Is Sex Before Marriage A Sin? The Catholic Answer

Published November 10, 2023

For years, there has always been a debate about whether premarital sex is a sin. Nowadays, many are blind and don’t refrain from sexual intercourse.

But God, as understanding and merciful as he is, knows that sex is a powerful desire of one’s body. He therefore said,

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” (Cor. 7:2)

That’s why God gave us a precious gift that only a husband and wife can do. This means that he understands our needs. We only have to wait because sexual actions before and outside marriage are sinful.

Even Paul wrote in the Bible,

“To the unmarried and the widows, I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (Cor. 7:8-9)

God wants abstinence for people who are not committed. If sex is something that you can’t live with, then you should seek to get married.

A faithful Christian who follows the word of God knows that sex before marriage is a mortal sin. Thus, we must refrain from sexual immorality.

It was also said that those who engage in sexual immorality cannot inherit God’s kingdom.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21)

This only means that we Christians should not engage in sex before marriage because it is impure. We’re not only violating our bodies, but we’re also violating God’s rules.

Sex Before Marriage or Premarital Sex in the Bible

The Bible has various verses that touch on sex before marriage or premarital sex. However, interpretations can vary based on cultural, personal, and religious beliefs. Here are some verses and their references:

• Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:2: “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:18-20: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”  
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
• Ephesians 5:3: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”

These verses imply that sex should be reserved for marriage. However, it’s essential to note that interpretations can differ, and these verses should be understood within their cultural and historical context.

Sexually Immoral: Meaning

“Sexually immoral” is a term often used in religious or ethical contexts to refer to sexual behaviors that are considered wrong or sinful based on specific moral, ethical, or religious codes. What constitutes sexual immorality can vary greatly depending on cultural, religious, and personal beliefs.

In many Christian interpretations, for example, “sexual immorality” is often translated from the Greek word “porneia,” which is a broad term that encompasses a range of sexual activities outside of marriage, including adultery, fornication (sex before marriage), homosexuality, bestiality, and incest.