Biblical Answer

The Old Testament contains several laws that relate to sex, but they do not explicitly prohibit premarital sex. In fact, the Bible assumes that sex will occur before marriage. In 1 Corinthians 7:36-38, Paul addresses a situation where a man is engaged to be married, but his fiancée is not yet free. Paul advises the man to wait until his fiancée is free, but he does not condemn the fact that the man is already having sexual thoughts about her. This suggests that the Bible does not view premarital sex as inherently sinful.

However, the Bible does emphasize the importance of marriage and the sanctity of the marriage bond. In Genesis 2:24, it is written, "A man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." This verse suggests that sex is meant to be a part of the marriage relationship, and that it is a way of expressing the unity and commitment of the husband and wife. In this sense, the Bible can be seen as prohibiting sex outside of marriage, not because it is inherently sinful, but because it is not within the context of the marriage relationship.

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles build on the Old Testament laws and emphasize the importance of marriage and the sanctity of the marriage bond. Jesus teaches that adultery is a sin, not just because it involves sex outside of marriage, but because it involves a violation of the marriage relationship (Matthew 5:27-28). The apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of marriage and the sanctity of the marriage bond, and he teaches that sex outside of marriage is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). However, he does not condemn premarital sex as such, but rather emphasizes the importance of waiting until marriage to express one's sexuality. This suggests that the Bible is not necessarily prohibiting premarital sex, but rather emphasizing the importance of waiting until marriage to express one's sexuality in a way that is consistent with the marriage relationship.