Arsenokitai

It is written:

“Surely you know that people who do wrong will not get to enjoy God’s kingdom. Don’t be fooled. These are the people who will not get to enjoy his kingdom: those who sin sexually, those who worship idols, those who commit adultery, men who let other men use them for sex or who have sex with other men, those who steal, those who are greedy, those who drink too much, those who abuse others with insults, and those who cheat. 11  In the past some of you were like that. But you were washed clean, you were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ERV)

The Greek phrase translated here as “those who have sex with other men” is the Greek word arsenokoitai. Some of our friends who defend the homosexual lifestyle tell us that this phrase simply had reference to male prostitutes of the Corinthian temple, and therefore this does not actually have reference to those who live in a homosexual relationship.

However, this is not true.

One gay Christian who has chosen to remain celibate instead of pursing a homosexual lifestyle has written about his personal struggles. When investigating this argument based on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, he was startled to find out that Pauls words actually reflect the teaching of the Old Testament regarding this matter.

He writes:

“As I continued to study and pray and wrestle with God, I found more and more that seemed to confirm this view. Paul might have had a specific cultural moment in mind in Romans 1, but his language is much broader than that, stretching to include all homosexual behavior. The compound word arsenokoitai, the word sometimes translated “homosexuals,” which appears in 1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Timothy 1, mimics the phrasing of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament that was being circulated in Paul’s day. The Septuagint’s rendering of the prohibitions in Leviticus 18 and 20 uses the terms arsēn and koitē, the same terms from which Paul coins his new word, even though there are more common Greek words for both maleness and sexual activity. Assuming Paul’s word choice is strategic, it’s nearly certain that Paul meant to reaffirm the sinfulness of same-sex behavior outlined in Leviticus. So then, Jesus knew me after all. He hadn’t forgotten me. He had known what I would want, how urgently I would want it, how it would seem at times to overtake every thought. And he had responded that the desires I had weren’t meant to be fulfilled. Not in this life. He had called me to self-denial, to sorrow. He had called me to a cross. It was an answer. Not the answer I wanted, but an answer all the same. And perhaps any answer at all was better than none.” (Gregory Coles, Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey Of Faith And Sexual Identity, 41 (Kindle Edition); Downers Grove, Illinois; IVP Books)

As with all sexual sins, God calls humanity to repentance.

Some He calls to a life of celibacy.

A cross to bear?

Absolutely.

Yet Jesus knows better then anyone what it means to bear the Cross.

Turn to Him today to be cleansed of your sins and be given a fresh start (Acts 2:37-47; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Then take up your cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).