Biblical Support For Soliciting Prostitutes

[Lambano]

Again, Paul also admits what he writes is NOT a commandment from God. 1 COR 7:6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.[a] 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry.

I'm not sure about including a "should" in the translation; the Greek just has an Aorist Active Imperative there, i.e. a command.

Contextually, "should" indicates one implementation is preferable over others. In the 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 case, marriage is the preferred implementation for those without sexual self-control; burning is the alternative. Now what the hell did Paul mean by that?

 

[Lambano]

So I think the more precise question is whether Scripture considers sexual union with a prostitute to be morally permissible.

On that particular question, 1 Corinthians 6:15–18 seems quite direct.

To be more blunt, while the Old Testament seem to accept patronizing prostitutes as acceptable, porneia is universally condemned as sinful in the New Testament. There should be no debate about that.

Whether the term porneia should be extended beyond the classical Greek understanding of prostitution to include other expressions of sexuality such as masturbation, premarital sex, oral sex, kink, or whatever else the depraved human mind can come up with, that is a different (though related) discussion. What is clear is that self-control of our sexual desires is a Christian virtue and is considered one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5.

 

[Wrangler]

@Wrangler, your argument is that Scripture does not morally condemn prostitution or consensual sex with a prostitute, rather than simply arguing that adultery is the only sexual sin.

1 Corinthians 6:15–18, appears to be the clearest New Testament passage addressing the question directly.

“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?” 1 Corinthians 6:16
Paul then says, "Flee from sexual immorality.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

There is no adultery involved in Paul's example

Agreed that there is no adultery in Paul’s example. For some reason, you’re ignoring his confession that he is talking about his personal preference of what is ideal and NOT stating a commandment from God.

 

[Wrangler]

To be more blunt, while the Old Testament seem to accept patronizing prostitutes as acceptable, porneia is universally condemned as sinful in the New Testament. There should be no debate about that.

What verse in the NT universally condemns soliciting a prostitute? And how do you reconcile that with it NOT being called a new law when, as you say, was allowed in the OT?

 

[Wrangler]

I'm not sure about including a "should" in the translation; the Greek just has an Aorist Active Imperative there, i.e. a command.

Hmmm. In the translation I cited, there is a NOT to the imperative, it is NOT command, Paul clarified. This is why I categorized it as should, a personal preference.

What time will dinner be ready? One hour after you come home. Should you be late, I’ll:

A. Still feed you?​

B. Call it a sin, a lack of self-control, showing you cannot control arrive at the ideal time?​

​

Obviously not the same but it shows the distinction between a sin and merely not achieving an ideal.

 

[Wrangler]

It seems difficult to reconcile with the conclusion that Scripture does not condemn sex with a prostitute.

I noticed you disregarded the verses in the OP that supports engaging with a prostitute as the morally superior option.

 

[Angelina]

@Wrangler,
I haven't disregarded Proverbs 6:26. I don't believe it says what you are claiming it says.

The verse compares the consequences of sexual involvement with a prostitute and adultery with another man's wife. It says:
“For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.”
Proverbs 6:26

The fact that one sin is described as having less severe consequences than another does not make it the morally superior option. The chapter is warning against sexual sin and its consequences; it isn't giving permission to choose prostitution as the acceptable alternative to adultery.

In fact, the very next verses continue the warning: “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” Proverbs 6:27
And later:

“But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.” Proverbs 6:32

So I think Proverbs 6:26 can legitimately be discussed in terms of how prostitution and adultery were viewed in that society, but it cannot establish the proposition that Scripture considers sex with a prostitute morally permissible.

And that still leaves 1 Corinthians 6:15–18, where Paul specifically addresses sex with a prostitute and tells believers to “Flee from sexual immorality.” That is the direct New Testament passage that needs to be reconciled with your interpretation of Proverbs 6.

 

[Behold]

Jesus is silent on the matter.

Jesus isn't """Silent on the Matter."", regarding Hooking up with a Hooker.

What Jesus did was send Paul with all the Chruch Doctrine including some crystal clear rules regarding having sexual relations with anyone who is not your marriage partner.

Here is what you do with "Hookers".., as Jesus taught Paul to tell you @Wrangler .

A.) Flee Fornication.
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New Revised Standard Version
Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.

Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Keep away from fornication. Every sin that a man commits, is outside his body; but he who commits adultery sins against his own body.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Flee from fornication. Every sin that a man will do is apart from his body, but whoever fornicates sins with his body.

New Living Translation
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

English Standard Version
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
Flee the sexual immorality. Every sin, whatever a man might do, is outside the body, but the one committing sexual immorality sins against his own body.

King James Bible
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

New King James Version
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

New American Standard Bible
Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

NASB 1995
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

NASB 1977
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

Legacy Standard Bible
Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral man sins against his own body.

Amplified Bible
Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

Berean Annotated Bible
Flee from sexual immorality {porneian}. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Christian Standard Bible
Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Run from sexual immorality! “Every sin a person can commit is outside the body.” On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

American Standard Version
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be immoral in matters of sex. That is a sin against your own body in a way no other sin is.

English Revised Version
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Stay away from sexual sins. Other sins that people commit don't affect their bodies the same way sexual sins do. People who sin sexually sin against their own bodies.

Good News Translation
Avoid immorality. Any other sin a man commits does not affect his body; but the man who is guilty of sexual immorality sins against his own body.

International Standard Version
Keep on running away from sexual immorality. Any other sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the person who sins sexually sins against his own body.

NET Bible
Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin a person commits is outside of the body"--but the immoral person sins against his own body.

New Heart English Bible
Flee sexual immorality. "Every sin that a person does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Webster's Bible Translation
Flee lewdness. Every sin that a man doeth, is without the body; but he that committeth lewdness, sinneth against his own body.

Weymouth New Testament
Flee from fornication. Any other sin that a human being commits lies outside the body; but he who commits fornication sins against his own body.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
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.

World English Bible
Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
flee the whoredom; every sin—whatever a man may commit—is outside the body, and he who is committing whoredom sins against his own body.

Berean Literal Bible
Flee the sexual immorality. Every sin, whatever a man might do, is outside the body, but the one committing sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Young's Literal Translation
flee the whoredom; every sin -- whatever a man may commit -- is without the body, and he who is committing whoredom, against his own body doth sin.

Smith's Literal Translation
Flee fornication. Every sin which if a man do is without the body; but he committing fornication sins against his own body.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Flee from fornication. Every sin whatsoever that a man commits is outside of the body, but whoever fornicates, sins against his own body.

New American Bible
Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body.