• "porneia por-ni'ah from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication." (Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary)

• "porneia:
  1) illicit sexual intercourse
     a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
     b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
     c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mar 10:11,
  2) metaph. the worship of idols
     a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols" (The New Testament Greek Lexicon)

• "porneia...Fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates)

• "Fornication. Chastity was the exception instead of the rule among Gentiles at this period." (People's New Testament commentary, Acts 15:20)

• "Fornication, all uncleanness of every kind was prohibited; for πορνεια [porneia] not only means fornication, but adultery, incestuous mixtures, and especially the prostitution which was so common at the idol temples, viz. in Cyprus, at the worship of Venus; and the shocking disorders exhibited in the Bacchanalia, Lupercalia, and several others." (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, Acts 15:20)

• "and from fornication; not spiritual fornication or idolatry, but fornication taken in a literal sense, for the carnal copulation of one single person with another" (John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Acts 15:20)

• "Fornication - Hebrew: zanah / Greek: porneia
  Fornication is voluntary sexual intercourse between a man and woman who are not married to each other. Adultery is one type of fornication.
  In every form, fornication was sternly condemned by the Mosaic law among God's people, the Israelites (Lev. 21:9; 19:29; Deut. 22:20-11, 23-29; 23:18; Ex. 22:16). (See ADULTERY.)
  Fornication is also mentioned many times in the New Testament (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; John 8:41; Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor 5:1, 6:13, 18, 7:2; 10:8; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:3; Jude 1:7; Rev. 2:14, 20-21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2,4).
  "The Greek word for 'fornication' (porneia) could include any sexual sin committed after the betrothal contract...In Biblical usage, 'fornication' can mean any sexual congress outside monogamous marriage. It thus includes not only premarital sex, but also adultery, homosexual acts, incest, remarriage after un-Biblical divorce, and sexual acts with animals, all of which are explicitly forbidden in the law as given through Moses (Leviticus 20:10-21). Christ expanded the prohibition against adultery to include even sexual lusting (Matthew 5:28)." (Dr. Henry M. Morris)
  The word "fornication" is sometimes used in a symbolic sense in the Bible, for example, meaning a forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2; 2:1-5; Jer. 3:8-9)." (christiananswers.net )

"Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." (Acts 15:19-20 KJV)

"That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." (Acts 15:29 KJV)

"As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." (Acts 21:25 KJV)

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers" (Romans 1:28-29 KJV)

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." (1 Corinthians 5:1 KJV)

"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (1 Corinthians 5:9-13 KJV)

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." (1 Corinthians 6:9-13 KJV)

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 KJV)

"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn." (1 Corinthians 7:1-9 KJV)

"Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (1 Corinthians 10:8-11 KJV)

"And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." (2 Corinthians 12:21 KJV)

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Ephesians 5:3-5 KJV)

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5 KJV)

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thessalonians 4:3 KJV)

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV)

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." (Hebrews 12:15-16 KJV)

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4 KJV)

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7 KJV)

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." (Revelation 2:14 KJV)

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not." (Revelation 2:20-21 KJV)

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Revelation 9:20-21 KJV)

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Revelation 14:8 KJV)

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication" (Revelation 17:1-4 KJV)

"For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Revelation 18:3 KJV)

"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning" (Revelation 18:9 KJV)

"For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Revelation 19:2 KJV)

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 KJV)

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:14-15 KJV)

• If two adults are in an exclusive relationship together (as defined above) then consensual sex is not a sin, including any sexual activities that are not in the sinful category below.
  
  This means any two adults in an exclusive relationship together. Christians tend to assume that the Bible condemns everything about homosexuality, but the issue is not as simplistic as that (see my article called Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin).

• Another scenario involves a form of polyamory in which a married couple agrees that each spouse is allowed to have a romantic and/or sexual relationship with one other person, often because there are unmet emotional or physical needs in the marriage. For example, some married people are physically incapable of having sex due to a debilitating disease or injury. If a married person is in an exclusive type of relationship with another adult (which all parties know about and agree to), then consensual sex is not a sin and is not adultery, including any sexual activities that are not in the sinful category below. The same idea applies to a couple in an exclusive dating/romantic type of relationship if they agree to engage in this form of polyamory.

• Oral sex, and the use of sex toys, and touching or fondling, whether clothed or not, don't involve sexual intercourse and therefore they are not sex outside of marriage. They're not sinful between two unmarried consenting adults who are not in exclusive relationships, and they're not sinful in the relationships described above, unless those activities are in the sinful group below. But if you're not in an exclusive relationship with the other person then be careful here because these activities can easily cause you or the other person to lose self-control and fall into sin.

