Bible verses, clear and unclear
Submitted by Bonzo on September 07 2000 11:25:38
In reply to homosexuality? submitted by Splash! on September 06 2000 02:38:16
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Hi Spash! -- You write: The Bible says that homosexuals are going to hell (1 Cor 6:9) No, it doesn't. The word 'homosexual' was first used toward the end of the 19th century by psychiatrists. The verse you mention condemns (among other people) arsenokoitai and malakoi. These 2 Greek words have always vexed scholars. If you compare various translations you'll see what I mean. There are only a few uses of malakoi (literal meaning: "soft ones") in extant pre-Christian Greek literature to characterize persons. It seems to mean "male courtesans". There are no uses of arsenokoitai in extant pre-Christian Greek literature; none at all. It is a combination of 2 words used in the ancient Greek version of Leviticus 20:13, and most likely refers to those mentioned in that verse (whoever they were). The term arsenokoitai could be literally translated as "male bedfellows". Of whom Paul was speaking in 1 Corinthians 6:9 when he used these 2 words is by no means clear. -- Bonzo |
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