from πορνεύω; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.
Transliteration:porneía
Pronunciation:por-ni'-ah
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term πορνεία (porneía, `{{G4202}}`) fundamentally denotes "harlotry" or "fornication." Derived from the verb πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`), meaning "to commit fornication" or "to prostitute oneself," porneía carries a broad semantic range encompassing various forms of illicit sexual activity. While often translated simply as "fornication," its scope extends beyond unmarried sexual intercourse to include adultery, incest, prostitution, and potentially other deviant sexual acts. This comprehensive nature is crucial for understanding its usage in the New Testament. Figuratively, porneía is powerfully employed to describe idolatry or spiritual unfaithfulness to God, drawing a direct parallel between physical harlotry and the breaking of the covenant relationship with the divine. This dual literal and metaphorical meaning enriches its theological depth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Porneía appears frequently in the New Testament, consistently condemned as a grave sin. In the Synoptic Gospels, it is notably found in the "exception clauses" regarding divorce, as seen in [[Matthew 5:32]] and [[Matthew 19:9]], where Jesus states that divorce is permissible "except on the ground of porneía." The precise meaning here is debated among scholars, ranging from pre-marital unfaithfulness to a broader reference to illicit or incestuous unions that would render a marriage invalid from the outset.
Pauline epistles frequently list porneía among the "works of the flesh" or vices that are antithetical to Christian conduct and exclude one from inheriting the kingdom of God ([[Galatians 5:19]], [[Ephesians 5:3]], [[Colossians 3:5]]). Paul particularly addresses it in 1 Corinthians, emphasizing its defiling nature for the body, which is considered a temple of the Holy Spirit ([[1 Corinthians 6:13]], [[1 Corinthians 6:18]]). He urges believers to "flee porneía" and advises marriage as a means to avoid it ([[1 Corinthians 7:2]]). The Jerusalem Council's decree in [[Acts 15:20]], [[Acts 15:29]], and [[Acts 21:25]] instructed Gentile converts to abstain from porneía, linking it to Old Testament purity laws and demonstrating its universal relevance for early Christian ethics.
In the book of Revelation, porneía takes on its powerful figurative meaning, often associated with Babylon the Great, representing spiritual idolatry and the corrupting influence of worldly power and false religion ([[Revelation 14:8]], [[Revelation 17:2]], [[Revelation 18:3]]). Here, the "harlotry" is not primarily physical but spiritual unfaithfulness, leading people astray from the true worship of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of porneía is closely tied to several related Greek terms. The verbal root is πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`), "to commit fornication." From this root also derive πόρνη (pórnē, `{{G4204}}`), "prostitute" or "harlot," and πόρνος (pórnos, `{{G4205}}`), "fornicator" or "sexually immoral person."
While πορνεία is a broad term for illicit sexual activity, it is often distinguished from, yet can encompass, μοιχεια (moicheia, `{{G3430}}`), which specifically refers to adultery (sexual intercourse with a married person). Porneía is frequently grouped with other terms denoting moral impurity, such as ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsía, `{{G167}}`), "uncleanness" or "impurity," and ἀσέλγεια (aselgeia, `{{G766}}`), "sensuality" or "licentiousness."
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew verb זָנָה (zanah, `{{H2181}}`), meaning "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot," is frequently used both literally for prostitution and figuratively for Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, providing a clear conceptual background for the New Testament's figurative use of porneía.
### Theological Significance
The consistent condemnation of porneía throughout the New Testament underscores its profound theological significance. It is not merely a social transgression but a sin against God, against one's own body, and against the community of believers. Paul's teaching in [[1 Corinthians 6:18-19]] is particularly potent: "Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own." This elevates porneía to a unique category of sin that defiles the very vessel intended for God's indwelling.
The figurative use of porneía as idolatry highlights the covenantal nature of the relationship between God and His people. Just as physical harlotry violates the marital covenant, spiritual porneía violates the sacred covenant with God, turning one's devotion to false gods or worldly pursuits. This metaphor is deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic literature, where Israel's idolatry was frequently depicted as spiritual prostitution (e.g., [[Hosea 1:2]], [[Ezekiel 16]]).
The presence of porneía within lists of vices that exclude from the kingdom of God ([[Galatians 5:21]], [[Ephesians 5:5]]) emphasizes its severe consequences for eternal destiny. The New Testament calls believers to radical purity and holiness, fleeing porneía and living in a manner that honors God with their bodies and lives.
### Summary
Porneía (`{{G4202}}`) is a comprehensive Greek term in the New Testament denoting illicit sexual activity in its various forms, including but not limited to fornication, adultery, and incest. Crucially, it also carries a significant metaphorical sense, representing spiritual idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. Consistently condemned throughout the Scriptures, porneía is presented as a grave sin that defiles the individual, undermines the purity of the Christian community, and violates the covenant relationship with God. Its theological significance lies in its direct opposition to holiness, its defilement of the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and its role as a practice that excludes from the kingdom of God, prompting a clear call for believers to pursue sexual and spiritual purity.
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