Honorable is marriage for all, and pure the conjugal relationship; but God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
13:4 — “Honourable be marriage in all, and the bed undefiled.” Christians (like all of course) should consider marriage honorable, and as a consequence they will keep it pure. No one has the right to ban anyone (1Ti 4:3). — “But fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” see 1Co 6:9-10; 1Thess 4:3; 1Thess 4:6; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15. According to renowned scholar, WE Vine, the word “fornication” (porneia) “is used of illicit sexual intercourse…including adultery,” but the word “adultery” (moicheia) denotes having illegitimate intercourse with one’s husband, or wife. , of other. “Fornication” is the comprehensive or inclusive term. It is not limited to sexual relationship between singles. Adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, and polygamy are all cases of fornication. All adultery is fornication, but not all fornication is adultery. “Fornication” is a general term; “adultery” is a specific term.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
Honorable to be in all for marriage. Gen 1:27, Gen 1:28; Gen 2:21, Gen 2:24; Lev 21:13-15; 2Ki 22:14; Pro 5:15-23; Isaiah 8:3; 1Co 7:2; 1Co 9:5; 1Ti 3:2, 1Ti 3:4, 1Ti 3:12; 1Ti 5:14; Tit 1:6.
and the bed without stain. Hebrews 12:16; 1Co 6:9; Gal 5:19, Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5, Col 3:6; Rev 22:15.
God will judge. Ps 50:16-22; bad 3:5; 1Co 5:13; 2Co 5:10.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
Honorable to be in all for marriage: The author now returns to some problems regarding physical love. To determine the full intent of this verse, a grammatical point must be resolved. In the Greek sentence the verb was omitted and the reader must supply it, as is common in both Hebrew and Greek. An indicative verb could be substituted, “marriage is”, and make a declarative sentence. Or you could also substitute a verb in the subjunctive, «be… marriage», and make this an exhortation. Also, if the first half is exhortation, the second half of the verse fits better. Thus, this is a command to purify oneself, rather than a statement against ascetic teachings that viewed the marriage relationship as impure. Ascetic teachings were a problem at the time (cf. 1Ti 4:3). But this does not seem to be our author’s wish. Marriage is honorable and the marriage bed without stain. This must be understood in this way.
but (gr. gar) could be better translated as “because”. Save the marriage relationship, because God will judge those who do not. The fornicators are those who consent to sexual relations, heterosexual and homosexual, outside the union of marriage. The adulterers are those who are unfaithful to their marriage vows.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
HONORABLE TO BE IN ALL FOR MARRIAGE. God has high standards for his people when it comes to marriage and sexuality. For a study of this important matter, see ARTICLE NORMS OF SEXUAL MORALITY, P. 1794. .
Source: Full Life Study Bible
ARTICLE
Norms of sexual morality
Hebrews 13:4
Honorable be marriage in all, and the bed without stain; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
First of all, believers must be morally and sexually pure (2Co 11:2; Tit 2:5; 1Pe 3:2). The expression “without stain” (Gr. hagnos or asbestos) means free from all contamination of what is sensual. It suggests abstinence from all actions and all thoughts that incite desire that are not in accordance with a person’s virginity or nuptial vows. It emphasizes self-consciousness and abstinence from all sexual activities and stimuli that tarnish a person’s purity before God. It includes the control of the body “in sanctity and honor” (1Thess 4:4) and “not in lustful passion” (Hebrews 4:5). This particular Bible instruction is for the single and the married. Regarding the biblical teaching regarding sexual morality, note the following:
(1) Sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage relationship and is approved and blessed by God only in that state (see Gen 2:24note; Song 2:7note; Sing 4:12, note). Through marriage the spouses become one body according to the will of God. God commands and honors the physical and emotional pleasure that results from the faithful marriage relationship.
(2) Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, sensuality, impurity and degrading passions are considered serious sins in the sight of God, since they are the transgression of his law (see Exo 20:14, note) and the corruption of the marriage relationship. Such sins are severely condemned in the Holy Scriptures (see Pro 5:3note) and put the transgressor out of the kingdom of God (Romans 1:24-32; 1Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21).
(3) Immorality and fornication include not only prohibited intercourse or consummated acts, but also any act of sexual gratification with a person other than a spouse, achieved by the discovery or exploration of that person’s nudity. Contemporary teaching that sexual intercourse between “committed” youth and single adults is acceptable as long as it stops short of full sexual union is contrary to the holiness of God and the biblical standard of purity. God explicitly forbids any kind of “sexual intercourse” (literal translation “the discovery of nudity”) with anyone other than the lawful wife or husband (Lev 18:6-30; Lev 20:11; Lev 20:17; Lev 20:19-21; see Lev 18:6note).
