In biblical terms, a fornicator is an individual who engages in sexual intercourse outside the bounds of marriage. The concept of fornication is addressed throughout the Scriptures, where it is consistently portrayed as a sin and a deviation from God's design for human sexuality.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently addresses sexual immorality, including fornication, as a violation of God's commandments. In the Mosaic Law, sexual purity was emphasized, and fornication was condemned alongside other forms of sexual immorality. Leviticus 18 and 20 outline various unlawful sexual relations, underscoring the importance of maintaining sexual purity within the covenant community of Israel.

New Testament Context

The New Testament continues to uphold the Old Testament's teachings on sexual morality, with a particular emphasis on the sanctity of marriage. The Apostle Paul addresses fornication in several of his epistles, warning believers to flee from sexual immorality. In 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul writes, "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" . Here, fornication is highlighted as a sin that uniquely affects the individual on a personal and spiritual level.

In Galatians 5:19-21, fornication is listed among the "acts of the flesh," which are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. Paul warns that those who practice such things "will not inherit the kingdom of God" . This underscores the seriousness with which the early church viewed sexual immorality, including fornication.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Fornication is seen as a violation of the divine order established by God for human relationships. The Bible presents marriage as the proper context for sexual relations, as seen in Genesis 2:24, where a man is to "leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" . Fornication, therefore, is a distortion of this divine intention, leading to spiritual and relational consequences.

The New Testament calls believers to a higher standard of holiness and purity. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Paul exhorts the church: "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: You should avoid sexual immorality; each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the Gentiles who do not know God" . This passage emphasizes the call to sanctification and self-control as marks of a life transformed by the gospel.

Redemption and Forgiveness

Despite the gravity of fornication as a sin, the Bible also offers hope for redemption and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that some of them were once fornicators, but they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. This passage highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which offers forgiveness and a new identity to those who repent and turn away from their sins.

In summary, the biblical portrayal of a fornicator is one who engages in sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage, contrary to God's design. The Scriptures consistently call believers to a life of purity and holiness, while also offering the hope of redemption and restoration through faith in Jesus Christ.(n.) An unmarried person, male or female, who has criminal intercourse with the other sex; one guilty of fornication.4205. pornos -- a fornicator
... a fornicator. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pornos Phonetic Spelling:
(por'-nos) Short Definition: a fornicator Definition: a fornicator, man ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4205.htm - 7k

1 Cor. vi. 15
... Having passed on from the fornicator to the covetous person, he comes back to the
former from the latter, no longer henceforth discoursing with him but with ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xviii 1 cor vi.htm

Hebrews xii. 14
... "Lest there be any fornicator: or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of
meat sold his birthright." [3410]. And wherein was Esau a "fornicator"? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxi hebrews xii 14.htm

Of St. Paul, and the Person whom He Urges the Corinthians to ...
... For, in fact, they suspect the Apostle Paul of having, in the second (Epistle) to
the Corinthians, granted pardon to the self-same fornicator whom in the first ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on modesty/chapter xiii of st paul and.htm

Hebrews xii. 28, 29
... See how large is his discourse concerning chastity. "Follow peace," he said, "and
holiness; Lest there be any fornicator or profane person" ( c. xii.14 ); and ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxiii hebrews xii 28.htm

The Same Subject Continued.
... that this saying also of the apostle, "Sufficient to such a man be this rebuke which
(is administered) by many," is not suitable to the person of the fornicator ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xiv the same subject continued.htm

Titus ii. 14-Nov
... For as the fornicator loves women, so the other loves money, and even more
inordinately, for he is not impelled by so strong a passion. ...
/.../homily v titus ii 14-nov.htm

The Same Subject Continued.
... hypothesis) is it, that the very moment after making a largess of restoration to
the privileges of ecclesiastical peace to an incestuous fornicator, he should ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xv the same subject continued.htm

Answer to a Psychical Objection.
... But now I write to you, if any is named a brother among you, (being) a fornicator,
or an idolater" (for what so intimately joined?), "or a defrauder" (for what ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xviii answer to a psychical.htm

Ephesians v. 5, 6
... paul the apostle to the ephesians. Homily XVIII. Ephesians v. 5, 6. Ephesians
v.5, 6 "For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor ...
/.../homily xviii ephesians v 5.htm

The Sinning Brother.
... commits those great sins is not a brother, even if he be called a brother, as the
Apostle says, "If any one that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/30 the sinning brother.htm

Fornicator (3 Occurrences)
...Fornicator (3 Occurrences). ... Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane
person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. ...
/f/fornicator.htm - 7k

Fornicators (8 Occurrences)

/f/fornicators.htm - 9k

Fornications (14 Occurrences)

/f/fornications.htm - 10k

Unbridled (4 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:5 For this ye are well informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean
person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance ...
/u/unbridled.htm - 7k

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:16 lest there be a fornicator, or an ungodly person like Esau, who, in
return for a single meal, parted with the birthright which belonged to him. ...
/u/ungodly.htm - 18k

Informed (39 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:5 For this ye are well informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean
person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance ...
/i/informed.htm - 17k

Idol-worshipper (1 Occurrence)
... Ephesians 5:5 For be well assured that no fornicator or immoral person and no
money-grubber--or in other words idol-worshipper--has any share awaiting him in ...
/i/idol-worshipper.htm - 6k

Railer (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a ...
/r/railer.htm - 8k

Rights (35 Occurrences)
... (WEY DBY). Hebrews 12:16 lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau,
who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright, (See NIV). ...
/r/rights.htm - 16k

Exchange (41 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Hebrews 12:16 lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person,
as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright, (YLT). ...
/e/exchange.htm - 20k

What does the Bible say about fornication? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between fornication and adultery? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about pedophilia/paedophilia? | GotQuestions.org

Fornicator: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus