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Wednesday, July 18, 2018

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Often supporters of churches affirming homosexuality argue that the use of certain proof texts from Scripture such as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 are incorrect. (One example can be found here: https://postbarthian.com/2017/10/11/clobber-verses-six-scriptures-cited-gays-lesbians-sex-relationships-lgbtq/) Of all these verses, the most interesting and clear is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Various translations have been offered:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” (NASB)

“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 revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (KJV)

Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.” (NRSV)

Have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites, thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.” (YLT)

“Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (NABRE)

(italics mine)

Here, there a few different wordings used. The translators choose the word “sodomite,” (NABRE, YLT, NABRE) “homosexual,” (NASB) or “abusers of themselves with mankind” in the KJV. It seems like none of these translations, neither done by conservatives or liberals, have wording that does not imply a condemnation of homosexuality. As such, on linguistic grounds, it seems that to reduce this verse to something other than a reference to homosexuality is difficult.

The word used in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in Greek is ἀρσενοκοῖται, or ‘arsenokoitai.’ This word is thought to have been invented by Paul as it does not appear in earlier writings. The question then is, why did he invent this word? It seems that the answer lies in the Greek Old Testament that was frequently used by the early Christians, the Septuagint (LXX). The word ἀρσενοκοῖται is made up of two words, ἄρσην and κοίτη. The word ἄρσην means man, and κοίτη means ‘bed’ or ‘sexual immorality.’ Already, this should demonstrate that Paul is talking about homosexuality. However, this becomes much clearer if we recognize that what Paul is saying in Corinthians is likely referring to verse translated in the Septuagint. Paul was an educated man, and since he was writing to a Church in Corinth in Greece, it is unlikely that they would have known Hebrew. If they had an Old Testament, it would certainly have been the Septuagint. Paul would have known this, and so it makes sense that he would refer to it. The main Old Testament verse talking about homosexuality is Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13:

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22 NRSV)

“καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικός· βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν.” (Leviticus 18:22 LXX)

“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13 NRSV)

“καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός, βδέλυγμα ἐποίησαν ἀμφότεροι· θανατούσθωσαν, ἔνοχοί εἰσιν.” (Leviticus 20:13 LXX)


What is relevant is that the Greek here uses the same two words as we find in 1 Corinthians: “ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικός” and “καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός.” This reflects Paul’s word very closely – Leviticus 20:13 seems closer than Leviticus 18:22. It seems then that Paul took the two words from the LXX and combined them to compound word, acting as a clear reference to the Law. It is difficult to see why else he would have invented a word unless it was to emulate this language.

If we grant that this is a cross reference to Leviticus, looking at the context of the passage would be useful as well. Leviticus 18 starts off with this:
                                       
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.  According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.  You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:1-5 NKJV)

Leviticus 20 is also part of this section of laws for the Israelites to follow. Some have argued that these laws in both the New and Old Testaments are against pagan cultural practices as a whole, and not homosexual relationships, but there is no indication of this in either Leviticus 18 or 1 Corinthians 6. Of course, such things are condemned, but that is nowhere listed as the reason homosexuality is condemned here. It seems like eisegesis to suggest a reason for this condemnation that is not mentioned anywhere in the text.

Some also argue that in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, mainly or only pederasty is being criticized and not homosexuality as a whole. It seems though that if we accept 1 Corinthians as referring to the Septuagint, there’s no way that it could just be about pederasty, as it is not mentioned in this part of Leviticus. Further, the etymology of arsenokoitai really makes this view untenable. The word is literally “man-bedder,” which seemingly implies activity with adults.


In short, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is best understood as speaking of homosexuality, including but not being limited to pederasty. This can be shown from the wording itself, likely cross references with the Septuagint and the context of said cross references. It is no surprise that every major translation, whether it be liberal or conservative, accepts that the text is referring to homosexuality.

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