This guy is a wonderful example for us all. It is so easy for us to hold on to our opinions. It is hard to truly examine our positons with a critical eye.Where was the Biblical authority for the condemnation that all homosexuals were to burn in the fires of Hell? In order to answer that question, I decided to take an in depth study of the Bible to determine if what these conservative theologians were preaching was sound.
As I studied the Bible, I found that the word "sodomite" that was used in Corinthians and Romans referred not to all homosexuals, but largely to the promiscuous behavior of the Roman/Greek bathhouses and the use of boy prostitutes.
Take for instance, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, a verse commonly referred to support the argument that all forms of homosexuality are immoral. As I understand it, the Greek word translated as "boy prostitutes" may refer to catamites, i.e. the boys or young men kept for purposes of prostitution and the term translated for "sodomites" refers to all homosexual males who engaged in such practices with such boys. In other words, the condemnation of homosexuality in that passage, thus, refers only to homosexual males who engage the services of boy prostitutes-it is a very narrow definition.
1 comment:
Hey - Long time no comment!
This info about the Greek text is well-known among Biblical scholars and linguists. The question I have is why more people don't know it. Who is dropping the ball here? - Probably preachers (like me).
Add to Murray's quote the fact that our English translation "sodomite" and "sodomy" is from the name of the ancient city of Sodom - and there is no mention anywhere of homosexuality in the Sodom story, nor in any references to Sodom anywhere else in the Bible! Just goes to show how blinded people can be by preconceived notions.
- Andy B.
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