Acts 15:20 in the KJV says to abstain from fornication. Since most Christians believe this only refers to?

Question

eating, otherwise called oral sex with someone you not married to, does this scripture make it okay for other forms of sex, like perhaps anal?

Due to recent articles about Canada's decision as regards the children of Jehovah's Witnesses, many have claimed that abstaining from blood only refers to eating blood, and nothing else. So does this also apply to fornication and idols?

Answer 1

FORNICATION

Illicit sex relations outside of Scriptural marriage. The Hebrew verb za·nah´ and its related forms convey the idea of harlotry, immoral intercourse, fornication, or prostitution. (Ge 38:24; Ex 34:16; Ho 1:2; Le 19:29) The Greek word translated “fornication” is por·nei´a. Regarding the meanings of por·nei´a, B. F. Westcott in his book Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (1906, p. 76) says: “This is a general term for all unlawful intercourse, (I) adultery: Hos. ii. 2, 4 (LXX.); Matt. v. 32; xix. 9; (2) unlawful marriage, I Cor. v. I; (3) fornication, the common sense as here [Eph 5:3].” Bauer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (revised by F. W. Gingrich and F. Danker, 1979, p. 693) defines por·nei´a as “prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.” Porneia is understood to involve the grossly immoral use of the genital organ(s) of at least one human; also there must have been two or more parties (including another consenting human or a beast), whether of the same sex or the opposite sex. (Jude 7) The unlawful act of a rapist is fornication, but, of course, that does not make the person who is forcibly raped also a fornicator.

Answer 2

Most Christians believe fornication refers only to oral sex? Where did you come up with that? I think it means sex, period. You can call me a prude (and you probably will) but it is not such bad advice to abstain from sex until you are married. Watch one of the court shows on tv, and see how many paternity cases are on there every day- the women don't know who the babies' fathers are, and the men don't want anything to do with them either way. All those precious little babies, and nobody wants them. Go talk to someone who is dying of AIDS, or hepatitis C, and ask them if they wish they had done things differently. Go sit outside an abortion clinic and see how many young girls come in and out of there every day. It is all just sad, and preventable, if people would control themselves for a season. Peace to you.

Answer 3

Again you need to enlarge your understanding of Christians. You have a very narrow view of Christians. "Most Christians" as you call them do not think fornication simply means oral sex. Where on earth did you come up with that assumption? Fornication means any sexual activity outside of marriage. When the command to abstain from blood was given it was in the context of food prohibitions. But the Old Testament does also mention not to have sex with a menstrual woman. I have no idea what you mean by "does it apply to idols." Idols in themselves are sin.

Answer 4

This questioner refers to "the Apostolic Decree".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Decree

This decree is the first official decision communicated to the various congregations by the twelve faithful apostles (and a handful of other "older men" which the apostles had chosen to add to the first century Christian governing body in Jerusalem). The decree helps demonstrate that the first century Christian congregation was highly organized, and that the holy spirit actively assists those "taking the lead" to make correct decisions.

Here is what the "Apostolic Decree" said, which few self-described Christians obey or even respect:

(Acts 15:20) Write them [the various Christian congregations] to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

(Acts 15:28-29) For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.


Quite explicitly, the Apostolic Decree quite plainly forbids the misuse of blood by Christians (despite the fact that nearly every other provision of former Jewish Mosaic Law was recognized as unnecessary). It seems odd therefore, that literally one Christian religion continues to teach that humans must not use blood for any purpose other than honoring Almighty God.

A better question would ask: How can other self-described Christian religions justify the fact that they don't even care if their adherents drink blood and eat blood products?


Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the repeated bible teaching that blood is specially "owned" by God, and must not be used for any human purpose. Witnesses do not have any superstitious aversion to testing or respectfully handling blood, and Witnesses do accept minor blood fractions.

Answer 5

Where do you come up with this twaddle ? Is that your definition of sexual immorality ? Covers ALL perverted acts of sexual immorality.Can't be sooooo bad ..if the world abstained from such acts , we wouldn't have the huuuuge problems brought about by HIV aids , transmissible std 's,etc etc.

Answer 6

Peace be with you.

Jesus said; "Ye have heard that by them of old time, thou shall not commit adultery"

BUT I say onto you , that whosoever looketh on a woman to LUST after her hath committed adultery with her in his heart.

To love one another is what God intended for us, but we introduced an oath. We swear to God that we will love honor and obey... until death. Jesus told us about making oaths., but still we do it.

Adultery comes from the oath we take in marriage, it is the same as the oath we took to God, and we break them. Jesus said to the adulteress your sins are forgiven go and sin no more. But how can you for give an oath taken to God, don't take it.

Fornication is the act of choosing God or one partner with an oath
and then forsaking that oath. What did JESUS, your God, say about fornication.

Answer 7

When it says to abstain from sexual immorality it means not to have sex before married, oral, anal etc

Answer 8

Judeo-Christian tradition has taught for thousands of years that it is God's will that:
+ Single people should be celibate.
+ Married people should be faithful to each other (adultery is wrong).

The Catholic Church recognizes the power of sex when it teaches, "Sexuality affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of his body and soul."

Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person. A chaste person's body and spirit lives in unity and opposes any behavior that would impair that unity.

The purpose of sex is to bring a husband and wife closer and to create human life.

Fornication, sex between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman, is contrary to their human dignity and the dignity of human sexuality.

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

I'm a catholic- looks like a group competing for best answer, not an individual, is that fair.