What is the Biblical definition of adultery?

Question

Many people think they are not in adultryeven though they have had a divorce, but some people believe that as long as the first spouse is alive, then if divorce and you marry another , you are in adultry.Churches that teach against adultry have different definitions of adultery and how can one know who is right?This makes a difference, because it can help to mark a true church from a false one.

Answer 1

ADULTERY

As used in the Bible, adultery generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite sex other than one’s mate, or, during the time that the Mosaic Law was in effect, such intercourse by any man with a married or a betrothed woman. The Hebrew root meaning “commit adultery” is na·´aph´, while its Greek counterpart is moi·kheu´o.—Eze 16:32, ftn; Mt 5:32, ftn.

Certain primitive societies allow free relations within the same tribe, but promiscuity outside tribal bounds is considered adultery. On the history of adultery, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend (1949, Vol. 1, p. 15) says: “It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times.” Monuments attest to its prevalence in ancient Egypt; Potiphar’s wife, who proposed that Joseph have relations with her, was such an Egyptian. (Ge 39:7, 10) Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but penalties are seldom imposed.

Jehovah’s law separated Israel and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher level than that of the surrounding nations. The seventh commandment of the Decalogue stated in direct, unmistakable language: “You must not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14; De 5:18; Lu 18:20) Adulterous invasion of another man’s domain was prohibited, as were other forms of sexual misconduct.

Under the Law of Moses the penalty for adultery was severe—death for both guilty parties: “In case a man is found lying down with a woman owned by an owner, both of them must then die together.” This applied even to a betrothed woman, it being considered that she had committed adultery if she had relations with a man other than the one to whom she was duly engaged. (De 22:22-24) If suspected of adultery, a wife had to stand trial.—Nu 5:11-31.

Christians, though not under Mosaic Law, must also refrain from adultery. “For the law code, ‘You must not commit adultery,’ . . . is summed up in this word, namely, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” There can be no hypocrisy in this matter. (Ro 13:9; 2:22) In teaching Bible principles, Jesus raised the moral standard still higher for Christians. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Such men are among those who “have eyes full of adultery.”—Mt 5:27, 28; 2Pe 2:14.

Jesus also pointed out that if a divorce was obtained by either husband or wife, except on the ground of fornication (Gr., por·nei´a), the remarriage of either one would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced woman as his wife would be guilty of adultery.—Mt 5:32; 19:9; Mr 10:11, 12; Lu 16:18; Ro 7:2, 3.

Adultery is “actually sin against God.” (Ge 39:9) Jehovah will judge those guilty of adultery, and none who persist in such a course “will inherit God’s kingdom.” (Mal 3:5; 1Co 6:9, 10; Heb 13:4) How true the proverb: “Anyone committing adultery with a woman is in want of heart; he that does it is bringing his own soul to ruin.”—Pr 6:32-35.

How could one become guilty of spiritual adultery?

In a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to Jehovah on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural Israel in the Law covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and disregard for the seventh commandment. (Jer 3:8, 9; 5:7, 8; 9:2; 13:27; 23:10; Ho 7:4) For similar reasons Jesus denounced as adulterous the generation of Jews in his day. (Mt 12:39; Mr 8:38) Likewise today, if Christians who are dedicated to Jehovah and who are in the new covenant defile themselves with the present system of things, they commit spiritual adultery.—Jas 4:4.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Adultry is when you are married and do it with another woman It's one of the commandments also should add that Jesus said if you look at a woman to lust for her, you have committed adultry in your heart. you can check out an online bible where you can search for things that you want to know maybe I should add one more thing, that doesn't mean you can do it with another guy and it's not adultry, I would say it still is and also that would be another great sin.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I think the biblical definition is just THINKING about it is a sin.

Answer 6

Adultery is sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse. In biblical times a divorce was simply a matter of the man telling the priest he wanted out of his marriage. Like today they could get it for any number of silly reasons. This is why Jesus said that even though you were divorced it was still adultery. What He meant was that divorcing your spouse for petty reasons wasn't recognized in the eyes of God as a valid divorce. If divorce is really easy then marriage itself means nothing. My religion teaches that abuse and infidelity are acceptable reasons for divorce.

Answer 7

i think the biblical answer is engaging in a sexual relationship with anyone other than your first spouse. sad but true since i'm on my second marriage

Answer 8

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Answer 9

In the Laws of Moses, if you were with someone who was married or divorced, you were in adultery. Jesus fulfilled that law. You can be married to someone legally but not according to God's will for your life. If you divorce, you are allowed to marry the person God has for you. Hard to tell. The apostles time and time again told the new Christians that they were saved by the Grace of God and then fell back into the sin of the Law, meaning the Laws of Moses which included the 10 commandments. In Timothy, it says that the law was not made for the righteous. The Israelites were NOT obeying God so he gave them a set of laws starting with the 10 knowing they could not follow them, the idea was to turn their hearts back to obedience. The entire mosaic law has about 600 laws in it. So, if they get you saved and then tell you to live by the 10, according to the new testament, they are teaching "another Christ, which is not another" which means they are teaching false doctrine. Hope this helps. We are to live as Jesus taught the apostles and what those apostles taught.

Answer 10

you can justify anything using the bible.

this is why there are so many different denominations of christianity. they each have their definitions of sin.

Answer 11

Doing your neighbor's wife when you're still married. That would be two counts.