Biblical Answer

Does the Old Testament forbid premarital sex?

The Old Testament does not explicitly forbid premarital sex. However, it does provide guidance on the importance of marriage and the sanctity of sex within it. The Bible teaches that sex is a gift from God, intended for the married relationship. In the Old Testament, marriage is seen as a sacred institution, established by God Himself (Genesis 2:24). The biblical emphasis is on the importance of marriage and the covenant bond between husband and wife, rather than on the prohibition of premarital sex. In fact, the Old Testament assumes that sex will occur outside of marriage, and that it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children marry before engaging in sexual activity. This is evident in the book of Genesis, where Jacob is instructed by his father-in-law Laban to marry his daughter Leah before consummating their relationship (Genesis 29:21-30).

In the New Testament, the same assumption is made. The Bible teaches that marriage is a sacred institution, established by God (Matthew 19:4-6). The apostle Paul writes that a man should leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two should become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31). While the New Testament does condemn sexual immorality, including fornication (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), it does not explicitly prohibit premarital sex. Instead, the emphasis is on the importance of marriage and the covenant bond between husband and wife. The biblical teaching on sex is clear: sex is a gift from God, intended for the married relationship. Premarital sex is not explicitly forbidden, but it is seen as a violation of God's wonderful purposes for sex.

In conclusion, the Old Testament does not explicitly forbid premarital sex. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of marriage and the sanctity of sex within it. The New Testament continues this emphasis, teaching that marriage is a sacred institution, established by God. While the Bible does condemn sexual immorality, including fornication, it does not explicitly prohibit premarital sex. The emphasis is on the importance of marriage and the covenant bond between husband and wife, rather than on the prohibition of premarital sex. Therefore, while premarital sex may be seen as a violation of God's wonderful purposes for sex, it is not explicitly forbidden in the Bible. I

t is a violation of God's wonderful purposes for sex. The biblical teaching on sex is clear: sex is a gift from God, intended for the married relationship. Premarital sex is not explicitly forbidden, but it is seen as a violation of God's wonderful purposes for sex.