• Masturbation typically involves just one person, but it's a sexual scenario so I've included it here. It's not a sin (see my article called Masturbation Is Not a Sin), but we need to make sure that our masturbation isn't causing any negative impact or harm to us or to anyone else.

• Birth control is not sinful, but if you have concerns about a specific form of birth control then please ask the Lord for guidance (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance).

• Adultery is a sin in which one spouse in any form of marriage has any form of sexual activity with someone else, with the exception of the type of polyamory described above.

• Triads/throuples (three people together), quads (four people together), etc., are in an exclusive relationship with the group, but these and other forms of polyamory (other than described above) are not always acceptable to God. Please seek His guidance about your particular situation (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance).

• Prostitution, orgies, hookups, one-night-stands, "friends with benefits," "sex buddies," and so on are sinful because those scenarios are not intended to be exclusive relationships.

• Threesomes (bringing a third sexual partner into a monogamous marriage or an exclusive relationship) and open marriages (in which both spouses agree that they can have sex with other people) and other forms of consensual non-monogamy that haven't already been mentioned are sinful because there's no intention to have an exclusive relationship with those who are not in the existing relationship.

• Any form of anal penetration for pleasure or other sexual purposes, whether it involves body parts or anal sex toys or other objects, is a sin (see my article called Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin).

• Any form of sexual activity that's illegal is a sin, such as rape, molesting, sex with minors, incest, and so on.

"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?" (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)

"Now for the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say [lego] this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say [lego]: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command [paraggello] (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say [lego] this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him." (1 Corinthians 7:1-13)

"If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin - this man also does the right thing. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better." (1 Corinthians 7:36-38 NIV)

"But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better." (1 Corinthians 7:36-38 NKJV)

"and if any one doth think it to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin - let him marry. And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart - not having necessity - and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart - to keep his own virgin - doth well; so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better." (1 Corinthians 7:36-38 YLT)

"But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well. So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better." (1 Corinthians 7:36-38 ASV)

biblegateway.com

Interlinear Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 7

"But if any parent think he should otherwise act indecently - Unbecoming his character. Toward his virgin daughter, if she be above age, (or of full age,) and need so require, 1Co 7:9, let them marry - Her suitor and she." (John Wesley's Notes on the Bible, 1 Corinthians 7:36)

"Behaveth himself uncomely (ἀσχημονεῖν)
Acts unbecomingly, either by throwing temptation in the daughter's way by constraining her to remain unmarried, or by exposing her to the disgrace which was supposed to attach to the unmarried state. But Paul, in his preceding words, has regarded the latter consideration as set aside by the peculiar circumstances of the time.
His virgin (τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ)
Rev. properly inserts daughter. It is an unusual expression for daughter. Xenophon uses it with the word θυγάτηρ daughter ("Cyropaedia," iv., 6, 9), and Oedipus speaks of his two daughters as my maidens (Sophocles, "Oedipus Tyrannus," 1462)
Pass the flower of her age (ᾐ ὑπέρακμος)
Rev., correctly, be past. Beyond the bloom of life. Plato fixes the point at twenty years ("Republic," 460). Diogenes Laertius says: "An undowered maiden is a heavy burden to a father after she has outrun the flower of her age" ("Lycon," v., 65)
Let them marry
Evidently there was assumed to be another in the case beside the father and the virgin." (Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 7:36)

"Paul has discussed the problem of marriage for virgins on the grounds of expediency. Now he faces the question where the daughter wishes to marry and there is no serious objection to it. The father is advised to consent. Roman and Greek fathers had the control of the marriage of their daughters. "My marriage is my father's care; it is not for me to decide about that" (Hermione in Euripides' Andromache, 987)." (Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 7:36)

"But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin daughter. While giving a judgment in favor of the unmarried state, at that time, he gives full liberty. A man may give his daughter in marriage.
Behaveth uncomely. Improperly in withholding her from marriage.
If she pass the flower of her age. If she is fully matured.
If need so require. If circumstances of any kind seem to require her marriage.
He that standeth steadfast . . having no necessity. If no need makes marriage necessary, and the purpose that she remain unmarried continues steadfast, he does well to let her remain so. To choose either course is well, but the last is the better, where circumstances permit (1Co 7:38), on account of the "distress" (1Co 7:26)." (The People's New Testament commentary, 1 Corinthians 7:36-38)

