1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Flee {G5343} fornication {G4202}. Every {G3956} sin {G265} that {G3739}{G1437} a man {G444} doeth {G4160} is {G2076} without {G1622} the body {G4983}; but {G1161} he that committeth fornication {G4203} sinneth {G264} against {G1519} his own {G2398} body {G4983}.

Run from sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body.

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.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Commentary

This verse is a direct and strong command from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church regarding sexual immorality. It highlights the unique and particularly damaging nature of fornication compared to other sins.

Context

Paul is addressing various issues within the Corinthian church, a congregation located in a city known for its rampant paganism and sexual permissiveness. In the preceding verses of chapter 6, Paul confronts believers taking each other to court and warns against associating with immoral people, listing various sins including fornication. This verse serves as a stark warning and instruction to flee sexual sin, building towards his argument about the body being a temple of the Holy Ghost in the verses that follow. The cultural backdrop of Corinth, with its temples often involved in prostitution, made this warning particularly relevant and urgent for the early Christians there.

Key Themes

  • Fleeing Temptation: The primary command is to actively run away from situations or opportunities that could lead to fornication, emphasizing the seriousness of this sin.
  • The Unique Nature of Sexual Sin: Paul asserts that fornication is different from other sins because it is committed "against his own body." This points to the profound connection between our physical bodies, our spiritual lives, and this specific type of sin.
  • The Body's Significance: The verse underscores the importance of the physical body in relation to sin and righteousness, setting the stage for Paul's teaching on the body as belonging to the Lord and being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated as "fornication" is porneia. This term is broad, encompassing various forms of sexual immorality, including prostitution, adultery, and other illicit sexual acts. Unlike many sins which might be external actions or impact others primarily, Paul states that porneia uniquely involves and violates "his own body." While all sin affects the whole person, this highlights a specific violation of the self, particularly in light of the body's intended purpose and future redemption.

Related Scriptures

Paul's command to "flee fornication" is a strong call to action, similar to other biblical instructions to flee youthful lusts or other forms of evil. The concept that sin is committed against one's own body is further developed in the subsequent verses, which teach that the believer's body is a temple of the Holy Ghost and is not our own, but bought with a price. This understanding elevates the importance of how we treat our physical selves.

Practical Application

For believers today, this verse remains a vital warning. It calls for proactive measures to avoid sexual temptation – not just resisting it when it comes, but actively removing ourselves from situations where it might arise. It also reminds us of the sacredness of the human body, viewing it not merely as a physical shell but as intrinsically linked to our spiritual identity and destiny. Living according to this truth involves honoring God with our bodies and understanding that sexual purity is not just about avoiding sin, but about recognizing our bodies as belonging to God and being dwelling places for His Spirit.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 2:11 (31 votes)

    Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (28 votes)

    For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

  • Colossians 3:5 (24 votes)

    ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

  • Romans 6:12 (22 votes)

    Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

  • Romans 6:13 (22 votes)

    Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

  • 2 Timothy 2:22 (18 votes)

    ¶ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

  • Hebrews 13:4 (16 votes)

    Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.