Flee Fornication

Fornication is the mother of all evils:

Testament of Simeon 5:3

Beware, therefore, of fornication, For fornication is mother of all evils, Separating from Alahayim, and bringing near to Beliar.

She negatively affects the mind, soul and body:

Acts of Thomas 28

For fornication blinds the mind and darkens the eyes of the soul, and is an obstruction to life (conversation) of the body, making the whole man weak and casting his whole body into sickness.

Though the thoughts she sends according to our desires that are not good, she blinds the mind, darkens the soul and weakens the body entering into the nature and senses as she is first of the spirits of error that are against us from our youth:

Testament of Reuben 3:3

First, the spirit of fornication is seated in the nature and in the senses;

Being the mother of all evils, She desires to persuade us with evil thoughts and enter into our nature and senses to lead us away from Alahayim and His laws onto the devil and his works:

Testament of Rueben 4:6-7

Therefore, my children, I say unto you, observe all things whatsoever I command you, and ye shall not sin. For a pit unto the soul is the sin of fornication, separating it from Alahayim, and bringing it near to idols, because it deceiveth the mind and understanding, and leadeth young men into hades before their time.

She deceives the mind and understanding and takes away our understanding to work holiness as there is no understanding or holiness in her:

Testament of Rueben 7:4

4 For in fornication there is neither understanding nor holiness, and all jealousy dwelleth in the lust thereof.

Jealousy is a spirit that dwells in her lust so one has to be mindful of that spirit as well lest it draw us into the lusts of fornication. The spirit of Fornication can affect us in more ways than just unlawful intimate acts. She also leads us to do the following works:

Testament of Judah 17:2-6

2 Beware, therefore, my children, of fornication, and the love of money, and hearken to Judah your father. 3 For these things withdraw you from the law of Alahayim, and blind the inclination of the soul, and teach arrogance, and suffer not a man to have compassion upon his neighbour. 4 They rob his soul of all goodness, and oppress him with toils and troubles, and drive away sleep from him, and devour his flesh. 5 And he hindereth the sacrifices of Alahayim; And he remembereth not the blessing of Alahayim, he hearkeneth not to a prophet when he speaketh, and resenteth the words of holiness. 6 For he is a slave to two contrary passions, and cannot obey Alahayim, because they have blinded his soul, And he walketh in the day as in the night.

Judah helps understand that Fornication also affects the mental emotional and physical health. It also keeps us from obedience to Alahayim and his prophets, so this spirit truly separates us from Alahayim to the afflictions of serving Beliar. Idolatry is spiritual fornication and it turns us unto doing evil in life:

Wis 14:12

For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.

When worshipping to Idols, it causes all evil:

Wisdom of Solomon 14:27

For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.

Wisdom of Solomon 14:22-31

22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of Alahayim; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace. 23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revelings of strange rites; 24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traitorously, or grieved him by adultery. 25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury, 26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness. 28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves. 29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt. 30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of Alahayim, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness. 31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the unholy.

Idolatry to spiritually fornicate also leads to fornication itself in the flesh

Rom 1:20-28

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Alahayim; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew Alahayim, they glorified him not as Alahayim, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible Alahayim into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore Alahayim also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of Alahayim into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause Alahayim gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain Alahayim in their knowledge, Alahayim gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Through the scriptures, it’s understood that the spirit of fornication can cause harm to us in various ways and she can have an effect on anyone regardless of who we are:

Testament of Rueben 4:8

For many hath fornication destroyed; because, though a man be old or noble, or rich or poor, he bringeth reproach upon himself with the sons of men and derision with Beliar.

Fornication blinds us so a lot of times we aren’t aware of the harm she is doing because we have too much pleasure in it unless Alahayim wills to bring us out of her deception to see things for what they truly are and work to overcome the pleasure in her works

Testament of Judah 14:1

1 He that committeth fornication is not aware when he suffers loss, and is not ashamed when put to dishonour. 2 For even though a man be a king and commit fornication, he is stripped of his kingship by becoming the slave of fornication, as I myself also suffered. 3 For I gave my staff, that is, the stay of my tribe; and my girdle, that is, my power; and my diadem, that is, the glory of my kingdom. 4 And indeed I repented of these things; wine and flesh I eat not until my old age, nor did I behold any joy. 5 And the angel of Alahayim showed me that for ever do women bear rule over king and beggar alike. 6 And from the king they take away his glory, and from the valiant man his might, and from the beggar even that little which is the stay of his poverty.

