Paul on Homosexuality
By: James David Fox / Writer
Earlier
today I was sent the link to a video that was created by someone I have
in the past had a great deal of respect for and have considered a
friend of mine. This individual spoke on what is "NATURAL" and what is
"UNNATURAL," leading into a case against gay marriage. On this issue he
used as his basis Biblical text 1st Corinthians Chapter 6, Verse 9.
Quoting from the KJV of the Bible it reads:
"1 Corinthians 6:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind."
Now, I understand that most Christians use this version of the Bible and modern day translations have taken off from this same version and understanding, especially ENGLISH versions of the Bible.
I myself am a Christian and I do own and read the KJV of the Bible, however, I also realize that the New Testament was written in GREEK and NOT English. So in my Biblical study I include the original Greek in order to fully understand the meaning of what ever Scripture I am reading. So therefore I must also include the original Greek text to the exact same Scripture in the Bible.
Quoting from the Original Greek of the Bible it reads:
"1 Corinthians 6:9 Original Greek Version
9 ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν; μὴ πλανᾶσθε· οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται
9 ē ouk oidate oti adikoi theou basileian ou klēronomēsousin mē planasthe oute pornoi oute eidōlolatrai oute moichoi oute malakoi oute arsenokoitai"
Let's take a look at the word "arsenokoitai," Paul used in Corinthians that so many are taking to mean gay or homosexual.
That's a great study in itself because Paul could have used many words if he intended to blast gays and lesbians. Yet Paul used none of those available words, choosing instead to coin an interesting new word, arsenokoitai.
Despite what some scholars allege, arsenokoitai is never used in any extant Greek literature with our modern meaning of homosexual. The best evidence available today indicates that arsenokoitai described shrine prostitutes. That is the learned opinion of Philo, a contemporary of both Jesus and the apostle Paul and one of the most widely read Jewish intellectuals in the first century.
The apostle Paul, also a brilliant intellectual, was one of the most successful authors who ever lived. He wrote 14 short books in our New Testament, each of which has sold more than one billion copies. Paul received an exceptional education through private tutors including Gamaliel, the leading Jewish teacher of the first century, Acts 22:3.
Romans 1 indicates Paul had read and was familiar with Wisdom of Solomon, a book which is not part of inspired scripture and with secular writers of his day. Paul quotes at least three heathen writers in his inspired epistles, Epimenides, Aratus and Menander. He quotes Epimenides and Aratus in Acts 17:28, Menander in 1 Cor 15:32 and Epimenides in Titus 1:14.
Because Paul, AD 4 - 67, and Philo of Alexandria, 20 BC - AD 50, were contemporaries and because Paul was well educated and widely read, it is reasonable to believe that Paul was familiar with the writings of Philo, a fellow Jew and public intellectual, although not a fellow Christian. Philo understood Moses, in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, to be condemning shrine prostitution.
Philo's understanding that arsenos koiten refers to shrine prostitution is 2000 years old. It was a Jewish belief with which the Apostle Paul was familiar because Paul coins a new word describing temple prostitution using the Septuagint Greek words of Leviticus 20:13. Believing that Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 refers to shrine or temple prostitution is not a modern belief invented by gays to alibi their "sin." It is the ancient Jewish and Christian belief for thousands of years.
Leviticus 18:22 - meta arsenos ou koimethese koiten gunaikos
Leviticus 20:13 - hos an koimethe meta arsenos koiten gunaikos
A Greek translation of Leviticus 20:13, arsenos koiten, is probably the source of the Greek word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. Many Christians believe Paul borrowed arsenokoitai from the Septuagint translation of Lev 18:22 and 20:13. Therefore, it is vitally important to understand how ancient Jews and Christians understood these verses.
Understanding arsenokoitai as a reference to shrine prostitution was the normal first century viewpoint, when Paul used his new Greek word, arsenokoitai, in 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10.
Dr. Gordon Fee, a leading conservative heterosexual Greek scholar, points out that arsenokoites is rarely used in Greek literature "especially when describing homosexual activity."
Philo on shrine prostitution.
“(40) And I imagine that the cause of this is that among many nations there are actually rewards given for intemperance and effeminacy. At all events one may see men-women (androgynes) continually strutting through the market place at midday, and leading the processions in festivals;
and, impious men as they are, having received by lot the charge of the temple, and beginning the sacred and initiating rites, and concerned even in the holy mysteries of Ceres
(Ceres is another name for Cybele, the fertility goddess first century Romans referred to as the Mater Deum or Mother of the gods. Remember, Philo probably wrote this around AD 35.)
