{"id":8390,"date":"2017-07-31T21:17:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T15:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=8390"},"modified":"2025-08-09T13:00:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T18:00:29","slug":"sexual-immorality-revisited-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=8390","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Though I\u2019m eager to dive into the word study, I\u2019m compelled to spend some time keeping my promise to reveal my own position and velocity<\/a>.\u00a0 It will make this essay considerably, but necessarily, longer than I like.<\/p>\n

The Greek words translated sexual immorality<\/em> in the NET were translated fornication <\/em>in the KJV.\u00a0 I thought fornication <\/em>meant premarital sex<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0I didn’t know anything about the ritual sex of pagan worship until about thirty-five years ago<\/a> (though I felt the sensual pull of Egyptian art since childhood). \u00a0But I didn’t immediately question the meaning of sexual immorality<\/em> or fornication<\/em>. \u00a0I remember wondering if the prostitutes in Jerusalem that Solomon feared so for his sons<\/a> had been imported along with his wives’ religions (1 Kings 11:1-8<\/a>).<\/p>\n

<\/a>Now I\u2019m thinking that \u201cthe sin of premarital sex\u201d is a way we have nullified<\/a> the word of God by our traditions.\u00a0 Upwardly-mobile young men can \u201crepent\u201d of their \u201csins of premarital sex\u201d and head off to college or a new career unencumbered by any of their responsibilities as husbands. \u00a0\u201cIf a man is shacking up with a woman,\u201d Denny<\/a> wrote in his blog post THE PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION HERESY<\/a>, \u201csimply saying, \u2018I\u2019m sorry God,\u2019 just won\u2019t do. \u00a0It requires that you get out of that sinful situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He might have meant \u201cgive the woman a ring and social status as a legal wife,\u201d hearkening back to an older time when church folk believed, What therefore God hath joined together <\/em>[Deuteronomy 22:28, 29<\/a>; Exodus 22:16, 17<\/a>][1]<\/sup><\/a>, let not man<\/em> [except for the young woman\u2019s father<\/a>] put asunder<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It would demonstrate a humility reminiscent of the proverb of the wisest king of Israel (or perhaps, the wisest man<\/a> ever): There are three things that are too wonderful for me, <\/em>Solomon wrote, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman<\/em>[3]<\/sup><\/a> (Septuagint<\/a>: \u201cand the ways of a man in his youth\u201d).<\/p>\n

But I imagine Denny as a contemporary co-religionist, hailing from a prouder more macho tradition where \u201choliness\u201d is measured by how harshly it savages human emotions.\u00a0 The two \u201cshacking up\u201d together, no matter how desperately they love one another (the more the better), must part, separate, send away, divorce, put asunder because they have committed the \u201cunpardonable sin\u201d of enjoying sex before a church official pronounced them lawful to do so.\u00a0 To paraphrase<\/a> Friedrich Nietzsche\u2019s<\/a> Antichrist<\/a>: What is good?\u00a0 All that heightens the feeling of church power.<\/p>\n

Any man of Israel who refused to attend Ezra’s assembly and divorce his foreign wife would\u00a0forfeit all his property<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0The list of men who had taken foreign wives at the end of the book (Ezra 10:18-44<\/a>) persuades me that Ezra believed the proceedings to send foreign wives and their children<\/a>\u00a0away had transpired according to the Lord’s will. \u00a0And so did I, until I heard ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h’s<\/em> response through the prophet Malachi (2:13-16 NET):<\/p>\n

You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. Yet you ask, \u201cWhy?\u201d \u00a0The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. \u00a0What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God [e.g., Genesis 15:6<\/a>]<\/em>? \u00a0Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0\u201cI hate divorce,\u201d says the Lord God of Israel, \u201cand the one who is guilty of violence,\u201d says the Lord who rules over all. \u00a0\u201cPay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful\u201d [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The intimate absolute rejection of divorce was ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h’s<\/em>\u00a0will for no one. \u00a0But I\u2019ve stacked the deck here as if I believe that staying together and formalizing the relationship is necessarily the \u201cright\u201d decision.\u00a0 In my case it was not so.<\/p>\n

