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Premarital Sex

Social Sciences

By Bernard Kimani, PhD

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  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
  3. Speaking Honestly about Sexuality
  4. Public visibility and private silence
  5. Intimacy without making sex the centre of everything
  6. Definition and Scope
Show 25 more
  1. Misconceptions about Premarital Sex
  2. Desire removes responsibility
  3. Sexual experience proves maturity
  4. Sexual intercourse proves love
  5. Sexual activity secures belonging
  6. Influences on Sexual Decisions
  7. Peer pressure and patterns of thought
  8. Desire and physical boundaries
  9. Silence and inadequate guidance
  10. Pornography and the treatment of other people
  11. Companionship and unstructured time
  12. Alcohol, drugs, and exploitation
  13. Dress and personal responsibility
  14. Biblical, Theological and Ethical Response
  15. Sexuality as God’s gift
  16. Reading Scripture with care
  17. Consequences, conscience, and Christian responsibility
  18. Families, culture, and the church
  19. Reflections and Applications
  20. Teach conviction through explanation
  21. Prepare adults for honest conversation
  22. Join accountability with care
  23. Build communities that sustain responsible choices
  24. Conclusion
  25. References

Abstract

Premarital sex raises questions about Christian discipleship, personal responsibility, sexual knowledge, and the church’s pastoral response to young people. This paper presents an evangelical argument for reserving sexual intercourse for marriage while challenging the silence that often surrounds sexuality in families and churches. Drawing on biblical passages,Christian counselling and ethical literature, and Kenyan public discussion from 2007, it examines misconceptions concerning desire, maturity, love, and peer acceptance. It also considers cultural influences and situations that may shape sexual decisions, distinguishing moral responsibility from coercion and avoiding claims that any single influence inevitably determines behaviour. The central argument is that sexual abstinence before marriage should be taught through a positive theology of sexuality, informed dialogue, self-control, and respect for others, rather than prohibition without explanation. The discussion is theological and pastoral, not an empirical study of the prevalence or consequences of premarital sex. Reflections developed in 2026 consider how churches, families, and theological educators can communicate conviction with compassion, support responsible decisions, and offer care without treating a person’s sexual history as the measure of their worth.

Who this is for

Young People and their advisors

What this resource helps you explore

Understand the right interpretation of the place of sex in marriage

Resource details

Format
Paper · PDF
Subject
Social Sciences
Learning level
Multi-level

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