Women struggle with the spirit of Fornication more than men so they are more probable to use wiles (manipulation) and outward attraction to overcome men and rule them as Judah explained

Testament of Rueben 5:1-6

1 For evil are women, my children; and since they have no power or strength over man, they use wiles by outward attractions, that they may draw him to themselves. And whom they cannot bewitch by outward attractions, him they overcome by craft. For moreover, concerning them, the angel of the Lord told me, and taught me, that women are overcome by the spirit of fornication more than men, and in their heart they plot against men; and by means of their adornment they deceive first their minds, and by the glance of the eye instill the poison, and then through the accomplished act they take them captive. For a woman cannot force a man openly, but by a harlot’s bearing she beguiles him. Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they adorn not their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who useth these wiles hath been reserved for eternal punishment.

To avoid Fornication, we also have to be mindful of wine as it is a minister to the spirit of Fornication when not used rightly

Testament of Judah 15

1 Observe, therefore, my children, the right limit in wine; for there are in it four evil spirits--of lust, of hot desire, of profligacy of filthy lucre. 2 If ye drink wine in gladness, be ye modest in the fear of Alahayim. For if in your gladness the fear of Alahayim departeth, then drunkenness ariseth and shamelessness stealeth in. 3 But if ye would live soberly do not touch wine at all, lest ye sin in words of outrage, and in fightings and slanders, and transgressions of the commandments of Alahayim, and ye perish before your time. 4 Moreover, wine revealeth the mysteries of Alahayim and men, even as I also revealed the commandments of Alahayim and the mysteries of Jacob my father to the Canaanitish woman Bathshua, which Alahayim bade me not to reveal. 5 And wine is a cause both of war and confusion.

Testament of Judah 13

1 And now, my children, I say unto you, be not drunk with wine; for wine turneth the mind away from the truth, and inspires the passion of lust, and leadeth the eyes into error. 2 For the spirit of fornication hath wine as a minister to give pleasure to the mind; for these two also take away the mind of man. 3 For if a man drink wine to drunkenness, it disturbeth the mind with filthy thoughts leading to fornication, and heateth the body to carnal union; and if the occasion of the lust be present, he worketh the sin, and is not ashamed. 4 Such is the inebriated man, my children; for he who is drunken reverenceth no man. 5 For, lo, it made me also to err, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude in the city, in that before the eyes of all I turned aside unto Tamar, and I wrought a great sin, and I uncovered the covering of my sons’ shame. 6 After I had drunk wine I reverenced not the commandment of Alahayim, and I took a woman of Canaan to wife. 7 For much discretion needeth the man who drinketh wine, my children; and herein is discretion in drinking wine a man may drink so long as he preserveth modesty. 8 But if he go beyond this limit the spirit of deceit attacketh his mind, and it maketh the drunkard to talk filthily, and to transgress and not to be ashamed, but even to glory in his shame, and to account himself honourable

Alahayim willing this helps understand how wine, Deceit, and Fornication can work together.

Overcoming Fornication

The spirit of fornication can cause harm in various ways as seen through the precepts thus far, yet she cannot overcome us if we are diligent not to agree with any thought that’s according to an evil desire or the evil desire itself:

Testament of Rueben 4:9-11

For ye heard regarding Joseph how he guarded himself from a woman, and purged his thoughts from all fornication, and found favor in the sight of Alahayim and men. For the Egyptian woman did many things unto him, and summoned magicians, and offered him love potions, but the purpose of his soul admitted no evil desire. Therefore, the Alahayim of your fathers delivered him from every evil and hidden death. For if fornication overcomes not your mind, neither can Beliar overcome you.

Through the conquering of fornication in the mind one can overcome the Devil. A pure mind in love is key to overcome fornication in our nature and senses:

Testament of Benjamin 8:2-3

2 He that hath a pure mind in love, looketh not after a woman with a view to fornication; for he hath no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of Alahayim resteth upon him. 3 For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather drieth up both and driveth away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though encompassed by the defilements of earth, rather cleanseth them and is not itself defiled.

