'Malakoi' in 1 Corinthians 6:9
Submitted by J on January 20 2002 23:57:09
In reply to the Greek 'Malakos' submitted by JohnQ on January 20 2002 17:54:53
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Dear JohnQ, The list of sins in 1 Corinthians where malakoi (malakoi) is found is not exclusively to do with sexual sins. In entirety, the list is as follows (NIV translation): Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolators nor adulterers nor male prostitutes (malakoi) nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 The three undisputed sexual sins are the sexually immoral (pornoi - pornoi), adulterers (moicoi - moichoi), and homosexual offenders (arsenokoitai - arsenokoitai). In between the sexually immoral and adulterers is found idolators (not a sexual sin). Similarly, there is no reason why ‘malakoi’ must be a sexual sin even if it is found between adulterers and homosexual offenders. Furthermore, the word translated ‘homosexual offenders’ by the NIV (arsenokoitai - arsenokoitai) is lifted out of the LXX translation of Leviticus 20:13, which reads: ‘And whoever shall lie with a male as with a woman, they have both wrought abomination; let them die the death, they are guilty’... Kai oV an koimhqh meta arsenoV koithn gunaikoV, bdelugma epoihsan amfoteroi qanatw qanatousqwsan amfoteroi, enocoi eisi The underline words ‘arsenos koiten’ are the source of the compound word found in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and literally, as you pointed out a bit more colorfully in your post, means ‘men liers’. The contextual source of this phrase covers both the active and passive partners in homosexual sex, as the NIV translation demonstrates with the translation ‘homosexual offenders’ (either active or passive). There is no reason, therefore, to single out again the passive partner, be it another man or a loved boy, with the term ‘malakoi’, thus I adopt the translation of ‘self-indulgent’, supported by the context of Luke 7:25 and other sins in the list such as thievery, greediness and swindling. Just my thoughts and I welcome your feedback. Love in the Lord, J |
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