@Holy Cannoli(3)
Now for 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. “
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.”The context first, then. What is Paul doing? He’s scolding the Corinthian Church because they’re messing up badly and failing to observe the most basic of Christian principles: love your brother as yourself (sound familiar?). Hence this list of behaviors that are damaging their community’s spirituality.
The version of the Bible you’ve cited uses the word “sodomites.” Do you know the history behind this word choice? The original Greek term is probably a word that Paul himself coined – it appears only once more, in Timothy: “arsenokoitai.”
And I think the history of what we’ve done with this word has already been very effectively explained by Rev. Mel White:
“As for
arsenokoitai, Greek scholars don't know exactly what it means -- and the fact that we don't know is a big part of this tragic debate. Some scholars believe Paul was coining a name to refer to the customers of ‘the effeminate call boys.’ We might call them ‘dirty old men.’ Others translate the word as ‘sodomites,’ but never explain what that means.”
Here I interject to point out that the Bible speaks very clearly of what a sodomite really is: “This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God's eyes.” (Ezekiel 16:48-49)
Okay. Back to White’s summary:
“In 1958, for the first time in history, a person translating that mysterious Greek word (arsenokoitai) into English decided it meant
homosexuals, even though there is, in fact, no such word in Greek or Hebrew. But that translator made the decision for all of us that placed the word
homosexual in the English-language Bible for the very first time.
In the past, people used Paul's writings to support slavery, segregation, and apartheid. People still use Paul's writings to oppress women and limit their role in the home, in church, and in society.
Now we have to ask ourselves, ‘Is it happening again?’ Is a word in Greek that has no clear definition being used to reflect society's prejudice and condemn God's gay children?
We all need to look more closely at that mysterious Greek word
arsenokoitai in its original context. I find most convincing the argument from history that Paul is condemning the married men who hired hairless young boys for sexual pleasure just as they hired smooth-skinned young girls for that purpose.”
*sigh* There.
If there are any other passages that you think are anti-gay, please let me know and I’ll produce an answer from the very neglected depths of theology.