Pornography: Defiling the Image of God

Pornography: Defiling the Image of God

In a world saturated with visual temptation, the word pornography has become almost sanitized by frequency. But biblically speaking, its roots are profoundly damning. The Scriptures do not speak of “pornography” as a modern category, yet the sin it describes—lust, objectification, sexual immorality—is addressed repeatedly and unequivocally.

The Root Word: Porneia

The Greek term most commonly translated as “sexual immorality” is πορνεία (porneia, Strong’s G4202). This word covers all forms of sexual sin outside of God’s covenant of marriage. Its masculine counterpart, πόρνος (pornos, Strong’s G4205), refers to the person who engages in such behavior—a fornicator, or sexually immoral person.

“Let there be no sexual immorality (porneia), impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.”— Ephesians 5:3, NLT

“Flee sexual immorality (porneia)! ‘Every sin a person commits is outside the body’—but the one who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”— 1 Corinthians 6:18, LEB

Context Note: In the first-century Greco-Roman world, sexual practices included prostitution, temple rituals, and public displays of sexual deviancy. Paul’s letters are a direct confrontation with these normalized sins, much like modern believers must confront pornography’s cultural normalization today.

Jesus on Lust: Heart-Level Adultery

Christ does not leave sexual purity open to interpretation. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises the moral bar beyond external behavior and targets the internal gaze.

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”— Matthew 5:27–28, NLT

“ὁ βλέπων γυναῖκα πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτὴν (ho blepōn gynaika pros to epithymēsai autēn)”— “The one who looks at a woman in order to lust after her…”

Greek Note: The verb ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeō, Strong’s G1937) means “to desire, to long for, to covet”—it implies a deliberate, repeated act of mental indulgence. Jesus’ use of this word indicates willful, inward sin—not accidental or momentary awareness of beauty.

The Body Is Not for Pornography

Paul’s teachings in Corinth—arguably one of the most sexually decadent cities of his time—are strikingly relevant.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”— 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NLT

Pornography profanes the temple. It encourages the worship of pleasure, desecrates the image-bearer on the screen, and reduces sex to self-indulgent consumption.

Revelation: Eternal Consequences

The lie that “it’s a private sin” dies quickly when we read Revelation. Jesus Himself lists the πόρνοι (fornicators, sexually immoral) among those outside the gates of God’s kingdom.

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral (πόρνοι), those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”— Revelation 21:8, NLT

“Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral (πόρνοι), the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”— Revelation 22:15, LEB

This is not about “addiction” in therapeutic terms. It’s about judgment. Ongoing, unrepentant sexual immorality places a person outside the gates—forever.

Old Testament Foundations: A Covenant with the Eyes

Even before Christ, the righteous understood the danger of lustful gazing. Job declares:

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”— Job 31:1, NLT

Context Note: In ancient culture, a man’s eyes were understood to be the gateway to action. Job’s preemptive commitment—his “covenant”—is what Jesus later echoed: sin begins in the heart.

False Justifications Refuted

“It’s not hurting anyone.”

This is blatantly false. Pornography fuels sex trafficking, abuses the vulnerable, and creates a marketplace for exploitation. Spiritually, it deadens the conscience, warps relationships, and invites judgment.

“I’m not married—it’s better than fornication.”

Scripture doesn’t offer sin hierarchies as an excuse. Lust is sin, whether single or married. Both lust and fornication are porneia.

“God understands my needs.”

Yes—He does. And He still calls us to crucify the flesh, not coddle it.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”— Galatians 5:24, NLT

Digital Corinth: Modern Temple Prostitution

In ancient Corinth, pagan worship involved visiting temple prostitutes. Today, the “temples” are websites, apps, and media. The altar is the screen. The worship is of self.

But the call is the same: Flee! Do not rationalize. Do not remain. Run.

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.”— 2 Timothy 2:22, NLT

Redemption and Victory

The gospel is not merely about warning—it’s about transformation. Paul’s most hopeful words come in the wake of his strongest rebuke.

“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”— 1 Corinthians 6:11, NLT

Pornography enslaves, but Christ frees. The believer is called not only to abstain, but to be renewed. To see others not as objects, but as souls. To resist not in the flesh, but by the Spirit.