Church Authority/Bible on Premarital Sex

[Sevillana12]

Hi Everyone!
I have a two-part question for you. I was talking to a friend the other day and he had arguments/questions that I could not really answer.

1. Where does the Church (or any religious/political institution) get the authority to tell us what to do with our bodies? More specifically concerning sex, which is something very intimate and the highest form of expressing our love for someone (in the context of a relationship).
2. Where in the Bible does it specifically address pre-marital sex? Adultery is obviously condemned, but it seems like pre-marital sex is just grouped under “fornication,” at least from what I’ve seen trying to find some answers. How does the Bible define “fornication?”

Help would be appreciated! Bible based or logic based arguments. I’ve read/studied these topics in the past so I personally have an general understanding and it makes sense to me, but I can’t verbalize it or explain it adequately.
Thank you!

 

[MidnightSun12]

First off, welcome to CAF!

1. Where does the Church (or any religious/political institution) get the authority to tell us what to do with our bodies? More specifically concerning sex, which is something very intimate and the highest form of expressing our love for someone (in the context of a relationship).

The Catholic Church recieved its authority to save souls from Christ Himself when He made St. Peter the first Pope.

The intentions of the Church are not to tell us what to do with our bodies, its intentions are to lay before us the path that we must follow to have the greatest chances of making it to heaven. The alternative to heaven is a place of eternal suffering that no rational person would choose to go, so when the Church promotes the creation of laws against sexual immorality they are being done out of love for the soul’s of those who have been decieved by Satan’s empty promises.

At the end of the day, there is no such thing as complete personal freedom. We are either serving God or we are serving the fallen angels. The difference between the two is that we were designed to serve God in every aspect of our existence and serving God is the only way that we can find lasting peace in this life and the next.

1. Where in the Bible does it specifically address pre-marital sex? Adultery is obviously condemned, but it seems like pre-marital sex is just grouped under “fornication,” at least from what I’ve seen trying to find some answers. How does the Bible define “fornication?”

I’m sure somebody else on this thread can provide some direct quotes from the bible on where it says pre-marital sex is wrong, but as a Catholic I wouldn’t get too wrapped up in answering the question of where exactly does it say the words that “X” or “Y” is wrong in the bible. It is a Protestant view to treat the bible as being the final authority on the word of God. As Catholics, we look to the teachings of the Church for clarity on such matters and church makes very clear that pre-marital sex is a grave matter then can send a person to hell if he/she does not repent:

As per Catechism of the Catholic church: source - scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

 

[lerapt78]

Welcome, Sevillana.

Here are a few verses that might help:

1 Corinthians 7:2
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Corinthians 6:12-20
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. "

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11).

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5)

1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (I Cor. 7).

And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17: If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins" (Ex. 22).

But as mentioned, please remember that Catholics do not subscribe to Sola Scriptura, therefore it is not required that every teaching be supplemented with a biblical verse.

 

[runningdude]

Hi Everyone!
I have a two-part question for you. I was talking to a friend the other day and he had arguments/questions that I could not really answer.

1. Where does the Church (or any religious/political institution) get the authority to tell us what to do with our bodies?

The Catholic Church alone has this authority because it was founded by God himself, to authentically interpret sacred tradition and scripture.

More specifically concerning sex, which is something very intimate and the highest form of expressing our love for someone (in the context of a relationship).

Jesus Christ, our Lord, made elevated marriage to a sacrament, and made it a sin to even look at another with lust. The Catholic Church, being founded by Jesus Christ, has concluded that Jesus intended sex to be an expression of love solely within a valid marriage.

1. Where in the Bible does it specifically address pre-marital sex? Adultery is obviously condemned, but it seems like pre-marital sex is just grouped under “fornication,” at least from what I’ve seen trying to find some answers. How does the Bible define “fornication?”

Fornication is defined as sexual immorality. The Catholic Church, as the authentic interpreter of scripture, has concluded that premarital sex is included within the definition of sexual immorality. It reached this conclusion both from scripture, and observing sexual activity outside of marriage often leads to fractured families and broken hearts. It has thus ruled that God made sex solely for married couples.

Also, Saint Paul in his letter, warns those who have difficulty refraining from sexual immorality to marry, so that they can have a moral and authentic means of sexual expression.

Help would be appreciated! Bible based or logic based arguments. I’ve read/studied these topics in the past so I personally have an general understanding and it makes sense to me, but I can’t verbalize it or explain it adequately.
Thank you!

 

[HelenRose]

Hi Everyone!
I have a two-part question for you. I was talking to a friend the other day and he had arguments/questions that I could not really answer.

1. Where does the Church (or any religious/political institution) get the authority to tell us what to do with our bodies? More specifically concerning sex, which is something very intimate and the highest form of expressing our love for someone (in the context of a relationship).
2. Where in the Bible does it specifically address pre-marital sex? Adultery is obviously condemned, but it seems like pre-marital sex is just grouped under “fornication,” at least from what I’ve seen trying to find some answers. How does the Bible define “fornication?”

Help would be appreciated! Bible based or logic based arguments. I’ve read/studied these topics in the past so I personally have an general understanding and it makes sense to me, but I can’t verbalize it or explain it adequately.
Thank you!

I might also ask where do you get the authority to tell a religion what it is or is not to teach.
The authority of the Catholic Church is Christ. If you can not accept that, I am sorry. But you have no authority to expect the Church to do teach anything except the truth especially when She knows that Her teachings are for your best interest not only here on Earth but in the here after.

 

[lerapt78]

^^^ The OP said that her friend is the one who was asking these questions. Did you mean by your response that these are questions the OP should be asking her friend? (Just to be clear so the OP doesn’t think it was directed at her)

 

[Todd_Easton]

Children come from sex. Children born to single mothers do not do as well as children born to married couples. If you want the best for your children, you will postpone sex until marriage.