Testament of Issachar 4

1 And now, hearken to me, my children, and walk in singleness of your heart, For I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord. 2 The single-minded man coveteth not gold, He overreacheth not his neighbour, He longeth not after manifold dainties, He delighteth not in varied apparel. 3 He doth not desire to live a long life, But only waiteth for the will of Alahayim. 4 And the spirits of deceit have no power against him, for he looketh not on the beauty of women, lest he should pollute his mind with corruption. 5 There is no envy in his thoughts, no malicious person maketh his soul to pine away, Nor worry with insatiable desire in his mind. 6 For he walketh in singleness of soul, and beholdeth all things in uprightness of heart, Shunning eyes made evil through the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord

Sheperd of Hermas Mandate 4 (1:1-3)

1:1 "I charge thee, "saith he, "to keep purity, and let not a thought enter into thy heart concerning another's wife, or concerning fornication, or concerning any such like evil deeds; for in so doing thou commitest a great sin. But remember thine own wife always, and thou shalt never go wrong. 2 For should this desire enter into thine heart, thou wilt go wrong, and should any other as evil as this, thou commitest sin. For this desire in a servant of Alahayim is a great sin; and if any man doeth this evil deed, he worketh out death for himself. 3 Look to it therefore. Abstain from this desire; for, where holiness dwelleth, there lawlessness ought not to enter into the heart of a righteous man."

Testament of Reuben 6

1 Beware, therefore, of fornication; and if you wish to be pure in mind, guard your senses from every woman.

Testament of Reuben 4:1

Pay no heed, therefore, my children, to the beauty of women, nor set your mind on their affairs; but walk in singleness of heart in the fear of the Lord, and expend labour on good works, and on study and on your flocks, until the Lord give you a wife, whom He will, that ye suffer not as I did.

Testament of Issachar 3:5

Therefore, when I was nineteen years old, I took to myself a wife, for my labour wore away my strength, and I never thought upon pleasure with women; but owing to my toil, sleep overcame me.

Testament of Reuben 3:9-10

9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear ye the words of Reuben your father. 10 Pay no heed to the face of a woman, nor associate with another man’s wife, nor meddle with affairs of womankind

Testament of Ruben 7:2-3

And command the women likewise not to associate with men, that they also may be pure 3 in mind. For constant meetings, even though the unholy deed be not wrought, are to them an irremediable disease, and to us a destruction of Beliar and an eternal reproach.

Testament of Judah 15

1 He that committeth fornication is not aware when he suffers loss, and is not ashamed when put 2 to dishonor. For even though a man be a king and commit fornication, he is stripped of his 3 kingship by becoming the slave of fornication, as I myself also suffered. For I gave my staff, that is, the stay of my tribe; and my girdle, that is, my power; and my diadem, that is, the glory of my 4 kingdom. And indeed I repented of these things; wine and flesh I eat not until my old age, nor 5 did I behold any joy.

Testament of Judah 14

1 And now I command you, my children, hearken to Judah your father, and keep my sayings to perform all the ordinances of the Lord, and to obey the commands of Alahayim. 2 And walk not after your lusts, nor in the imaginations of your thoughts in haughtiness of heart; and glory not in the deeds and strength of your youth, for this also is evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Testament of Judah 15

1 And now, I command you, my children, not to love money, nor to gaze upon the beauty of women

Testament of Judah 17:2

2 Beware, therefore, my children, of fornication, and the love of money, and hearken to Judah your father.

Testament of Judah 25

1 Observe, therefore, my children, all the law of the Lord, for there is hope for all them who hold fast unto His ways

Testament of Levi 13:1

1 And now, my children, I command you: Fear the Lord your Alahayim with your whole heart, and walk in simplicity according to all His law

Admonitions against Fornication

Barnabas 19:4

Thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys

1Co 6:15-20

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? Alahayim forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of Alahayim, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Alahayim in your body, and in your spirit, which are Alahayim's.