"behaveth ... uncomely - is not treating his daughter well in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and thus debarring her from the lawful gratification of her natural feeling as a marriageable woman.
need so require - if the exigencies of the case require it; namely, regard to the feelings and welfare of his daughter. Opposed to "having no necessity" (1Co 7:37).
let them marry - the daughter and her suitor." (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, 1 Corinthians 7:36)

"That he behaveth himself uncomely - Acts an unbecoming part, imposes an unnecessary, painful, and improper constraint, crosses her inclinations which are in them selves proper.
Toward his virgin - His daughter, or his ward, or any unmarried female committed to his care.
If she pass the flower of her age - If she pass the marriageable age and remains unmarried. It is well known that in the east it was regarded as especially dishonorable to remain unmarried; and the authority of a father, therefore, might be the means of involving his daughter in shame and disgrace. When this would be the case, it would be wrong to prohibit her marriage." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible, 1 Corinthians 7:36)

"The bridegroom view [i.e., the NIV translation], however, faces a lexical difficulty in the meaning of two verbs (gameo and gamizo) for marriage. In order to sustain the bridegroom [NIV] view it is necessary to understand the terms as virtual synonyms, meaning "to marry." But gamizo usually means "give in marriage," and gameo means simply "marry," as these words do in the other New Testament passages where they occur together (Mat 24:38; Mar 12:25). This distinction in meaning continued to be recognized even in the second century. (Apollonius Dyscolus Syntax 3. 153). So it seems that the marginal reading is to be preferred [i.e., all of the other translations above].
Paul, then, gave advice to a father who in the first-century culture exercised great decision-making authority in matters affecting his family. A father may have decided that his daughter should not marry, possibly due to reasons similar to those Paul had mentioned in 1Co 7:25-34." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1 Corinthians 7:36-38, comments added in square brackets)

"Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."" (1 Corinthians 6:16)

• The New Testament never says that we must get married in a church, and there are no examples of any church weddings in the New Testament, and no one in the New Testament was ever chastised for not getting married in a church. Therefore, a church wedding has no bearing on whether or not two people are married in God's eyes.

• The New Testament never provides us with a specific wedding ceremony, and it never commands us to perform any wedding rituals, and it never tells us what we must say or do in a wedding ceremony, in order to be married in God's eyes.

• In the New Testament we see some Jewish wedding banquets (such as the wedding where Jesus turned the water into wine in John 2:1-10), but the New Testament never tells anyone to follow ancient Jewish marriage customs.

• Paul wrote to Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians around the known world and discussed marriage without specifying how it must be accomplished (e.g., 1 Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5:22-33). This indicates that God accepts the various marriage laws and customs in different countries because the New Testament tells us to obey the local laws (e.g., Romans 13:1-7).

""Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."" (Matthew 19:4-6)

"Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:22-24)

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry." (1 Corinthians 7:1)

"I [the apostle Paul] wish that all men were as I am [unmarried]. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am." (1 Corinthians 7:7-8)

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world - how he can please his wife - and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)

"A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord." (1 Corinthians 7:39)

1. Marriage in God's eyes is between male and female, a man and a woman. This is the only way to achieve the "one flesh" union spoken of in several places throughout the Bible. A man and a woman are able to unite together in the flesh by sexually consummating the relationship, two halves becoming one flesh, in a way that's impossible for two men or two women to do. However, this does not mean that homosexuality is a sin or that God forbids gays from having a legal marriage (see my article called Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin).

2. A man must have only one wife at a time, and a woman must have only one husband at a time. Even though King David and King Solomon had many wives as we saw, this doesn't mean it was proper for them to do so (e.g., Deuteronomy 17:17).

3. Marriage is meant to last for a lifetime because the man and woman become one flesh, and "what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Matthew 19:4-6, above). We'll look at divorce and remarriage later in this article.

4. Christians are free to marry whomever they want (following the other requirements listed here) as long as the other person is a Christian, and it doesn't matter if the man or the woman has been widowed before.

5. We must obey our local laws as in Romans 13:1-7, except where they would cause us to violate God's commands. Therefore, the man and woman must be legally married according to their local laws or customs, even if it's a Justice of the Peace marriage or a common law marriage (if they live in a place where common law marriage is legal).

6. The man and woman need to go off and form a new and separate household unit together, representing themselves as husband and wife (Genesis 2:24, above). For example, if they meet the other requirements (above), but they live with one of their parents for awhile, they need to find a way to be their own household unit with their own "house rules."