(4) The believer must exercise self-control in all sexual matters before marriage. The justification of premarital relations in the name of Christ, based solely on a true or sincere commitment to another person, is a shameless compromise of God’s holy standards with the impure customs of the world and, in effect, purports to justify immorality. After marriage, sexual intimacy should be limited to the spouse. The Bible mentions self-control as an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, positive and pure behavior that stands in contrast to immoral sexual stimuli and gratification, adultery, and fornication. Faithful surrender to God’s will regarding purity will open the way to receive the gift of self-control through the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24).
(5) The biblical terms used to describe sexual immorality in all its wickedness are:
(a) Fornication (Gr. porneia): Wide variety of sexual activities before or outside of marriage. It is not limited to consummated sexual acts, but includes any intimate sexual activity or stimulation outside of the marriage relationship, including fondling the private body parts or viewing the nudity of another person, which is a violation of the rules of God’s morality for his people (see Lev 18:6-30; Lev 20:1-27; Lev 11:1-47; Lev 12:1-8; Lev 17:1-16; Lev 19:1-37; Lev 20:1-27; Lev 21:1-24; 1Co 6:18; 1Thess 4:3).
(b) Lewdness (Gr. aselgeiá) denotes the absence of clear principles of morality, especially the neglect of sexual self-control in order to keep conduct pure (see 1Ti 2:9, note on modesty). It encompasses the inclination to indulge in sinful passions or their stimulation, and thus is an engagement in conduct that has no biblical justification (Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19; 1Pe 4:3; 2Pe 2:2; 2Pe 2:18).
(c) Deceit, that is, taking advantage of a person or exploiting him (Gr. pleonekteó), means depriving him of the moral purity that God desires for him, for the purpose of satisfying selfish desires. To stimulate sexual desires in another person that cannot be properly satisfied is to exploit or take advantage of them (1Thess 4:6; see Eph 4:19).
(d) Lust (Gr. epithumia) is having an immoral desire that would be satisfied if given the opportunity (Eph 4:19; Eph 4:22; 1Pe 4:3; 2Pe 2:18; see Matt 5:28note).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
Honorable. God greatly honors marriage because He Himself instituted it at creation (Gen 2:24), but some in the early church considered celibacy holier than marriage, an idea that Paul vigorously denounces in 1Ti 4:3 (see notes on 1Co 7:1-40). Sexual activity within marriage is pure, but any sexual activity outside of marriage immediately places the person under divine judgment. God will judge. God has prescribed serious consequences for all who commit sexual immorality (see notes on Eph 5:3-6).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
13:4 — “Marriage be honored in all, and the bed undefiled.” Christians (like all of course) should consider marriage honorable, and as a consequence they will keep it pure. No one has the right to forbid it to anyone (1Ti 4:3).
–“but fornicators and adulterers God will judge”. See 1Co 6:9-10; 1Thess 4:3; 1Thess 4:6; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15.
According to renowned scholar, WE Vine, the word “fornication” (porneia) “is used of illicit sexual intercourse…including adultery,” but the word “adultery” (moicheia) denotes having illegitimate intercourse with one’s husband, or wife. , of other. “Fornication” is the comprehensive or inclusive term. It is not limited to sexual relationship between singles. Adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, and polygamy are all cases of fornication. All adultery is fornication, but not all fornication is adultery. “Fornication” is a general term; “adultery” is a specific term.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
1Thess 4:4.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) “Adulterers.” Lat.: a dul te ros.
CROSS-REFERENCES
g 685 Gen 49:4; Pro 5:16; Pro 5:20; Matt 5:28
h686 Pro 6:32; 1Co 5:9; 1Co 6:9; 1Co 6:18; Gal 5:21
Source: New World Translation
immoral and adulterers. Fornication (immorality; gr. pórnos) is a broad term that refers to sexual relations outside of marriage, including premarital sexual relations and homosexuality. Adultery (Gr. moijós) refers to infidelity in marriage.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
4 (1) Or, in every way.
4 (two) In the church life, contact between brothers and sisters is inevitable. Therefore, in order to be protected from contamination, we must honor marriage and not conduct ourselves lightly. This is an issue that seriously affects our birthright in God’s economy. Reuben lost his birthright because of his contamination (Gen_49: 3-4; 1Ch_5: 1), and Joseph received it because of her purity (1Ch_5: 1; Gen_39: 7-12; see note 16 (1) of chapter 12). God will judge fornicators and adulterers, and the church must also judge them ( 1Co_5:1-2 , 1Co_5:11-13). This matter is what most harms the saints and the life of the church.
4 (3) This book deals with the holiness of God. The holy God will not tolerate any contamination between us. He will judge his…