1Th 4:3-5

For this is the will of Alahayim, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not Alahayim:

1Co 7:1

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1Co 7:9

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1Co 7:2-5

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Keep in mind, we reap what we sow, so with the afterlife in mind, live as if one wants to have everlasting life.

Gal 6:7-9

Be not deceived; Alahayim is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The vision of Paul’s trip to Hades sheds light on punishments for adultery and fornication. Thomas also has a woman give account when she went to hell to see the reward of fornication.

Apocalypse of Paul 38

“…..And again I saw men and women of a very black countenance in a pit of fire, and I sighed and wept and asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are whoremongers and adulterers who, having wives of their own, committed adultery, and likewise the women after the same sort committed adultery, having their own husbands: therefore do they pay the penalty without ceasing. “

Apocalypse of Paul

39 And I saw there girls clad in black raiment, and four fearful angels holding in their hands red-hot chains, and they put them upon their necks (heads) and led them away into darkness. And again I wept and asked the angel: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are they which being virgins defiled their virginity, and their parents knew it not: wherefore without ceasing they pay the due penalty.

The Acts of Thomas 56

“And he brought me to another chasm, and as I looked into it I saw mud and worms spouting forth, and souls wallowing there; and I heard a great gnashing of teeth come from them. And that man said to me, “these are the souls of women who left their husbands to commit adultery with others and have been brought to this torment….”

Other Admonitions for Men

Mat 5:27

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Sir 9:5

Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things, that are precious in her.

Sir 9:7

Look not round about thee, in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary places thereof.

Sir 9:8

Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another’s beauty: for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman, for herewith love is kindled as a fire.

Sir 9:3

Meet not with an harlot, least thou fall into her snares.

Sir 9:4

Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, least thou be taken with her attempts.

Sir 9:6

Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou loose not thine inheritance.

Sir 9:9

Sit not at all with another mans wife, nor sit down with her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine, least thine heart incline unto her, and so thorough thy desire thou fall into destruction.

Other Admonitions for Women

1 Timothy 2:9-10

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing piety) with good works.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of Alahayim of great price.

Testament of Rueben 5:6

Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they adorn not their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who useth these wiles hath been reserved for eternal punishment.

Teach women not to beautify themselves to deceive the mind of anyone else. There is no sin in beautifying one's self in general uprightly, but if one's heart's intent is to bewitch by outward attractions and deceive the mind of another then there is punishment that awaits:

Apocalypse of Peter 1:23

23 And there was a great lake full of flaming mire, wherein were certain men that turned away from righteousness; and angels, tormentors, were set over them. And there were also others, women, hanged by their hair above that mire which boiled up; and these were they that adorned themselves for adultery. And the men that were joined with them in the defilement of adultery were hanging by their feet, and had their heads hidden in the mire, and said: We believed not that we should come unto this place.

Apocalypse of Peter 7

"...And again behold two women: they hang them up by their neck and by their hair; they shall cast them into the pit. These are those who plaited their hair, not to make themselves beautiful but to turn them to fornication, that they might ensnare the souls of men to perdition. And the men who lay with them in fornication shall be hung by their loins in that place of fire; and they shall say one to another, 'We did not know that we should come to everlasting punishment.'

Women can plait or braid their hair to make themselves beautiful but if the intent of heart is to turn others into fornication, the reward in the after life won’t be good.

Supplemental Edification

For further edification for Women, check out the “Women’s Series” to supplement the edification on the website as well:

The Women's Series

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEIZO-3m3InBP_vSlMJIzOdFX8FhlbUwI&si=7D8oRxyO_khtExuU

For further edification on the Spirit of Fornication, check out the series on the topic:

Understanding Spiritual Fornication & Idolatry pt. 1

https://youtu.be/15wCcZEguVo?si=9Wena_By0YhNKmYA

Understanding Spiritual Fornication & Idolatry pt. 2

https://youtu.be/Ce004751cZw?si=6qsT_Y8CRtm_rxtR

Understanding Spiritual Fornication & Idolatry pt. 3

https://youtu.be/Ahtp4kQJbrY?si=MrGyVZ13M3-khS8Z

The Matriarch of Evil: the Spirit of Fornication:

https://youtu.be/78iL_6N4Bfo?si=s9cnl5oa35vvG_a1