That is, in the King James Version, the first four!
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness …” Galatians 5:19, count them. Exactly four sins relating to man’s (woman’s) sexual propensities.
The reason I say “King James Version” is because no “modern” translation of the Bible includes the sin labeled “adultery!” Not that I can find, anyway.
So for today, we will begin our study of these nefarious “works of the flesh” by focusing on this “missing” sin, as far as modern day Bibles are concerned. I am sure their advocates would say that “adultery” and “fornication” are the same, so “adultery” is merely redundant! Or that the so-called “best manuscripts” do not include “moicheia,” the Greek noun for “adultery.”
Meanwhile, I am sticking with my Bible, my King James Bible.
And granted, “adultery” and “fornication” are (as previously observed) both sexual sins. Sinful physical relationships between people who have no right to so behave, to so indulge their flesh.
The Ten Commandments forbid both sins, though. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14, self explanatory. Then later, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife (adultery again), nor his manservant, NOT HIS MAIDSERVANT (fornication now), nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Exodus 20:17, three verses later!
But there must be a difference!
And there is. At least this, “adultery” seems to be a sexual aberration committed by someone who is “married.” While “fornication” is more a sin indulged by “single” people.
But let me be clear, both are wrong in God’s Eyes.
Now to “moicheia,” (adultery) pronounced “moy-khi’-ah,” according to the experts. It means: “to have unlawful intercourse with another person’s wife.”
Surprisingly, the noun only occurs 11 times in the New Testament, King James Version, I remind you once again. And the first three (3) of these occasion relate to the Life and Preaching of Jesus!
Matthew 5:19: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, ADULTERIES, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
Then Mark’s parallel Account: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, ADULTERIES, fornications, murders …” Mark 7:21
And then the John (Johannine, when an adjective) account of that poor woman. “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in ADULTERY; and when they had set her in the midst …” John 8:3
Then (as a noun, remember) our Text today. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ADULTERY, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness …”
Plus a few others (not enough room to list them all, not in full), but with James 4:4 being a prime example of them. “Ye ADULTERERS and ADULTERESSES, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
But I need to say this too. As a verb, “moicheuo,” the term is used 14 more times! This fact alone makes this family of words a lot more prolific in the New Testament. It is therefore NOT an extremely rare expression! (Specifically, 25 times in 260 chapters!)
For the verb “to commit adultery” in the Old Testament, I can locate 31 times the” sin” is mentioned , “naaph” in Hebrew. The Lexicons mostly agree on the definition, this distinction: “usually of a man, and always with wife of another.”
But the noun (masculine “adulterer” or feminine “adulteress”) is found 7 more times, making a total of 38 occurrences. Again, pretty common.
The Prophets, however, preach against not just physical adultery (married man with married woman), but also against what I’d call spiritual adultery as well. A Jew (in covenant relationship with Almighty God) forsaking Jehovah and pursuing (loving) other gods! False gods! (Most often Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Hosea particularly use this “word picture,” of a person being “untrue” or “unfaithful” to God.)
Wow!
That’s enough information today!
Now just to practice it, do not yield to that craving of the “flesh!”
Instead, “walk” in the (Holy) Spirit!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
It really all “boils down” to that, doesn’t it? “This I say then, WALK in the Spirit, and ye shall NOT FULFIL the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16