<\/a>My contract<\/a> with God had broken down.\u00a0 I had heard enough religion to know that some believed Christ put an \u201cend<\/a>\u201d to the law and all things were \u201clawful<\/a>\u201d for me. \u00a0So I did what I wanted.\u00a0 I shacked up with my girlfriend du jour<\/a>.\u00a0 Unbeknownst to me at the time, with my sexual desires more or less satisfied for the first time in a long time, I began to walk in the grace of Christ\u2019s salvation as I began to set the words of the Gospel to music.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Too many years of hallucinogenic drugs had made me functionally illiterate.\u00a0 At least I thought that term described me accurately the first time I heard it.\u00a0 (As it turned out functionally illiterate<\/em> is just a redundancy for illiterate<\/em>.) \u00a0If I had read aloud one would have assumed I understood what I read.\u00a0 I read easily, fluently and coherently with an actor\u2019s flair for inflection.\u00a0 My problem was a lack of faith.\u00a0 I had no confidence that strings of words meant anything beyond the beauty of their sounds, except in the most mundane cases: I\u2019m hungry, I\u2019m horny, I have to pee. \u00a0And so with a young man\u2019s needs met, a job and a woman, I set out to make art.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The one who hated the Bible as a child knew he wasn\u2019t smart enough to choose which Gospel was the \u201cright\u201d one for his libretto, so he spent countless hours creating a harmony of the four Gospel narratives, and untold hours more with those words rolling over and over in his mind to set them to music.\u00a0 It was a long and laborious task because he was not a very good composer, at least he wasn\u2019t quick about it.<\/p>\n

<\/a>When he played and sang John 17:1-11 for another composer friend, his friend commended his work: \u201cYou know, the first time you played this for me I thought it was just a throw-away.\u00a0 Now I think it may be the best piece you\u2019ve ever written.\u201d\u00a0 He, being a highly literate fellow, also commented on the meaning of the text: \u201cAnd that\u2019s the most interesting definition of eternal life<\/em> I\u2019ve ever heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The functionally illiterate composer of the best piece he had ever written nodded appreciatively but hadn\u2019t realized that the words\u2014This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent<\/em>[4]<\/sup><\/a>\u2014constituted a definition of eternal life<\/em>.\u00a0 But he planned to take the words\u2014This is<\/em> and whatever words followed\u2014a bit more seriously in the future. \u00a0<\/a>When he decided to formally marry his roommate the functionally illiterate composer had fallen away from grace<\/a><\/em>, though he would not have understood that if someone had told him.<\/p>\n

In fact, I wonder if I was capable of understanding it apart from actively becoming one who was trying to be declared righteous by the law<\/em>.\u00a0 I began to study the Bible in earnest.\u00a0 <\/a>Though I had been warned that the meaning of eternal life<\/em> was to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent I didn\u2019t study to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent to live that eternal life.\u00a0 I searched the Bible for rules to obey\u2014or disobey as it turned out.<\/p>\n

So what do I currently think is the \u201cright\u201d decision when one is conscience-stricken over “shacking up” together? \u00a0I return to Ezra<\/a> (Ezra 9:15 NET):<\/p>\n

O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day.\u00a0 Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt.\u00a0 However, because of this guilt no one can really stand before you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then wait\u2014acknowledging that you are caught in a tender trap<\/a> (Hosea 11:4<\/a>) and that there is no way for you to cleanse yourself of sin by your deeds.\u00a0 And while you\u2019re waiting, study the Bible to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent to live his eternal life.\u00a0 This essay will become a tale of three women (four women, though one was actually a symbol for a city), more importantly it will focus on Jesus\u2019 response to those women.<\/p>\n

Go call your husband and come back here<\/em>,[5]<\/sup><\/a> Jesus said to a Samaritan woman<\/a> at a well.\u00a0 The woman replied, \u201cI have no husband.\u201d<\/em>[6]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Jesus already knew her past:\u00a0you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband<\/em>.[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 He did not command her to leave the man she had now (\u03bd\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f43\u03bd \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2), nor did He command her to go to a priest and get married; the man was apparently already married to another woman.\u00a0 Jesus commended her for her truthfulness: \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f36\u03c0\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u1f04\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b1 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f14\u03c7\u03c9 is literally \u201cbeautifully you poured forth that husband you have not.\u201d\u00a0 And he told her that in her truthfulness she was exactly the kind of person his Father was seeking for his kingdom (John 4:23, 24 NET):<\/p>\n

But a time is coming \u2013 and now is here \u2013 when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. \u00a0God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The second woman was from Thyatira: But I have this against you<\/em>, Jesus addressed the singular angel of the church in Thyatira<\/a><\/em>, You tolerate<\/em> that woman Jezebel<\/em>\u2026[8]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0The Greek word translated You tolerate<\/em> was \u1f00\u03c6\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 (a form of \u1f00\u03c6\u03af\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/a>).\u00a0 Here is a table of all the occurrences of \u1f00\u03c6\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 and its translation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of \u1f00\u03c6\u03af\u03b7\u03bc\u03b9<\/td>\nReference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f00\u03c6\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2<\/td>\nMatthew 13:36<\/td>\nThen Jesus sent <\/strong>the multitude away<\/strong>…<\/td>\nThen he left<\/strong> the crowds\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matthew 26:44<\/td>\nAnd he left<\/strong> them…<\/td>\nSo leaving <\/strong>them again…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mark 8:13<\/td>\nAnd he left<\/strong> them…<\/td>\nThen he left<\/strong> them…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mark 13:34<\/td>\n…who left<\/strong> his house…<\/td>\nHe left<\/strong> his house\u2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mark 15:37<\/td>\nAnd Jesus cried <\/strong>with a loud voice…<\/td>\nBut Jesus cried out<\/strong> with a loud voice…[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u1f00\u03c6\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2<\/td>\nRevelation 2:20<\/td>\n…thou sufferest<\/strong> that woman Jezebel…<\/td>\nYou tolerate<\/strong> that woman Jezebel…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Mark\u2019s word picture, that Jesus left <\/em>his body and its loud voice echoed on afterward, is stunning. \u00a0In Revelation, You <\/em>[left] that woman Jezebel<\/em> hints that the angel of the church of Thyatira was a kind of \u1f10\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2<\/a> on a visitation circuit inspecting (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03ba\u03ad\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9<\/a>) churches.\u00a0 He saw what Jezebel was doing but did nothing.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t answer the question whether the angel <\/em>was a human being or not but serves as prima facie evidence that he was not a local pastor.<\/p>\n

Jesus described Jezebel as one who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching<\/em> deceives my servants<\/em>\u2026[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Greek word translated by her teaching<\/em> was \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9 (a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 Here is a table of all the occurrences of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9 and its translation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9<\/td>\nReference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9<\/td>\n1 Corinthians 11:14<\/td>\nDoth <\/strong>not even nature itself teach <\/strong>you…<\/td>\nDoes <\/strong>not nature itself teach <\/strong>you…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 John 2:27<\/td>\n…the same anointing teacheth <\/strong>you of all…<\/td>\n\u2026his anointing teaches <\/strong>you about all things…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 2:20<\/td>\n…to teach<\/strong> and to seduce my servants…<\/td>\n…and by her teaching<\/strong> deceives my servants…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Though I have assumed that the fact that Jezebel taught indicated that she held a formal teaching position, neither nature nor Christ\u2019s (or, God\u2019s) anointing hold official teaching positions in the church.\u00a0 The Greek word translated deceives <\/em>was \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fb7 (a form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 A table of the occurrences and translations of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fb7 follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fb7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Reference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fb7<\/td>\nJohn 7:12<\/td>\n…but he deceiveth<\/strong> the people…<\/td>\nHe deceives<\/strong> the common people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 2:20<\/td>\n…to teach and to seduce<\/strong> my servants…<\/td>\n…and by her teaching deceives <\/strong>my servants…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 13:14<\/td>\nAnd deceiveth <\/strong>them that dwell on the earth…<\/td>\n…he deceived<\/strong> those who live on the earth.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth<\/em>, John reported (Revelation 13:11-14a NET):<\/p>\n