(41) And some of these persons have even carried their admiration of these delicate pleasures of youth so far that they have desired wholly to change their condition for that of women, and have castrated themselves and have clothed themselves in purple robes...
(Philo describes castrated Galli priests who served Cybele and other fertility goddesses throughout the Roman Empire and links them to Lev 18:22, 20:13 and Deu 23:17).
(42) But if there was a general indignation against those who venture to do such things, as was felt by our lawgiver..." (Moses was the Jewish Lawgiver. Philo refers to Moses' writings in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 and Deuteronomy 23:17).
Philo, The Special Laws, III, VII, 40-42.
When we remember that ancient Judaism did not view Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as applicable to lesbians, we must conclude that the Apostle Paul would therefore not have used words from Lev 18:22 and 20:13 to condemn lesbians in 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 because there was no basis in Old Testament law or Jewish thinking to do that.
Because the Jewish view was that Lev 18:22 and 20:13 (Deu 23:17) prohibited shrine prostitution, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have used arsenokoitai with a meaning unfamiliar to most of his readers.
And because arsenokoitai is never used in any extant Greek text from AD 57 to AD 1450, to refer to two men or two women in committed partnership, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have used arsenokoitai with that meaning, which would have baffled his first century readers.
Viewing 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 as universal prohibitions of lesbianism and homosexuality and interpreting these verses to mean that lesbians and homosexuals cannot go to heaven is a relatively recent interpretation. It is certainly not the predominant view for 2000 years of church history.
Based on these historically and Biblically accurate facts, we conclude that neither God, nor Moses nor Paul intended anyone to understand that committed, faithful same sex partnerships are wrong, sinful, out of bounds, against God's will or unscriptural.
Our spiritual honest faithful to history and "faithful to scripture rightly divided" (2 Timothy 2:15) conclusion therefore is that 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 are not a negative blast against gays and lesbians.
They are instead, warnings against temple prostitution. Paul is saying, 'God saved you out of pagan religion so live in that reality and serve only the true God. Do not go back to worshiping false gods.'
For all of you who have an inkling of common sense and knowledge of language, here it goes,
"Arsenokoites is a compound Greek word, formed by joining arseno - man and koite - bed. A compound word does not always equal the sum of its parts."
The main point I am trying to make here is that the etymology of a word is not a statement about its meaning but about its history. I tell you now, it is quite wrong to suppose that the etymology of a word is necessarily a guide either to its ‘proper’ meaning in a later period or to its actual meaning in that period.” Take it or leave it, there it is and if you can't handle the truth, so be it.
Here are some examples of compound words which have a meaning different than the meaning of their parts:
Mandate - A date with a man? Oh, doesn't that sound exciting! If we break down the word mandate the way anti-gay Christians break down arsenokoitai to mean have sex with a man, man+date must mean a date with a man. Isn't that a foolish way to discover word meanings? A mandate is not a date with a man.
A mandate is a command, authorization or permission to perform a duty or a task. It has nothing to do with dating a man. The meaning of mandate is not the sum of its parts.
Butterfly - A dairy product with the ability to defy gravity? A fly who hangs around the dairy? The meaning of butterfly is not the sum of its parts.
Flywheel - A round piece of metal that flies through the air? A miniature wheel invented by a fly? The meaning of flywheel is not the sum of its parts.
Ladybug - A strange creature, part etiquette-conscious woman and part insect? A lady who loves bugs? A lady who hates bugs? A bug who loves ladies? The meaning of ladybug in not the sum of its parts.
Mankind - A man noted for his generous, always sympathetic, warm-hearted spirit? Tonto, describing the Lone Ranger? Mankind does not mean a man who is kind. The meaning of mankind is not the sum of its parts.
Chairman - A man who makes chairs? A chair for men only? A man who sells chairs? A man who sits in chairs? The meaning of chairman is not the sum of its parts.
Ladykiller - A woman of impeccable manners who murders others? A man who kills ladies? The meaning of ladykiller is not the sum of its parts.
Arsenokoites is a compound word
Just so, interpreting the compound word arsenokoites or arsenokoitai to mean homosexual, because arseno by itself means man and koite by itself, is a Greek euphemism for sex, is linguistically inaccurate. Ancient Greek writers, including the apostle Paul, never used arsenokoites that way.
