1 Corinthians 6:16 Commentary and Bible Study

God has determined that there is something deeply significant about the conjugal act. Let no one therefore think that fornication can be committed lightly without terrible consequences. Shockingly, Paul applies Genesis 2:24 even to the union which a man has with a prostitute. Even in their case, the ‘two shall be one flesh’, but the horrible effect in this case is to join someone to a prostitute. The body belongs to Christ because he has purchased it by his atonement. Marriage and proper sexual relations join us to our wife while we are in this life. That union is part of God benevolent provision for mankind, but no other union must occur. Death ends the union, so that a person may marry again if their spouse dies. But to be joined to a prostitute is to take what belongs to Christ – our bodies – and to enter into a bond that is utterly objectionable to him.The marriage bond is broken by fornication, which is why adultery is legitimate grounds for divorce – the bond has in effect already been broken by the offending party in the marriage. It is broken because the previous union of one flesh has been replaced by a new conflicting union.