He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. \u00a0He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. \u00a0He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy of an ostensibly Christian leader (He had two horns like a lamb<\/em>) preaching Satan (speaking like a dragon<\/em>) and deceiving people by momentous signs<\/em> might explain to some extent why folks from my religious background fear the leading of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear<\/em>, Jesus warned, and perform great signs and wonders to deceive <\/em>(\u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fc6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9, another form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9), if possible, even the elect<\/em>.[11]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But to turn the fruit of the Spirit into one\u2019s own works or qualities turns the salvation of Jesus Christ into just another works religion.<\/p>\n

One of the momentous signs this beast will perform is to make fire come down from heaven in front of people<\/em>.\u00a0 This is what James and John\u2014before they received the Holy Spirit\u2014wanted to do to Samaritans who refused to welcome Jesus (Luke 9:51-56<\/a>).\u00a0 On the other hand some of the \u1f38\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03bf\u03b9 (a form of \u1f38\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) accused Jesus, He deceives<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u1fb7, a form of \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9) the common people<\/a><\/em>, because their leaders had recognized that He was performing many miraculous signs <\/em> and they feared that everyone would believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation<\/em> (John 11:45-53<\/a>).\u00a0 Knowing Jesus intimately through his Spirit is essential to faith.<\/p>\n

Jezebel by her teaching deceived Jesus\u2019 servants to commit sexual immorality<\/em> and to eat food sacrificed to idols<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0The Greek word translated to commit sexual immorality <\/em>was \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>).\u00a0 A table of the occurrences and translations of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/td>\nReference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9<\/td>\nRevelation 2:14<\/td>\n…to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication<\/strong>.<\/td>\n…eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 2:20<\/td>\n…to commit fornication<\/strong>, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.<\/td>\n\u2026to commit sexual immorality<\/strong> and to eat food sacrificed to idols.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

These two occurrences seem to be obvious references to sexualized pagan worship.\u00a0 Though I had no conscious alliance with any pagan deities I\u2019m willing to consider my desire for group sex<\/a> \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 for two reasons: 1) I thought group sex was the way of peace<\/a>, distinct from, more real and effective than, any aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.\u00a0 My naivet\u00e9 was deliberate.\u00a0 I was forbidden from reading or viewing stories about the treachery and violence of adultery.\u00a0 And I had discounted my parents\u2019 example<\/a>, assuming they were so hung up about the morality of sexuality they didn\u2019t do it right.<\/p>\n

The one story I had seen about adultery, on the sly as it were once I could drive and date, seemed like a subtle promo.\u00a0 I watched Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland<\/a>) talk Lt. Dish (Jo Ann Pflug<\/a>) into mercy sex with Painless (John Schuck<\/a>) the night before she was scheduled to return home to her husband.\u00a0 I was desperate to find some meaning after the main character Frank Burns (Robert Duvall<\/a>), the only character with anything like a storyline, had been written out of the movie MASH<\/a>.\u00a0 I could see the guilt of Dish\u2019s adultery on her face, particularly in her eyes\u2014until she smiled.\u00a0 It\u2019s been forty-seven years and I still remember her smile.<\/p>\n

