I didn't want to dilute the impact of this statement by including it in that insanely long post above, but I wanted to extrapolate from this into some verses in the New Testament that I have always been a little bit unclear on. My study this morning has definitely cleared that up for me.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all and undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
A married woman that has sex outside of her marriage is an adulteress, her actions are considered adultery and the male side of the equation is considered an adulterer.
An unmarried woman that has sex is divided into two categories based upon payment.
- Payment + sex - intent to marry = whoredom.
- Sex alone - payment - intent to marry = fornication or profaning her fathers house/folly
A man who has sex for money with no intention of marriage is a whoremonger.
A man who commits villany /folly (Jer 29:23) or fornication with an unmarried woman is still culpable but this sin can be wiped away when and only when he satisfies conditions making her his wife.
Practical application re: polygyny IMO
Sir: if in the course of your search for another wife you engage in sex outside of covenant for any reason and fail for any reason to convert that into a marriage/covenant you are guilty of villany/folly or fornication.
Ma'am: if in the course of your search for a husband and family you engage in sex outside of covenant for any reason and fail for any reason to convert that into a marriage/covenant, you are guilty of villany/folly or fornication.
Can you have sex with intent to marry and it be ok? Absolutely! My advice for the protection of both parties is to make it evident ASAP that that was your intent. Draft a ketubah, ensure that there are witnesses to this fact even if it is after the fact. If possible, pay a bride price of some sort even if it is to her. A ring, even if you choose not to wear it on her "marriage finger". Do something! This is a practical way to strengthen the foundation of your house beyond "he said", "she said".
The best way to avoid all this? Covenant! Covenant! Covenant! Then sex. Lots and lots of sex!