Sexual Relationships ( as listed above ) Material Goods / Money Statues / Icons Human Sacrifice Demon worship Enchantment with Drugs

Sexual relationships are important to GOD.  They can lead to corrupt physical and spiritual ends (consequences).  The libido, a powerful element within human nature, was designed to be, and continues to be a blessing, when used in its proper context.

Israel's physical activities (e.g., alliances with other nations) led to her spiritual degradation and resulting corruption.   This principle also applies to our spiritual well-being and is affected by what we do in our physical lives (e.g., prayer, studying scripture, and helping others). We must examine purity further to understand fornication and its relationship to impurity.  GOD is pure (Ps 19:8) and we are instructed to be pure (I Tim 5:22).

To be pure means to be free from contamination (such as the element of silver as it is purified by a furnace, separating it from any alloys).  The dictionary's definition of purity has not changed, to a large degree, from the original biblical meaning of the word.  This is demonstrated in relationship to the Word of GOD (Ps 12:6) and also Judah and Jerusalem (Isa 1:21-26), for example.  The Mosaic law provides many examples regarding purity.  In Lev 16:4,24,26,28, we read of one element of procedural purification for the priests so that they could be holy and clean.

There are four categories of women addressed that the priests were not to marry; whore (harlot), profane (one defiled or made unholy, i.e., a victim of rape or the outcome of Ex 22:16,17), divorced woman, or a widow.  The reason for not marrying one of those women is given in vss 7b ( . . . for he is holy unto his God) and 15b ( . . . for I the LORD do sanctify him).   In marrying a woman who was not a virgin, he  would profane himself (make himself impure) and his offspring.

In all categories, the woman is rendered unclean by the fracture of her purity.  Only a virgin is considered clean and therefore pure for the priests to marry and procreate.  A woman maintains her purity from conception (birth) until her first sexual intercourse.  Scripture speaks of honor among women because of their virginity (Gen 24:16; Deut 22:13-21).   In Leviticus, a woman is rendered profane or unclean by way of sexual intercourse.  One's sexual purity only remains intact insofar as the person remains a virgin.

Fornication connotes a lack of a commitment to purity.  When used physically, it implies sexual impurity.  However, when used metaphorically, it reveals the contamination of one's spiritual relationship with GOD.

Adultery acknowledges an existing marriage (connotes a vow of faithfulness) and a breach of the marital commitment (a broken vow of faithfulness, i.e., unfaithfulness).  When used physically, it indicates sexual unfaithfulness.  When used metaphorically, it indicates spiritual unfaithfulness by way of disobedience to the covenant established with GOD.

Impure Sexual Relationships

Sexual Relationships

Fornication Homosexuality Bestiality Adultery Rape†

In the Pauline Epistles, spiritual fornication and adultery are not used, but idolatry is.

GOD had a unique relationship with Israel and as such, the physical was used to illustrate what was happening spiritually.		The OT is for our learning.  We understand the spiritual fornication and adultery in the context of idolatry.
	NOW all is idolatry.  It does not matter whether it is spiritual fornication or spiritual adultery **