2) God stopped me from following through on my desire for group sex\u2014twice.\u00a0 The second time was considerably more embarrassing and I may or may not reveal it.\u00a0 Jesus went on to describe \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 as \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/a>), translated sexual immorality<\/em>: I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality<\/em>.[13]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0Here is a table of the occurrences and translations of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2.\u00a0 I\u2019ll consider each in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/td>\nReference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2<\/td>\nMatthew 5:32<\/td>\n… whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John 8:41<\/td>\nWe be not born of fornication<\/strong>[14]<\/sup><\/a>…<\/td>\nWe were not born as a result of immorality<\/strong>!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Acts 15:20<\/td>\n…abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Acts 15:29<\/td>\n…and from things strangled, and from fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 Corinthians 7:2<\/td>\n…to avoid fornication<\/strong>, let every man have his own wife…<\/td>\n…because of immoralities<\/strong>, each man should have relations with his own wife…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 Thessalonians 4:3<\/td>\n…that ye should abstain from fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…that you keep away from sexual immorality<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 2:21<\/td>\n…to repent of her fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…to repent of her sexual immorality<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 9:21<\/td>\n…nor of their fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…of their sexual immorality<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 14:8<\/td>\n…she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication<\/strong>.<\/td>\nShe made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral<\/strong> passion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 17:2<\/td>\n…of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication<\/strong>.<\/td>\n…the earth\u2019s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 17:4<\/td>\n…and filthiness of her fornication…<\/td>\n…unclean things from her sexual immorality<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 18:3<\/td>\n…wine of the wrath of her fornication<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…from the wine of her immoral passion…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It was said<\/em>, Jesus taught, \u201cWhoever<\/a> divorces his wife must give her a legal document<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d \u00a0But I say to you that everyone<\/a> who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery<\/a><\/em> (\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>), and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery<\/a><\/em> (\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u1fb6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>).[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Limiting \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 (translated, immorality<\/em>) to the ritual sex of pagan worship here would correspond better to ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s <\/em>word through Malachi\u2014I hate divorce<\/a><\/em>\u2014and Jesus\u2019 negative answer (Matthew 19:4-6<\/a>) to the Pharisees\u2019 question: Is it lawful<\/a> to divorce a wife for any cause?<\/em>[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not entirely sure what the \u1f38\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 (another form of \u1f38\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03bf\u03c2) meant when they said: We were not born as a result of immorality!\u00a0 We have only one Father, God himself<\/em>.[17]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 But I take it as mostly irrelevant to understanding what Jesus meant when He used \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2.\u00a0 Assuming that James used \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 to mean the ritual sex of pagan worship when he suggested writing a letter to Gentiles, telling them to abstain from<\/a> things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood<\/em>,[18]<\/sup><\/a> is the most charitable understanding of his abbreviation of the law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If Paul had the lure of ritual sex in view it would account for his prescription of marriage<\/a> though he considered it a distraction from devotion to Christ (1 Corinthians 7:32-35<\/a>) and it would account for his description of Corinthian marriage as mutual sexual slavery[19]<\/sup><\/a> (1 Corinthians 7:3-5<\/a>).\u00a0 But as I\u2019ve written<\/a> before I find it very difficult to believe that Paul had ritual sex in mind in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, in Revelation ritual sex seems to be the meaning of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 as its resurgence with pagan worship is a portent of the end times:\u00a0 The rest of humanity<\/em>, those who survived the onslaught of an army numbering two hundred million<\/a>, who had not been killed by these plagues<\/a>, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood \u2013 idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. \u00a0Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing<\/em>.[20]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead<\/em>, John continued his vision, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth \u2013 to every nation, tribe, language, and people. \u00a0He declared in a loud voice: \u201cFear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A second angel followed the first, declaring: \u201cFallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! \u00a0She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.\u201d<\/em>[21]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The Greek word translated passion <\/em>was \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6 (a form of \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 Here is a table of the occurrences and translations of \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Form of \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/td>\nReference<\/td>\nKJV<\/td>\n\n

