Infidelity in Christian Marriage (Part 1)
I warmly welcome you to the November 2025 edition of Singles’ World. In the last edition, we examined Omugwo as a cultural and traditional practice which, sadly, has become a source of conflict in many homes today. I sincerely hope that the series was impactful. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you when you arrive at that stage in your marriage.
In this edition, I want to discuss infidelity in Christian marriage. My prayer is that the Lord will use this message to guide our families and restore those who have already become victims of infidelity, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Introduction
Infidelity is one of the leading causes of divorce and marital breakdown in society today, including Christian homes. Many believers assume—though wrongly—that marriage is a cure for adultery because 1 Corinthians 7:2 says, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
However, marriage in itself does not automatically end adultery; at best, it regulates and disciplines our sexual lives. Sadly, in these end times, the enemy is relentlessly attacking marriages. Many homes have been destroyed by sexual immorality. Adultery thrives today not because the Word of God lacks the power to deliver but because many people ignore the foundational principles of godly relationships.
Jesus Himself acknowledged that marriage does not eliminate the possibility of infidelity. Being married does not insulate anyone from temptation. Even when you are not seeking immorality, some people may be seeking you. That is why Jesus made sexual immorality the sole legitimate ground for divorce. In Matthew 19:9, He declared: “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery…”
Hebrews 13:4 further warns, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
This shows that even within marriage, the marriage bed can be defiled. Therefore, marriage is not automatically a safeguard against adultery; rather, it places upon us a divine obligation to keep the bed undefiled.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God’s stance against adultery has remained consistent. In Exodus 20:14, Scripture commands, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Proverbs 6:32 adds: “Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding…” And in Galatians 5:19, adultery is listed among the works of the flesh. The message is clear: God forbids adultery at all times.
The Prevalence of Infidelity in Society
The rate at which infidelity is spreading today is alarming. It cuts across all social groups—the poor and the rich, the educated and the uneducated, and the religious and the unreligious. Born-again Christians fall into it, as do unbelievers. Ministers of God, who ought to be gatekeepers and watchmen over the flock, are not exempt. Leaders and followers alike are involved. Some married academics engage in sexual immorality with students or colleagues. Public office holders, law enforcement agents, politicians, and many others do the same. Unfortunately, adultery has almost become normalized.
The rise in DNA testing has also exposed paternity fraud cases. Many men have discovered—often too late—that the children they have loved, raised, and sponsored for years were not biologically theirs. Some have died from the shock and trauma of such revelations. Likewise, some husbands openly or secretly engage in adultery. The truth is that both sexes are deeply involved.
Infidelity remains one of the most destructive threats to Christian marriage today. Though modern society and some indigenous cultures may tolerate permissiveness, casual sex, polygamy, and infidelity, these acts destroy Christian testimony and bring reproach to the name of the Lord. Romans 2:24 warns that it is because of such sins that “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles.”
Marriage is a covenant. When you break that covenant through illicit sexual relationships, you commit infidelity. The consequences are devastating, and infidelity is a grievous sin before the Lord.
Types of Adultery
Infidelity is more than physical sexual intercourse with someone other than one’s spouse. It manifests in several forms, including the following:
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Physical Adultery