Oaths, Vows, Pledges, and Sovereignty

"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Matthew 5:31-32)

"Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."" (Matthew 19:3-9)

"Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."" (Mark 10:2-12)

"The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight. The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."" (Luke 16:14-18)

"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?" (1 Corinthians 7:8-16)

1. Neither has ever been married before. In this case, the fact that Alice and Bob are now married is not a sin.

2. Alice and Bob both became Christians after they got married. In this case, the fact that they are now married is not a sin because whatever they did as non-Christians (such as being divorced) was forgiven when they became Christians.

3. Alice and/or Bob was a Christian who was married to a Christian, and they got divorced. In this case, the fact that Alice and Bob are now married is a sin (based on the spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, above). They need to ask for forgiveness and then they are forgiven, but they do not need to get divorced because that would be a sin according to 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 (above).

4. Alice and/or Bob was a Christian who was married to a non-Christian, and they got divorced. This scenario has two possibilities:

   • The non-Christian spouse wanted a divorce. In this case, the fact that Alice and Bob are now married is a not sin (assuming that point #3 does not apply to them) based on the spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:15 (above).

   • The non-Christian spouse did not want a divorce. In this case, the fact that Alice and Bob are now married is a sin (based on the spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, above). Alice and Bob need to ask for forgiveness and then they are forgiven, but they do not need to get divorced because that would be a sin according to 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 (above).

5. Alice and/or Bob was previously widowed. This scenario has two possibilities that aren't covered in the other points:

   • When Alice and Bob got married, they were both Christians or they were both non-Christians. In this case, the fact that they are now married is not a sin (assuming that point #3 does not apply to them) based on the spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:39.

   • When Alice and Bob got married, whoever was widowed was a Christian and the other was a non-Christian. In this case, the fact that Alice and Bob are now married is a sin (based on the spirit of 1 Corinthians 7:39). The widowed Christian needs to ask for forgiveness and then he or she is forgiven, but they do not need to get divorced because that would be a sin according to 1 Corinthians 7:8-16 (above).

6. (In addition, if a Christian is married to a non-Christian, then the spirit of one of the above points will apply to the Christian spouse.)

Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible and in the Church

Questions and Problems about Divorce and Remarriage

• 07/06/2024 - Added an update in the Introduction section.

• 06/02/2024 - Modified the next-to-last paragraph in the Conclusion section.

• 03/15/2024 - Modified the section called "Examining the "Porneia" Passages." Modified the section called "Divorce and Remarriage." Added a paragraph in the Conclusion section.

• 03/11/2024 - Slightly modified the section called ""Porneia" Passages." Added a section called "Divorce and Remarriage."

• 01/16/2024 - Modified most of the bullet points in the group of sexual scenarios that are not sinful in the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" Modified some of the bullet points in the group of sexual scenarios that are sinful in the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" Slightly modified my comments on 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 in the section called "Examining the "Porneia" Passages."

• 10/12/2023 - Combined two updates from 2020 for clarity in the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" Added some links to my article called "Cheat Sheet."

• 03/26/2023 - Slightly modified the second bullet point in the group of sexual scenarios that are not sinful. Slightly modified my comments on 1 Corinthians 7:1-13 in the section called "Examining the "Porneia" Passages."

• 02/24/2023 - Modified the section called "What Does "Fornication" Mean?" Modified the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" Modified the section called "At What Point Are Two People Married in God's Eyes?"

• 10/11/2022 - Modified the section called "What Does "Fornication" Mean?" Modified the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" Modified the section called "Examining the "Porneia" Passages." Modified the Conclusion section.

• 09/15/2022 - Modified the Introduction section.

• 08/18/2022 - Modified the section called "What Does "Fornication" Mean?" Modified the section called ""Porneia" Passages."

• 07/23/2022 - Modified my closing statement.

• 06/12/2022 - Modified the first paragraph and added a link to my article called "Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin" in the section called "At What Point Are Two People Married in God's Eyes?"

• 03/24/2022 - Added a link to my article called "How to Discern God's Guidance" in the Introduction and Conclusion sections.

• 11/03/2021 - Made the font size a bit bigger and added a fish symbol as a favicon (which is displayed in the browser tab).

• 07/28/2021 - Added links to my new article called "Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin."

• 07/15/2021 - Updated the section called "When Is Sex a Sin?" to say that anal penetration for sexual purposes, whether it involves body parts or other objects, is a sin. Added a new section called "At What Point Are Two People Married in God's Eyes?"

• 02/21/2021 - Shortened my updates.

• 02/29/2020 - Added another update about the meaning of exclusive relationships.

• 02/22/2020 - Added an update about the meaning of exclusive relationships, although it still doesn't feel complete yet.

• 02/11/2020 - New article.