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, nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revelers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God....King James Version, 1611.
The English translations have taken
a great deal of liberty in this particular passage translating three different words very
carelessly. Some versions have even taken two of the Greek words used here; combined them
into the one word homosexual as one of the more quoted clobber passages against
homosexuals. An attempt to perpetuate a view that Paul could not have possibly had
concerning gay people has been made. Assumption comes more into play translating when
little is known about the exact meaning of words. Meanings are largely understood as a
result of the words usage in other places, biblical and non-biblical. The more a term is
used, the better we can understand its meaning.
Fornication
The King James Version has assigned
the word 'fornicator' as the meaning for the Greek word "pornos" (#4205) used in
this passage. The word fornication in the year 1611 meant voluntary sexual intercourse
between a man and an unmarried woman. The word "pornos", however, literally
means male prostitute Together with its counterpart "porne" (#4204) which refers
to female prostitutes (harlots), both are derived from the root word porneia (#4202)
meaning 'harlotry.' The more translations use the indistinct term sexual immorality (New
International Version) which has a much broader connotation, way beyond the original
meaning of the text. J. H. Thayer admits in his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
that a much broader term must be adopted in these passages ...because we have learned how
leniently converts from among the heathen regarded this vice and how lightly they indulged
in it . In other words, he is saying is we must modify our translation of the Word of God
so that we can ensure a general condemnation of sexual acts outside of marriage regardless
of what the text actually says. God did not put it just right, so we must, therefore,
correct him.
Effeminate
The second word malakoi (#3120) has
a double meaning in the Greek being found in the New Testament only three times (Matt
11:18, Luke 7:25, an d 1 Cor 6:9). The literal first meaning refers to 'softness' as it
applies to the feel of fine fabric. But when used to describe a characteristic of people,
it means 'weak willed' or 'easily beguiled.' Our modern slang expression 'softy' seems
closer to the meaning except it has a positive connotation referring to one who is soft
hearted, kind and easy to get along with. But malakoi has something to do with moral
weakness in context. It is perhaps the inability of some to maintain moral integrity and
be self controlled because of the ineptitude of their convictions and the lusts of their
heart. This word better fits the pattern we see in our modern culture and those who are
addicts. Addictions to various drugs, alcohol or sex is a common problem in our culture
and translating this word to addicts would be in keeping with the meaning of the word. The
Latin Vulgate (another early translation) translated malakoi to the word 'mollis' which
has exactly the same meaning, but the word mollis became a slang expression that referred
to men who wore silky refined clothing. This meaning undoubtedly explains the KJV use of
the word effeminate. In one translation, malakoi became catamite which was a young boy
slave used sexually by his master. Another translation used the word
"lecchourus" (lecherous) and another voluptuous and still another sissies. (if
it were not for the damage that these translations caused they would be funny). The
multiple ways that this word has been translated is a testimony to the confusion of the
biblical scholars and evidence of an attempt to prejudice scripture against homosexuals.
Abusers of Themselves With Mankind
The third word
"arsenokoitai" (#733) is only used twice in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:9
and 1 Timothy 1:10). Its meaning is at best questionable. If it refers to homosexuals, the
question arises why Paul would have used such an obscure term when he could have used
other clearer terms to describe what he meant. The Greek culture was filled with
homo-erotic words to describe various homosexual relationships, but instead he used a word
that does not appear anywhere in Greek homo-erotic literature. Transliterated the word
"aresenokitai" means 'man-active-bed' possibly a male prostitute who takes the
active roll sexually. If Paul had wanted to condemn a group more inclined to be
exclusively homosexual he might have chosen the term "arsenokitai", meaning
'man-passive-bed' referring to male prostitutes who take the passive roll sexually. The
King James Version avoids a direct translation of this word with the phrase abusers of
themselves with mankind, but it is interesting to note that in 1611 at the time of the
translating, a word existed, invert, which meant homosexuals, but the King James
translators did not use it. A suggested better translation is the word 'rapist' since it
has something to do with the active role sexually. It also fits in better with the context
of this passage and 1 Timothy 1:10, if the word refers to male prostitutes, modern day
male prostitutes are differentiated by their trade, either for women, 'hustlers' or for
men, 'gigolos' .
These mistranslations do not
exonerate the prevalent homosexual promiscuous lifestyle, for clearly Paul's condemnation
is against unbridled promiscuity in any form, homosexual or heterosexual. It is ,
therefore, the responsibility of gay Christians to redefine gayness as it relates to
Spirit controlled Christian living; operating as new creatures before Jesus Christ who is
Lord as an example and a demonstration to all that they are truly the children of God.
Because those who are led by the
Spirit of God are sons of God....Romans 8:14
