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