The modern tendency which assumes arsenokoites must mean homosexual, ignores historic usage of the word. The modern assumption is based on the wishful thinking of antigay Christians, not actual usage of arsenokoites in antiquity.
The fact that arsenokoites was never used in ancient times, to refer to men in committed homosexual partnership, provides a powerful clue that arsenokoites does not mean homosexual.
Hmmmm, seems a lot of people have been interpreting the Word Of God PLAIN OLD WRONG, HUH?
By: James David Fox / Writer
Quoting from the KJV of the Bible it reads:
"1 Corinthians 6:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind."
Now, I understand that most Christians use this version of the Bible and modern day translations have taken off from this same version and understanding, especially ENGLISH versions of the Bible.
I myself am a Christian and I do own and read the KJV of the Bible, however, I also realize that the New Testament was written in GREEK and NOT English. So in my Biblical study I include the original Greek in order to fully understand the meaning of what ever Scripture I am reading. So therefore I must also include the original Greek text to the exact same Scripture in the Bible.
Quoting from the Original Greek of the Bible it reads:
"1 Corinthians 6:9 Original Greek Version
9 ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν; μὴ πλανᾶσθε· οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται
9 ē ouk oidate oti adikoi theou basileian ou klēronomēsousin mē planasthe oute pornoi oute eidōlolatrai oute moichoi oute malakoi oute arsenokoitai"
Let's take a look at the word "arsenokoitai," Paul used in Corinthians that so many are taking to mean gay or homosexual.
That's a great study in itself because Paul could have used many words if he intended to blast gays and lesbians. Yet Paul used none of those available words, choosing instead to coin an interesting new word, arsenokoitai.
Despite what some scholars allege, arsenokoitai is never used in any extant Greek literature with our modern meaning of homosexual. The best evidence available today indicates that arsenokoitai described shrine prostitutes. That is the learned opinion of Philo, a contemporary of both Jesus and the apostle Paul and one of the most widely read Jewish intellectuals in the first century.
The apostle Paul, also a brilliant intellectual, was one of the most successful authors who ever lived. He wrote 14 short books in our New Testament, each of which has sold more than one billion copies. Paul received an exceptional education through private tutors including Gamaliel, the leading Jewish teacher of the first century, Acts 22:3.
Romans 1 indicates Paul had read and was familiar with Wisdom of Solomon, a book which is not part of inspired scripture and with secular writers of his day. Paul quotes at least three heathen writers in his inspired epistles, Epimenides, Aratus and Menander. He quotes Epimenides and Aratus in Acts 17:28, Menander in 1 Cor 15:32 and Epimenides in Titus 1:14.
Because Paul, AD 4 - 67, and Philo of Alexandria, 20 BC - AD 50, were contemporaries and because Paul was well educated and widely read, it is reasonable to believe that Paul was familiar with the writings of Philo, a fellow Jew and public intellectual, although not a fellow Christian. Philo understood Moses, in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, to be condemning shrine prostitution.
Philo's understanding that arsenos koiten refers to shrine prostitution is 2000 years old. It was a Jewish belief with which the Apostle Paul was familiar because Paul coins a new word describing temple prostitution using the Septuagint Greek words of Leviticus 20:13. Believing that Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 refers to shrine or temple prostitution is not a modern belief invented by gays to alibi their "sin." It is the ancient Jewish and Christian belief for thousands of years.
Leviticus 18:22 - meta arsenos ou koimethese koiten gunaikos
Leviticus 20:13 - hos an koimethe meta arsenos koiten gunaikos
A Greek translation of Leviticus 20:13, arsenos koiten, is probably the source of the Greek word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. Many Christians believe Paul borrowed arsenokoitai from the Septuagint translation of Lev 18:22 and 20:13. Therefore, it is vitally important to understand how ancient Jews and Christians understood these verses.
Understanding arsenokoitai as a reference to shrine prostitution was the normal first century viewpoint, when Paul used his new Greek word, arsenokoitai, in 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10.
Dr. Gordon Fee, a leading conservative heterosexual Greek scholar, points out that arsenokoites is rarely used in Greek literature "especially when describing homosexual activity."
Philo on shrine prostitution.
