The Bible and Homosexuality: New Testament Letters
Revs. Deb Coggin and Jennifer Glass
Our belief is that homosexuality is not a biblical concern, and the two New Testament letter references, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1st Timothy 1:10, further support our belief. These two passages are usually looked at together since what is at issue is the translation of two Greek words, malakoi and arsenokoitai.
1st Corinthians 6:9-11 as translated in the New Revised Standard Version reads, “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes [malakoi], sodomites [arsenokoitai], thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers-none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.” Chapter 1 verse 10 in 1st Timothy reads, “fornicators, sodomites [arsenokoitai], slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching”.
Biblical Scholar Robin Scroggs warns that even before looking at the translated Greek words we need to look at these lists in context. The lists serve to remind people of the consequence of sinful living. He also points out that the lists like these were a standard literary form, used as a club to warn people, and that individual items listed and the situations addressed may be unrelated.
In the first letter to the Corinthians Paul is writing to a specific church concerning issues which concerned him. The issues involved a man living with his father’s former wife, church members going to civil court against each other and the use of female prostitutes by church members. These underlining issues have nothing to do with homosexuality. The verse in 1st Timothy 1:10 is part of a section which begins with verse 8 and includes verse 11.
Translation of these lists is difficult. There are no specific references to the two Greek words, translated as prostitutes and sodomites, anywhere else in the Bible. No Biblical scholar is certain of what these words mean because they are obscure Greek words.
Malakos, is the plural of malakot which was a common word meaning “soft.” In the gospel of Matthew chapter 11 verse 8 this word is used to refer to “soft” clothing. In the ancient world sometimes this word was used to belittle men who were effeminate, woman-like or who in moral matters were loose and unrestrained. However, the effeminate was not linked to male-male sex in ancient world. This word probably does not refer to same-sex acts but it does seem to condemn moral looseness and undisciplined behavior that was lewd and lustful.
Arsenokoitai seems to be two words together, arseno which is a reference to men, and koitai which comes from a word that means bedroom or bed. Thus the reference might be to lying or having sex, or a “man-lier,” a “man-sleeper” or a “man-penetrator.” The earliest recorded use of this word is in the first letter to the Corinthians and the only other place it is used in the Bible is here in 1st Timothy.
Other ancient literature uses of this word are only in a half dozen places. The infrequent use of this word is usually found in “ vice lists”, similar to 1st Timothy. Scholars can only guess at what this word means. Some wonder if this was a reference or a repetition of Leviticus.
Use of a vice list in ancient world was common in the ancient world and some scholars think that even this use of the one in 1st Timothy is not Paul’s thought but that it is from some other source, reflecting society at large. Social critics in the ancient world would have condemned behavior that was exploitative, even male-male sex. The reference seems to be abusive, exploitative, lewd, wanton sex even between men. Nevertheless, the use of these words doesn’t seem to be a blanket condemnation of homogenitality.
Further, some of the problem in translation can be seen by comparing a number of recent modern translations. Not only have these ancient Greek words been translated as homosexuals, they have also been translated as catamites, sodomites, depraved, persons of sordid morals, effeminate, male prostitutes, sexual perverts. Further, the Roman Catholic Church in the New American Bible of 1987 translates arsenokoitai as practicing homosexual whereas in prior translations it was believed to be a reference to masturbation.
From these studies we can see that the translations of these particular Greek terms are difficult at best. We cannot say with any certainty that these words are a decisive condemnation of homosexual activity. Other literary works might reference male same-sex homogentality, but if they do, then they condemn wanton, lewd, irresponsible acts, and do not condemn male same-sex homogenitality in general. Therefore, it would seem irrational to base the oppression of an entire group of people on, at best, inconclusive information.
What we have written here really simplifies a lot of information since we usually address passages like this during a four to six hour workshop. It is not possible to mention everything here. However, we hope that this has given you a good overview.
This article brings us to the conclusion of the six passages that the LGBTQ Christian community commonly refer to as “clobber passages” or “texts of terror.” In our next article we will begin looking at particular passages of the Bible that are thought to be Queer texts. Keep checking back for more!
If you have any questions about what we presented, the Bible and homosexuality, or other matters of faith, please feel free to email Pastors Deb and Jen at pastor@visionofhopemcc.org.
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