“Etymological Enlightenment”

Friday, August 12, 2016

I have often wondered: is sex before marriage adultery?

Sincerely,
Term Specific

Dear Term Specific,

Sex before marriage is fornication, but it isn’t adultery.  Adultery is the act of polluting a marriage (Heb 13:4).  All adultery is fornication, but not all fornication is adultery.  It is possible to be sexually immoral (‘fornication’ means ‘sexual immorality’) without being married, but it is impossible to commit adultery without having a spouse.

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