NA27:
In this verse, there are two words that are often rendered as referring to homosexuals. The Greek words are μαλακοὶ (malakoi) and ἀρσενοκοῖται (arsenokoitai).
μαλακοὶ
Malakoi is believed to mean "soft". It is used in Matthew 11:7-18 and Luke 7:24-25, in those instances as an adjective for soft clothing. Looking at common use of the word in other Greek texts of the time, one sees similar references to "softness".
If you look at the above translations, you see "male prostitute" and "effeminate" as two possible translations of the word. Looking at earlier Christian commentaries, you find it referring to those with "soft or weak morals". Martin Luther's commentary connects it to masturbation., and you can find this understanding for malakoi used by traditional scholars even into the 20th century.
ἀρσενοκοῖται
Arsenokoitai is a confounding word. It is made up of two words "arsen" or male and "koite" or bed. Arsenokoitai = male bed. It has the connotation of sexual intercourse. Outside of this Epistle, and Paul's letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:8-11) the word is not found in Greek literature. We do not know if it had a special meaning or not. It may be related to "laying with a man" referring to Leviticus, perhaps a coined phrase by Paul. I noticed the Vulgate translates it as "masculorum concubitores" which certainly has the root word for "male concubine".
What is striking is that it is probably paired with malakoi. If one looks at the full verse, they cannot help but see similarities between pairings of words in the list. For example Adultery and Idolatry are often connected in the Old Testament. In fact the word πόρνοι rendered Adulterer is also used for those who are unfaithful to God. The next example of pairing is "thieves" and the "greedy" or "covetous"--those who steal and those who want the possessions. Some would say "drunkeness" and "slander" or "reviling" go together. It is not a stretch to think that malakoi and aresnokoitai go together too. Additionally, some translations in English group the two words together. The question is how do they relate--what is the relationship between the malakoi and the arsenokoitai that make them unqiue offenders?
I have found 3 concepts of their connections, from conservative to liberal.
What we do know is that Corinth did have male prostitution. We know that pedastry was commonly kept in Greek society at that time. We also know that prostitution of males often included young boys and male adults. What is also a given, is that there is no separation between a heterosexual world and a homosexual world--it is assumed that anyone could do any of these things.
Looking at these words, we know there is some sort of taboo here. It is not "clearly" homosexuality. The problem is we do not know what the words mean for certain. I tend to believe it is referring to the prostitution in Corinth between young boys and adult men. One finds it hard to argue the problem of that situation. Prostitution, exploits a person, degrades a person to comodity that can be bought--a sex object. It is often connected with rape and other physical harms. The person "buying" the prostitute does not see the person as an equal. There is no love or relationship.
In all these renderings, the unanswered question is about women. In a conservative reading of the passage, what does it say about lesbians? In liberal interpretations, what about female prostitutes and how they are treated? There is so much missing and unclear here.
What I am sure of, is that this does not describe two people of the same gender loving each other and building a relationship with each other. This is about equality vs. sexual exploitation, pedastry and prostitution.
[9] ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν; μὴ πλανᾶσθε: οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖταιVulgate:
[10] οὔτε κλέπται οὔτε πλεονέκται, οὐ μέθυσοι, οὐ λοίδοροι, οὐχ ἅρπαγες βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομήσουσιν.
[9] An nescitis quia iniqui regnum Dei non possidebunt? Nolite errare: neque fornicarii neque idolis servientes neque adulteri neque molles neque masculorum concubitoresKJV:
[10] neque fures neque avari, non ebriosi, non maledici, non rapaces regnum Dei possidebunt.
[9] 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 mankindNIV:
[10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
[9] Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offendersNRSV:
[10] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
[9] Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites,Commentary:
[10] thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers-- none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.
In this verse, there are two words that are often rendered as referring to homosexuals. The Greek words are μαλακοὶ (malakoi) and ἀρσενοκοῖται (arsenokoitai).
μαλακοὶ
Malakoi is believed to mean "soft". It is used in Matthew 11:7-18 and Luke 7:24-25, in those instances as an adjective for soft clothing. Looking at common use of the word in other Greek texts of the time, one sees similar references to "softness".
If you look at the above translations, you see "male prostitute" and "effeminate" as two possible translations of the word. Looking at earlier Christian commentaries, you find it referring to those with "soft or weak morals". Martin Luther's commentary connects it to masturbation., and you can find this understanding for malakoi used by traditional scholars even into the 20th century.
ἀρσενοκοῖται
Arsenokoitai is a confounding word. It is made up of two words "arsen" or male and "koite" or bed. Arsenokoitai = male bed. It has the connotation of sexual intercourse. Outside of this Epistle, and Paul's letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:8-11) the word is not found in Greek literature. We do not know if it had a special meaning or not. It may be related to "laying with a man" referring to Leviticus, perhaps a coined phrase by Paul. I noticed the Vulgate translates it as "masculorum concubitores" which certainly has the root word for "male concubine".
What is striking is that it is probably paired with malakoi. If one looks at the full verse, they cannot help but see similarities between pairings of words in the list. For example Adultery and Idolatry are often connected in the Old Testament. In fact the word πόρνοι rendered Adulterer is also used for those who are unfaithful to God. The next example of pairing is "thieves" and the "greedy" or "covetous"--those who steal and those who want the possessions. Some would say "drunkeness" and "slander" or "reviling" go together. It is not a stretch to think that malakoi and aresnokoitai go together too. Additionally, some translations in English group the two words together. The question is how do they relate--what is the relationship between the malakoi and the arsenokoitai that make them unqiue offenders?
I have found 3 concepts of their connections, from conservative to liberal.
- catamite and sodomite - or passive and active partners in same sex activity. It should be noted that there is discussion about whether this is referring to our concept of homosexuality or the idea of two straight males.
- morally weak people and catamites/male prostitutes/corruptors of boys. This rendering of arsenokoitai is reflective of the male concubine image in the Vulgate.
- effeminate call-boys/young boy prostitutes and the men who use them. This would be a reflection of pedastry, and exploitation (possibly economic).
What we do know is that Corinth did have male prostitution. We know that pedastry was commonly kept in Greek society at that time. We also know that prostitution of males often included young boys and male adults. What is also a given, is that there is no separation between a heterosexual world and a homosexual world--it is assumed that anyone could do any of these things.
Looking at these words, we know there is some sort of taboo here. It is not "clearly" homosexuality. The problem is we do not know what the words mean for certain. I tend to believe it is referring to the prostitution in Corinth between young boys and adult men. One finds it hard to argue the problem of that situation. Prostitution, exploits a person, degrades a person to comodity that can be bought--a sex object. It is often connected with rape and other physical harms. The person "buying" the prostitute does not see the person as an equal. There is no love or relationship.
In all these renderings, the unanswered question is about women. In a conservative reading of the passage, what does it say about lesbians? In liberal interpretations, what about female prostitutes and how they are treated? There is so much missing and unclear here.
What I am sure of, is that this does not describe two people of the same gender loving each other and building a relationship with each other. This is about equality vs. sexual exploitation, pedastry and prostitution.
