Chastity

The state of sexual abstinence. Although Scripture commends marriage, it insists that celibacy should be honoured.

Condemnation of sexual immorality

Numbers 25:1; Matthew 15:19; Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 10:8; Revelation 2:14, Revelation 2:20, Revelation 9:21

The command to avoid sexual immorality

Romans 13:13 See also Acts 15:19–20; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:8; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Believers should not associate with those who are sexually immoral

1 Corinthians 5:9–11

Sexual purity is commended

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 See also Psalm 51:10, Psalm 119:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 2:11; Revelation 14:1–4

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 glorify God with your body.

Chastity and marriage

Marriage commended for those incapable of remaining chaste

1 Corinthians 7:9

But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

The sanctity of marriage

See also Mark 10:2–12

The condemnation of adultery

Leviticus 18:20 See also Leviticus 20:10; Exodus 20:14 parallel Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27–28; Romans 2:22

You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.