Q:  Is viewing pornography fornication? The word (pornography) comes from the Greek word "porneia" which is translated fornication. There is no question that it is sin, but is using pornography itself fornication?

A:   In response to your question, similar derivations of the words pornography and fornication are also found. It should be noted that the New King James version of the Bible uses the phrase "sexual immorality" in place of fornication. (Matthew 5:32)

What is fornication?...

1. The Greek word is pornos (por'-nos), from which we get "pornography."
2. It is a general word for unlawful and immoral sexual relationships (Barclay).
3. It includes any kind sex outside of marriage: premarital, extramarital (adultery), homosexual, etc.

We may be incorrect, but we assume you want to specifically know if using pornography is fornication because it is one of the two scriptural reasons given for lawful remarriage to another, death being the first (Matthew 19:9; Romans 7:2,3). So, if pornography is fornication, then husbands and wives could divorce their partners because they viewed pornography.

Perhaps we should consider the definition of an adulterer.

What is an adulterer?...

1. The Greek word is moichos (moy-khos').
2. It means to have unlawful intercourse with another's wife or husband (Thayer).
1. This may be while they are still married...
2. Or even AFTER they are divorced if not for the right reason - Matthew 5:32; 19:9.
3. So a person can be guilty of adultery either:
1. By having relations with another's spouse.
2. By marrying someone who either:
1. Did not put their first spouse away for fornication.
2. Or was put away by their spouse for ANY reason.

Matthew 5:32 says that sexual immorality "causes her to commit adultery." From this verse we can see that they are obviously two different things. Sexual immorality leads to adultery. All adultery is sexual immorality, but all sexual immorality is not adultery. As you stated, they both are sins and could cause one to lose their soul.

Anyone involved in the use of pornography should seek God's forgiveness, but scripture does not indicate it to be a valid reason for divorce and remarriage.