why is 1 Corinthians 6:9 always used to say God is against homosexuality?

Question

This verse is one where Paul wrote a long list of what we shouldn't do. Don't kill one another. Don't lie or cheat or steal. The list goes on to include fornication, idolatry, whoremongering, perjury, etc. He also includes "malokois" and "arsenokoitai."

What's a malokois? What's an arsenokoitai? Actually, those two Greek words have confused scholars to this very day.

Greek scholars say that in first century the Greek word malaokois probably meant "effeminate call boys." The New Revised Standard Version says "male prostitutes."

As for arsenokoitai, Greek scholars don't know exactly what it means.

In 1958, for the first time in history, a person translating that mysterious Greek word into English decided it meant homosexuals, even though there is, in fact, no such word in Greek or Hebrew.

In the past,people used Paul's writings to support slavery, segregation, and apartheid.Is it been done again to condemn another minority, the gay people?

Answer 1

I'll answer the Q... but first, a comment prompted from another answer...

"What would happen if everyone were strictly homosexual? The human race would die off in one generation."

Yeah, OK. There is such a thing as gay people that have kids. In fact, most of the gay and/or bisexual people I know that are in committed relationships have kids of their own. If not from previous heterosexual relationships, they do this through artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization and surrogate pregnancies.

That said, what about asexual people or people that don't want kids? Are they, too, in danger of hell fire for "rebelling against" God's plans? After all, if everyone were strictly asexual, or if everyone used birth control because they didn't want kids, then the human race would also die out, wouldn't it?

Anyway... to answer your Q, Mark... I would have to agree that the word "arsenokoitai" has not been well-defined. I would also have to agree with others that homosexuality is mentioned elsewhere in the NT without the use of this word. However, all that says to me is that the Bible is repulsive (see the link for more on that).

It also raises another important question, though - I would think that it's important we know what not to do, the things that will get us a saddistic punishment of eternity in hell. So why would God allow there to be any question about such a word and its meaning? Oh, but wait... the question of God's deceptions via the Bible is a question raised throughout His "word".

Answer 2

If your a faithful Christian then you know that Jesus loves everybody. He is the most compassionate person ever to have lived, even if he didn't condone a lifestyle, he would be sympathetic to anybodies situation.
People these days go very far in over analyzing the bible. One can prove or disprove almost anything with enough research. Things are often taken out of context or taken too literally without keeping the original intent in mind.
There are passages that promote slavery, the servitude of women, all kinds of things that the church would never stand behind today.
People use as the example of God telling Adam and Eve to go forth and procreate and be fruitful as showing that he doesn't like homosexuality. Use common sense. Adam and Eve were the only two people on earth, of course they need to procreate, but today we have a vast surplus of people. Its not like were running the risk of human extinction. Obviously homosexuality isn't contagious, there is no way that everyone on earth will be gay, there wouldn't likely ever even be anything close to a majority, so there is no risk adverse consequences of two males unable to procreate.
There was no homosexuality at the time of Christ. There was no word for it, it wasn't a recognized condition/lifestyle.
If you followed strict religious rules about sex, you would know that up until just a very short time ago it was considered a sin to have sex any way except the missionary position, and only with the intent to bare child. Few follow that now, does that mean they're all going to hell regardless of the life they lead? Hell no.
Did Jesus write the Bible? No. Did he have any hand in its multiple revisions, re-editions, translations and standardization? No. The only thing that can be taken away from the Bible at this point is a feeling of comfort and general guidance that it may offer you. But seriously, don't take it too seriously.

Answer 3

The church, not just the Bible, clearly teaches that homosexual acts are wrong.

Everybody has always known that homosexual behavior is seriously disordered, and if it really caught on, would shortly result in the destruction of the human race, as procreation would not occur.

Quit trying to split hairs on matters that everyone already clearly understands.

As for your level of Greek language scholarship, consult a real expert. People have been playing word games like this for hundreds of years. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Answer 4

Dont take it so hard, theres a scripture in Malachi in the Old Test and it is almost always used when churches ask for money and ....well.....its o.k.
It bugs me but what I do is always keep an open mind and then I will ask others there opinion and then if Im still not satisfied with what I hear I will take it to the high court and I will ask God to show me what is right and what is manipulation and he usually does.

Answer 5

Wait a 2nd. First you're saying the regulation could stick to to government places of artwork, then you certainly say that it could censor the Church. via fact that while is the Church a central authority place of work? heavily, whoever advised you this grow to be mendacity by using their tooth. bill 1592 deals particularly with offering money to State government to inspect VIOLENT hate crimes. only approximately each State has had hate crime rules for years, and the in many circumstances threatened rounding up and imprisoning of clerics has yet to ensue. in my opinion i do no longer think of that detest crime rules are needed if the present rules are enforced particularly, yet paranoia and misrepresentation are no longer the suited thank you to protest them

Answer 6

Hi Mark,

First i want to address your last statement that Paul's writings have been used to support condemnation against minority groups. They would have been misusing Paul's writings. The Bible no where supports segregating against a group, but it does teach a very clear standard of what is right and wrong in the Lord's eyes.

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul lists all sorts of sins that the Corinthians were involved with which he reminds them that they ought not to have been involved with because of their new relationship with Christ. The fact that he addresses these issues shows that one with the help of God's Holy Spirit could turn from their past sinful ways (it shows more of God's heart) than it does a desire to condemn any particular group.

Their are many other passages in the Bible that clearly shows that homosexuality is displeasing to God.

Romans 1, talks about how man chose to worship the creature instead of the creator and God gave him over to the own darkness of his heart- resulting in shameful things like men with men, etc.

The sin was that man chose to acknowledge his own ways and worship himself instead of God. Romans 1 clearly shows God's disapproval of homosexuality as much as he disapproves that man would worship the creature instead of the Creator.

We all know John 3:16, but John 3:17 says the condemnation is that men loved darkness instead of light. Man chose to follow his own ways instead of God's ways.

All sin needs forgiveness and homosexuality is no different than any other sin in its need for forgiveness. In that way it is not a specific group that is being "condemned" or segregated against- it is simply everyone who has chosen to follow his own ways instead of God's.

i apologize if other Christians have perhaps forgotten how to lovingly share this with you. Romans 1 i think however, is very clear that homosexuality is not a behavior that the Lord would find pleasing and i believe in speaking the truth in love.

Hope that helps...

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 7

News Flash!! The Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire has just released the newspeak King Bruce edition of the Bible. It has been rendered gender neutral, hence all references to sexual sins have been changed to commandments.

Answer 8

If you don't love God enough to believe 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 then why don't you try...


1 Timothy 1:10
Leviticus 18:22
Jude 7

Oh, and I can't quite remember. Why was it that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? What was it?.....Ohhhh, that's right, Sodomy (homosexuality). Reference? Sure- Genesis 19:1-26.

God hates homosexuality. He hated it then and he hates it now. It is a rebellion against his original arrangement of man and woman (Genesis 1:27, 28). What would happen if everyone were strictly homosexual? The human race would die off in one generation.

Answer 9

That is a very clever answer to your own question but deceptive if you are suggesting that scripture as a whole does not condemn what we today refer to as homosexual acts. But of course deception is the only way to avoid the condemnation of such behavior if you are to accept the Holy Bible as the basis of your value system

Answer 10

I thought we used the "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." line to point out that God is against homosexuality. Why use verse when you can rhyme? Just kiddin'. Don't jump on me, people.