Biblical Answer

The Old Testament does not forbid premarital sex. In fact, the Bible assumes that people will have sex before marriage. The assumption is made in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis describes the marriage bond as being established when a man leaves his father and mother, cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). This implies that sex is a part of the marriage bond, but it does not condemn premarital sex. Similarly, in the New Testament, Paul assumes that people will have sex before marriage when he writes, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!" (1 Corinthians 6:15-16). Paul is not condemning premarital sex, but rather the idea of having sex with someone who is not a Christian.

The biblical evidence suggests that the Bible does not condemn premarital sex. In fact, the Bible teaches that sex is for married people, not because God is against sex, but because God is for you. God, who created sex, wants sex to be enjoyed within the context of a loving and committed relationship. The Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage is not the greatest sin, but rather a violation of God's wonderful purposes for sex. The Bible teaches that sex was never intended to be merely imaginary, but to be enacted within the context of marriage.

The assumption that the Bible condemns premarital sex is a misreading of Scripture. The Bible does not prohibit sex before marriage, but rather prohibits sex outside of marriage. The Bible teaches that sex is a part of the marriage bond, and that it is only within the context of marriage that sex can be truly enjoyed. The Bible teaches that sex is a gift from God, and that it should be enjoyed within the context of a loving and committed relationship. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether the Old Testament forbids premarital sex is no, the Old Testament does not forbid premarital sex. The biblical evidence suggests that the Bible teaches that sex is for married people, and that premarital sex is not necessarily sinful.