- Sep 24, 2018
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What is the answer given if we ask what is sexual immorality, we usually get the response that it is what God says it is. It is following God's commands about sexual conduct. This is usually tied to the perfection of the created order, a view such as held in complementarianism. Many modern translations have gone to this phrase, "sexually immoral".
"God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'” (Gen 1:28, NRSV)
"Let us then mark whom God here addresses when he commands them to increase, and to whom he limits his benediction. Certainly he does not give the reins to human passions, but, beginning at holy and chaste marriage, he proceeds to speak of the production of offspring." John Calvin
"He pronounced his blessing upon them: he gave them the earth as their possession, and commanded them to multiply and replenish it with inhabitants. Children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord." Thomas Coke Commentary 1801-1803
"If this is not an express command, as the Jews understand it, for marriage and procreation of children, it seems to be more than a bare permission; at least it is a direction and an advice to what was proper and convenient for the increase of mankind, and for the filling of the earth with inhabitants, which was the end of its being made, Isaiah 45:18. This shows that marriage is an ordinance of God, instituted in paradise, and is honourable; and that procreation is a natural action, and might have been, and may be performed without sin" John Gill
Therefore, as John Gill seems to say, if it is not procreation it must be sin.
" tn As in v. 22 the verb 'bless' here means 'to endow with the capacity to reproduce and be fruitful,' as the following context indicates. As in v. 22, the statement directly precedes the command 'be fruitful and multiply.'” NET Bible
So, is that a command or just a mere suggestion? What about those other words used in our day in connection with sexual activity?
The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary
"sodomy n. ME[1150-1349]. [med.L sodomia, f. eccl.L peccatum Sodommiticum sin of Sodom... Any form of sexual intercourse with a person of the same or opposite sex, except copulation; spec. anal intercourse. Also, inappropriate behavior with animals."
"copulation...2 The physical union of male and female (esp. animals) by means of their genitals, as in the act of procreation; sexual intercourse."
It seems that in this day, many Christians are sexually immoral people, sodomites in fact. This is where you end up with such a loose translation as "sexually immoral" instead of "fornication". It is quite clear that many Christians in this day do not restrict their sexual acts to the definition of "copulation", as in the act of procreation to be in compliance with Gen. 1:28. Maybe it has come down to the following, in the words of Jesus:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye, with never a thought for the plank in your own?" (Matt 7:3, REB)
"God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'” (Gen 1:28, NRSV)
"Let us then mark whom God here addresses when he commands them to increase, and to whom he limits his benediction. Certainly he does not give the reins to human passions, but, beginning at holy and chaste marriage, he proceeds to speak of the production of offspring." John Calvin
"He pronounced his blessing upon them: he gave them the earth as their possession, and commanded them to multiply and replenish it with inhabitants. Children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord." Thomas Coke Commentary 1801-1803
"If this is not an express command, as the Jews understand it, for marriage and procreation of children, it seems to be more than a bare permission; at least it is a direction and an advice to what was proper and convenient for the increase of mankind, and for the filling of the earth with inhabitants, which was the end of its being made, Isaiah 45:18. This shows that marriage is an ordinance of God, instituted in paradise, and is honourable; and that procreation is a natural action, and might have been, and may be performed without sin" John Gill
Therefore, as John Gill seems to say, if it is not procreation it must be sin.
" tn As in v. 22 the verb 'bless' here means 'to endow with the capacity to reproduce and be fruitful,' as the following context indicates. As in v. 22, the statement directly precedes the command 'be fruitful and multiply.'” NET Bible
So, is that a command or just a mere suggestion? What about those other words used in our day in connection with sexual activity?
The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary
"sodomy n. ME[1150-1349]. [med.L sodomia, f. eccl.L peccatum Sodommiticum sin of Sodom... Any form of sexual intercourse with a person of the same or opposite sex, except copulation; spec. anal intercourse. Also, inappropriate behavior with animals."
"copulation...2 The physical union of male and female (esp. animals) by means of their genitals, as in the act of procreation; sexual intercourse."
It seems that in this day, many Christians are sexually immoral people, sodomites in fact. This is where you end up with such a loose translation as "sexually immoral" instead of "fornication". It is quite clear that many Christians in this day do not restrict their sexual acts to the definition of "copulation", as in the act of procreation to be in compliance with Gen. 1:28. Maybe it has come down to the following, in the words of Jesus:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye, with never a thought for the plank in your own?" (Matt 7:3, REB)