“(40) And I imagine that the cause of this is that among many nations there are actually rewards given for intemperance and effeminacy. At all events one may see men-women (androgynes) continually strutting through the market place at midday, and leading the processions in festivals;
and, impious men as they are, having received by lot the charge of the temple, and beginning the sacred and initiating rites, and concerned even in the holy mysteries of Ceres
(Ceres is another name for Cybele, the fertility goddess first century Romans referred to as the Mater Deum or Mother of the gods. Remember, Philo probably wrote this around AD 35.)
(41) And some of these persons have even carried their admiration of these delicate pleasures of youth so far that they have desired wholly to change their condition for that of women, and have castrated themselves and have clothed themselves in purple robes...
(Philo describes castrated Galli priests who served Cybele and other fertility goddesses throughout the Roman Empire and links them to Lev 18:22, 20:13 and Deu 23:17).
(42) But if there was a general indignation against those who venture to do such things, as was felt by our lawgiver..." (Moses was the Jewish Lawgiver. Philo refers to Moses' writings in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 and Deuteronomy 23:17).
Philo, The Special Laws, III, VII, 40-42.
When we remember that ancient Judaism did not view Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as applicable to lesbians, we must conclude that the Apostle Paul would therefore not have used words from Lev 18:22 and 20:13 to condemn lesbians in 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 because there was no basis in Old Testament law or Jewish thinking to do that.
Because the Jewish view was that Lev 18:22 and 20:13 (Deu 23:17) prohibited shrine prostitution, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have used arsenokoitai with a meaning unfamiliar to most of his readers.
And because arsenokoitai is never used in any extant Greek text from AD 57 to AD 1450, to refer to two men or two women in committed partnership, it is highly unlikely that Paul would have used arsenokoitai with that meaning, which would have baffled his first century readers.
Viewing 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 as universal prohibitions of lesbianism and homosexuality and interpreting these verses to mean that lesbians and homosexuals cannot go to heaven is a relatively recent interpretation. It is certainly not the predominant view for 2000 years of church history.
Based on these historically and Biblically accurate facts, we conclude that neither God, nor Moses nor Paul intended anyone to understand that committed, faithful same sex partnerships are wrong, sinful, out of bounds, against God's will or unscriptural.
Our spiritual honest faithful to history and "faithful to scripture rightly divided" (2 Timothy 2:15) conclusion therefore is that 1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10 are not a negative blast against gays and lesbians.
They are instead, warnings against temple prostitution. Paul is saying, 'God saved you out of pagan religion so live in that reality and serve only the true God. Do not go back to worshiping false gods.'
For all of you who have an inkling of common sense and knowledge of language, here it goes,
"Arsenokoites is a compound Greek word, formed by joining arseno - man and koite - bed. A compound word does not always equal the sum of its parts."
The main point I am trying to make here is that the etymology of a word is not a statement about its meaning but about its history. I tell you now, it is quite wrong to suppose that the etymology of a word is necessarily a guide either to its ‘proper’ meaning in a later period or to its actual meaning in that period.” Take it or leave it, there it is and if you can't handle the truth, so be it.
Here are some examples of compound words which have a meaning different than the meaning of their parts:
Mandate - A date with a man? Oh, doesn't that sound exciting! If we break down the word mandate the way anti-gay Christians break down arsenokoitai to mean have sex with a man, man+date must mean a date with a man. Isn't that a foolish way to discover word meanings? A mandate is not a date with a man.
A mandate is a command, authorization or permission to perform a duty or a task. It has nothing to do with dating a man. The meaning of mandate is not the sum of its parts.
Butterfly - A dairy product with the ability to defy gravity? A fly who hangs around the dairy? The meaning of butterfly is not the sum of its parts.
Flywheel - A round piece of metal that flies through the air? A miniature wheel invented by a fly? The meaning of flywheel is not the sum of its parts.
Ladybug - A strange creature, part etiquette-conscious woman and part insect? A lady who loves bugs? A lady who hates bugs? A bug who loves ladies? The meaning of ladybug in not the sum of its parts.
Mankind - A man noted for his generous, always sympathetic, warm-hearted spirit? Tonto, describing the Lone Ranger? Mankind does not mean a man who is kind. The meaning of mankind is not the sum of its parts.
Chairman - A man who makes chairs? A chair for men only? A man who sells chairs? A man who sits in chairs? The meaning of chairman is not the sum of its parts.
