Abraham

Starting a look at the sex lives of some of the Biblical heros.  Trying to create a biblical list of things considered sexually immoral.   Was Paul considering Abraham when he said that the sexually immoral (pornoi πόρνοι) will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Chor 6:9) Or did pornoi mean something else?

Abraham is a big deal in the Bible, one of the main heros of the faith. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are known as the 3 patriarchs of Judaism.  James refers to Abraham as a friend of God (James 2:23). There is no surprise that Abraham makes the Hebrews 11 lists of people commended for their faith.  Paul makes the case that belonging to Christ also makes you a member of Abraham’s family.

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(Galatians 3:29)

However do we think Abraham lived a sexually moral life?

In Genisis 16 we read that Abraham had sex with his wife’s Egyptian slave Hagar.  Hagar was a slave, so I’m not sure if that would count as consensual sex or not. 

Do you think having sex with a slave should be included in your sexual immorality list?

Abraham earlier in Gen 12 also had his wife Sarah lie about being available.  Pharaoh took her as his wife.   This was an unusual thing to do. Pharaoh seems to have considered this arrangement to be wrong.  Abraham and Sarah later pull the same stunt with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Gen 20).

Abraham also has at least one concubine or mistress named Keturah that he later marries. (Gen 25:1, 1 Chron 1:32)

Do we think Abraham’s actions were sexually immoral?  

And if so does that mean Paul would exclude Abraham from the kingdom of God?

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral (pornoi πόρνοι), idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Chor 6:9-10

The proposition that Paul would exclude someone like Abraham from the kingdom of God should sound ridiculous.  Maybe Paul knew that Abraham had repented from these acts that we consider sexually immoral, even though the biblical authors forgot to mention or emphasize his repentance. Or it could be that Paul meant something else when he used the term pornoi (πόρνοι).

Questions to consider:

• Is there a hint that Abraham thought it was wrong to have sex with a mistress and a slave?
• Did God later correct him? 
• Did any prophets speak against it? 
• Did the Biblical authors think this was wrong?

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Continue Reading:

• Jacob

Start from the top:

• Recently Discovered Chapter of Deuteronomy
• Sexuality of: Heros of The Faith
• Biblical Marriage
• Porneia (Sexual Immorality???)
• Take a Old Testament Sexuality Survey Here