Appendix I

Reason:

Whenever the word "adultery" is used in the Word of God, the term applies to spiritual adultery, not physical adultery.

Answer:

Some people erroneously believe that the words "adultery" and "fornication" in the Word of God do not refer to the physical act of sexual intercourse, but refer instead to spiritual unfaithfulness to God. It is correct that the terms "adultery" and "fornication" sometimes do refer to spiritual unfaithfulness. It is also correct that they do refer to the actual physical acts of fornication and adultery. In fact, the terms "fornication" and "adultery" were used of spiritual unfaithfulness because physical unfaithfulness was so clearly understood and known to be a sin against God. Spiritual unfaithfulness is called "adultery" and "fornication" because those words communicate how grave the sin of idolatry is in the sight of God. Of course, God does set forth His position on idolatry in literal terms also (Compare Exodus 20:1-6, the first two of the ten commandments). Idolatry, like adultery, was a capital crime (cp. Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 13:1-11; Deuteronomy 17:2-5).

Another reason that "adultery" and "fornication" were used of the spiritual sin, as well as the physical sin, was that the parallels were so close. A person who committed adultery broke a covenant (Malachi 2:14). Well, God had made a covenant with Israel at the base of Mt. Sinai. Israel had promised to be faithful (Exodus 24:3-8). When Israel broke the covenant and was unfaithful, God called their action "adultery." People were aware that physical adultery was a sin and carried the death penalty. Thus by calling idolatry "adultery" the seriousness of the sin of idolatry could be effectively communicated. Besides the parallel of the broken covenant, there are other parallels between an unfaithful wife and a man who is unfaithful to God. A person can be "seduced" into an adulterous relationship either physically or spiritually. On the other hand, a person can enter into an adulterous relationship (physically or spiritually) with full awareness and a hardened and lustful heart.

The point is that physical adultery and fornication were understood by the people and known to be a sin against God. God took advantage of the close parallels between the physical and spiritual, and called spiritual unfaithfulness by the terms "adultery" and "fornication." To say that the words "adultery" and "fornication" only to the spiritual act of unfaithfulness to God misses the point and robs the words of their full impact.

Another reason that God ties together physical adultery and spiritual adultery in His Word is that they were so associated with pagan worship. Sexual intercourse was an actual part of many pagan rituals, especially fertility rituals. There are specific terms in the Old Testament for men and women who were temple prostitutes. Qedesheh refers to a woman and Qadesh refers to men who were "set apart" for sacred prostitution in pagan religion. The Hebrew root word is qadash, which is translated "be holy," "be sanctified," "hallowed," etc. Qedesheh referring to the female temple prostitute, is translated "harlot(s)" in Genesis 38:21 twice, in Genesis 38:22 once, Hosea 4:14 once, and as "whore" in Deuteronomy 23:17. Qadesh, referring to the male temple prostitutes, is translated as "sodomite(s)" in Deuteronomy 23:17; I Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; II Kings 23:7, and as the "unclean" in Job 36:14.* Israelites were specifically forbidden to be temple prostitutes. "There shall be no whore (qedesheh = temple prostitute) of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite (qadesh = temple prostitute) of the sons of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:17). Not only were there to be no temple prostitutes in Israel, but the wages of a male or female temple prostitute were not acceptable to be used as money for a vow. "Thou shall not bring the hire of a whore (qedesheh = female temple prostitute) or the price of a dog** into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow" (Deuteronomy 23:18).

These are verses in the Word of God that clearly show beyond a shadow of a doubt that the word "adultery" is applied to physical unfaithfulness. Each of the verses below clearly show adultery between a man and a woman.

Leviticus 20:10

And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Proverbs 6:32

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

Jeremiah 29:23

Because they have committeth villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

Ezekiel 16:32

But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

Ezekiel, chapter 18 contains a verse of scripture showing not only the physical side of adultery, but also showing that it is "unlawful," and not "just" or "right." Adultery is indicated by the phrase "defiled his neighbour's wife."

Ezekiel 18:5-6

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstrous woman,

In the Gospels Jesus Christ obviously understood the commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery" to apply to physical adultery with a woman.

Matthew 5:27-28

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

When Christ said, "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," he was not inventing a new sin. He was simply applying one of the Old Testament commandments. As well as forbidding the act of adultery, the ten commandments had forbidden coveting another man's wife: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife" (Exodus 20:17).

It has been clearly demonstrated that the word "adultery" can and does refer to the actual physical act. The examples used were taken from the Law Administration and the Christ Administration. Examples from the Patriarchal and Grace Administrations can be found in the thesis section of this paper. In summary, the reason that the term "adultery" was used by God to indicate spiritual unfaithfulness was that there were so many parallels between spiritual and physical unfaithfulness, and that the seriousness and the wrong of physical unfaithfulness was so clearly understood.