Ladykiller - A woman of impeccable manners who murders others? A man who kills ladies? The meaning of ladykiller is not the sum of its parts.
Arsenokoites is a compound word
Just so, interpreting the compound word arsenokoites or arsenokoitai to mean homosexual, because arseno by itself means man and koite by itself, is a Greek euphemism for sex, is linguistically inaccurate. Ancient Greek writers, including the apostle Paul, never used arsenokoites that way.
The modern tendency which assumes arsenokoites must mean homosexual, ignores historic usage of the word. The modern assumption is based on the wishful thinking of antigay Christians, not actual usage of arsenokoites in antiquity.
The fact that arsenokoites was never used in ancient times, to refer to men in committed homosexual partnership, provides a powerful clue that arsenokoites does not mean homosexual.
Hmmmm, seems a lot of people have been interpreting the Word Of God PLAIN OLD WRONG, HUH?
If I can say a couple of things: Leviticus 18:22 says: Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is an abomination.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this statement is rather clear; however, let us assume Philo interpreted Moses as men should not lie with prostitutes (which is where the author seems to be going.) Do we know for certain how all people contemporary with Philo interpreted the meaning in Lev. 18:22 as shrine prostitution? Do we know what the prostitutes Philo spoke of looked like? Of course not! Philo could have been speaking of male prostitutes. Paul may have spoke Greek, but he was not a “native” Greek; is it possible that Paul could have used the wrong noun since he was teaching in Greek (a language which was not his native language.)
There are other scriptures that argue against homosexuality:
1.Gen 19:5 bring them out unto us, that we may “know” them. (Reference to sodomy.)
2.Deut. 23:17 there shall be no…sodomite of the sons of Israel;
3.Isaiah 3:9 declare their sin as Sodom;
4.Romans 1:27 men…burned in their lust one toward the other;
5.1 Cor. 6:9 nor abusers of themselves with mankind;
6.1 Tim. 1:10 them that defile themselves with mankind;
7.Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah…going after strange flesh.
Since the beginning of time, God gave the woman to man to bring up offspring. It is said that both were called Adam and they were one flesh.
Where is there a scintilla of evidence of men marrying men; or women marrying women in Judeo/Christian text? It does not exist. This is a modern invention made up because homosexuals want to justify what they do.
Because homosexuals cannot have natural increase, the lust they feel is unnatural and not of God (in my humble opinion.)
NOW…I know where you are going with this, Diane! We should not allow this matter of faith become such a great issue we allow our fellowship with gays to become poisoned (and I fully agree)! Because we live in a free Republic, gay people have the right to conduct their lives the way they see fit. They should be given the same rights as all other people in a free Republic. On a personal level, I believe gays should have what I call “power of attorney” over their own lives. They should deem who their family is and is not based on their own morality; not mine. I am not their god; nor do I cast stones at them.
Instead of calling their union “marriage”, call it a civil union. Both gays and straights could call this “marriage” a civil union (under the law.) Now, the marriage in private in a church or in the back yard is “marriage”, but all the other legal stuff could be considered a civil union (under the law). I’m trying to placate both sides here!
Gays need to understand that there are many people who feel deeply about their convictions, but surely there is a way we can join hands in fighting the greatest evil of all: Obama!
This is what should happen: the government should allow gays a civil union (because we live in a free Republic) and the gays can call that civil union any damned thing they want in the privacy of their own homes, and heterosexuals can do the same. NOW...although I see the bible differently than they do; I will fight to the death for their freedom to believe it as they see fit. We live in a free society and they are children of god just as much as anyone else. The left knows the right feels deeply about religion, and they are trying to divide us on those grounds. United we stand; divided we fall!
Sodomy? Why are you straight people always hung up on sodomy? You do realize that not every gay person practices that, right? Many, many don't. Also, many heterosexuals DO practice sodomy. It's a sexual act not affiliated with the person's sexual identity.
DeleteSexuality (gay, straight, lesbian, bi, trans, etc) is about who the person loves, not which sex acts they perform. Should we judge you entirely upon what you do in the bedroom? There's more to you than that, right?
If gays can't marry, than nobody should be able to marry. Marriage equality is about rights under the government, not religion. Nobody is asking for the government to force your churches to perform our marriages. Having one name for what you can have and a different name for what I can have is not acceptable in this country.
I know the man who wrote this and he is as fine a patriot as any of us straight people are.
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