NET<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6<\/td>\nLuke 4:28<\/td>\n…these things, were filled with wrath<\/strong>…<\/td>\n…in the synagogue were filled with rage<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Acts 19:28<\/td>\n…these sayings, they were full of wrath<\/strong>…<\/td>\nWhen they heard this they became enraged<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 14:8<\/td>\n…wine of the wrath<\/strong> of her fornication…<\/td>\n…drink of the wine of her immoral passion<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 14:10<\/td>\n…shall drink of the wine of the wrath<\/strong> of God…<\/td>\n…also drink of the wine of God\u2019s anger<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 14:19<\/td>\n…the great winepress of the wrath<\/strong> of God.<\/td>\n…the great winepress of the wrath<\/strong> of God.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 15:7<\/td>\n…golden vials full of the wrath<\/strong> of God…<\/td>\n…golden bowls filled with the wrath<\/strong> of God…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 16:1<\/td>\n…the vials of the wrath<\/strong> of God…<\/td>\n…the seven bowls containing God\u2019s wrath<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 16:19<\/td>\n…the wine of the fierceness<\/strong> of his wrath.<\/td>\n…the wine made of God\u2019s furious <\/strong>wrath.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 18:3<\/td>\n…the wine of the wrath<\/strong> of her fornication…<\/td>\n…the wine of her immoral passion<\/strong>…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revelation 19:15<\/td>\n…he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness <\/strong>and wrath of Almighty God.<\/td>\n…he stomps the winepress of the furious <\/strong>wrath of God…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the NET translation Babylon made all the nations (or, all the Gentiles: \u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f70 \u1f14\u03b8\u03bd\u03b7) drink of her immoral passion<\/em>, which I understand as idolatrous worship including ritual sex.\u00a0 In the KJV translation Babylon made all the nations (or, all the Gentiles) drink of the wrath directed at her fornication<\/em>, whether all the individual nations or all of the individual Gentiles engaged directly in idolatrous worship including ritual sex or not.\u00a0 Though I prefer the NET translation as a matter of justice I can\u2019t verify it independently.\u00a0 Here are the footnotes which attempt to explain it.<\/p>\n

24<\/a><\/sup> Grk \u201cof the wine of the passion of the sexual immorality of her.\u201d Here \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2…has been translated as an attributive genitive. In an ironic twist of fate, God will make Babylon drink her own mixture, but it will become the wine of his wrath in retribution for her immoral deeds (see the note on the word \u201cwrath\u201d in 16:19).<\/em><\/p>\n

65<\/a><\/sup> Following BDAG 461 s.v. \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 2, the combination of the genitives of \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2…and \u1f40\u03c1\u03b3\u03ae…in Rev 16:19 and 19:15 are taken to be a strengthening of the thought as in the OT and Qumran literature (Exod 32:12; Jer 32:37; Lam 2:3; CD 10:9). Thus in Rev 14:8 (to which the present passage alludes) and 18:3 there is irony: The wine of immoral behavior with which Babylon makes the nations drunk becomes the wine of God\u2019s wrath for her.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In a later passage however it is clear that the earth\u2019s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality <\/em>(Revelation 17:1, 2 NET):<\/p>\n

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. \u00a0\u201cCome,\u201d he said, \u201cI will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute (\u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7<\/a>)<\/em> who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality (\u1f10\u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9)<\/em> and the earth\u2019s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing<\/em>, John\u2019s vision continued, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. \u00a0She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. \u00a0On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: \u201cBabylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes <\/em>(\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7) and of the detestable things of the earth.\u201d<\/em>[22]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0As for the woman you saw<\/em>, the angel explained, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth<\/em>.[23]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if the angel meant a city at the time John saw the vision or at the time of the prophecy\u2019s fulfillment.\u00a0 If pressed I would assume the latter since no single city has had sovereignty over the kings of the earth since the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9<\/a>).<\/p>\n

