Revisiting a project I began many moons ago - refuting revisionist theology on Bible verses regarding homosexuality. Below is the pitiful attempt to re-work 1 Cor 6:9.
Mamaditto speaks in blue.
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Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind... KJV
There are two words which appear to
have been mistranslated. Malakee (effeminate) and arsenokeeteh
(abusers of themselves with mankind). The Greek term
malakee is used elsewhere in the Bible to mean someone who lacks
discipline or one who is morally weak, and never is it used in reference to
sexuality or gender. It wasn't until 1946 that malakee was given a sexual
connotation when it was translated to mean "sexual perverts" in the Revised
Standard Version.
The second term arsenokeeteh literally means "male-active-bed". Unfortunately, arsenokeeteh has been interpreted by some to mean homosexual. The term arsenokeeteh is obscure, as evidenced by the variety of interpretations it has been assigned throughout history (including "people with infamous habits", and "child molesters"). If Paul was addressing male homosexuality why did he choose such an obscure word when there were Greek words that were more commonly used to describe homosexual behavior? Given Paul's concern with temple prostitution, wouldn't it make more sense to assume that "male-active-bed" was a reference to the male cult prostitution that was prevalent in Greco-Roman culture at that time?
ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ
Or not have YOU known that
unjust(ones) of God kingdom not
κληρονομήσουσιν;
they will inherit;
μὴ πλανᾶσθε: οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε
not beYOU misled: neither fornicators nor idolators nor adulterers nor
κληρονομήσουσιν;
they will inherit;
μὴ πλανᾶσθε: οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε
not beYOU misled: neither fornicators nor idolators nor adulterers nor
μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται...
soft (men) nor liers with males...
soft (men) nor liers with males...
For the record, the proper spelling
is malakos, and it certainly is used in reference to sexuality.
Thayer's Lexicon (p. 387) equates the meaning to "catamite" as does
Strong's Concordance. Vine's
Dictionary associates it with "sins of the flesh." All these were published prior to 1946. Furthermore, the RSV translation has "homosexuals," not "sexual perverts":
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolators, nor
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God...RSV http://www2.mf.no/bibelprog/vines?word=¯t0000861
(Vine's ; pub.1940)
http://bluehost.levendwater.org/books/Thayers%20Greek-English%20lexicon%20of%20the%20New%20Testament/index.htm (Thayer, pp.75, 387; pub.1887)
Arsenokoitai (the proper spelling)
refers to males who go to bed with other males. It is a compound of
arseno (male) and koite (bed).
Thayer's (p.75, linked above)defines it as "sodomite" as does Strong's Concordance. The Gr. koite is the word for "bed" when intercourse is implied, whether illicit or marital.
(cf. Ro 13:13 ; Heb 13:4)
Thayer's (p.75, linked above)defines it as "sodomite" as does Strong's Concordance. The Gr. koite is the word for "bed" when intercourse is implied, whether illicit or marital.
(cf. Ro 13:13 ; Heb 13:4)
http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=greeklexicon&isindex=733 (Strong's)
The most important thing to remember is that this entire verse is a list of behaviors which are "unrighteous" - ἄδικοι. Thus, homosexuality is one of several sexual sins which, if left unconfessed, will preclude inclusion in God's kingdom.
The most important thing to remember is that this entire verse is a list of behaviors which are "unrighteous" - ἄδικοι. Thus, homosexuality is one of several sexual sins which, if left unconfessed, will preclude inclusion in God's kingdom.