After these things I saw another angel<\/em>, John continued (Revelation 18:1-3 NET):<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/em>who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance. \u00a0He shouted with a powerful voice: \u201cFallen, fallen, is Babylon the great!\u00a0 She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast. \u00a0For all the nations have fallen from the wine of her immoral passion, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality (\u1f10\u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9)<\/em> with her, and the merchants of the earth have gotten rich from the power of her sensual behavior (\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, a form of \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u1fc6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, after the other verses I\u2019ve quoted I\u2019m much more comfortable with the NET translation (her immoral passion<\/em>) of \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 than the KJV translation (the wrath of her fornication<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Jesus described Jezebel\u2019s followers<\/a> with the Greek word \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 (another form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>), translated those who commit adultery<\/em>.\u00a0 Though \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 only occurred this once in the New Testament it is fairly clear that in Jesus\u2019 mind the verb \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 and the noun \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 described a special form of adultery. \u00a0Consider his words to the third woman.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0had been caught<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd, a form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b2\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>) committing adultery <\/em>(\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u1fb3, a form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03b1<\/a>).[24]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Teacher, this woman was caught<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03bb\u03b7\u03c0\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, another form of \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03b2\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9) in the very act<\/em> (\u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u03c6\u03ce\u03c1\u1ff3, a form of \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c6\u03ce\u03c1\u1ff3<\/a>) of adultery<\/em> (\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03c5\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7, another form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9),[25]<\/sup><\/a> her accusers said to Jesus.\u00a0 When none of her accusers considered himself guiltless<\/a> <\/em>(\u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) they left Jesus alone with the woman. \u00a0He asked her, \u201cWoman, where are they? \u00a0Did no one condemn you?\u201d\u00a0 She replied, \u201cNo one, Lord.\u201d \u00a0And Jesus said, \u201cI do not condemn you either. \u00a0Go, and from now on do not sin any more.\u201d<\/em>[26]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

But of the woman who was guilty of that special form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 designated by the verb \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 and the noun \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03c2, He said: I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds<\/em>.[27]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 This was not written in the past age under the law, but in the present after Jesus\u2019 death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.\u00a0 Since I don\u2019t believe that human bishops or circuit riders are enjoined or authorized by this Scripture to infect church members guilty of idolatrous worship and ritual sex with disease, Jesus\u2019 condemnation indicates to me that the angel of the church of Thyatira, criticized for having left <\/em>Jezebel unattended, was not human.<\/p>\n

\n
Back to My Deeds, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Torture, Part 4<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 12<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 13<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The New Covenant, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Christianity, Part 13<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 and \u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Exploration, Part 7<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Exploration, Part 8<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Justice and Mercy Revisited, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist?<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Mark 10:9 (KJV)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Proverbs 30:18, 19 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> John 17:3 (NASB)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> John 4:16b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> John 4:17a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> John 4:18a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Revelation 2:20a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> See: Mark 15:34<\/a> The Greek word translated cried out <\/em>was \u1f10\u03b2\u03cc\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd (a form of \u03b2\u03bf\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>).<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Revelation 2:20b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> Matthew 24:24 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Revelation 2:20c (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Revelation 2:21 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Peter J. Leithart, \u201cBorn in Fornication<\/a>,\u201d First Things<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> Matthew 5:31, 32 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> Matthew 19:3b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> John 8:41b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> Acts 15:20b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Romans, Part 30<\/a> <\/em>; Paul\u2019s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> Revelation 9:20, 21 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> Revelation 14:6-8 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> Revelation 17:4, 5 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[23]<\/sup> Revelation 17:18 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[24]<\/sup> John 8:3a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[25]<\/sup> John 8:4 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[26]<\/sup> John 8:10b, 11 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[27]<\/sup> Revelation 2:22 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Though I\u2019m eager to dive into the word study, I\u2019m compelled to spend some time keeping my promise to reveal my own position and velocity.\u00a0 It will make this essay considerably, but necessarily, longer than I like. The Greek words … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3833,3533],"tags":[3556,3559,222,2650,2651,2658,2659,3966,3976,3974,3975,3967,262,3962,111,3965,107,3977,3963,3964,3969,3970,3972,3971,3973,3463,3464,3471,3968],"class_list":["post-8390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-section-four","category-sexual-immorality","tag-acts-1520","tag-ezra-915","tag-john-173","tag-john-416","tag-john-417","tag-john-418","tag-john-423-24","tag-john-712","tag-john-810-11","tag-john-83","tag-john-84","tag-john-841","tag-malachi-216","tag-mark-109","tag-matthew-193","tag-matthew-2424","tag-matthew-531-32","tag-movies-mash","tag-proverbs-3018-19","tag-revelation-1311-14","tag-revelation-146-8","tag-revelation-171-2","tag-revelation-1718","tag-revelation-174-5","tag-revelation-181-3","tag-revelation-220","tag-revelation-221","tag-revelation-222","tag-revelation-920-21"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8390"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27410,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8390\/revisions\/27410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}