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Response
In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Paul enumerates various sinful behaviors that indicate a person is not saved: “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who engage in homosexual acts . . . will inherit the kingdom of God.” Essentially, an unrepentant practitioner of idolatry, adultery, or homosexuality deceives themselves if they believe they are destined for heaven. Christians are delivered from such transgressions.
Some present-day interpreters object to categorizing homosexuals alongside other sinners mentioned in this passage. They argue that the phrase “men who have sex with men” is ambiguous and should not be interpreted as a blanket condemnation of all same-sex relationships. Seeking to align homosexual conduct with Christian beliefs, they endeavor to redefine the Greek term.
The expression “men who have sex with men” (rendered as “homosexuals” in the NASB) is a translation of the Greek term arsenokoitai. Opponents of this translation contend that arsenokoitai does not encompass all homosexual unions but specifically those marked by abuse, coercion, or infidelity. They assert that the term does not pertain to “loving, committed” same-sex partnerships.
Arsenokoitai is a compound word: arseno signifies “a male,” and koitai means “bed.” When combined, the term denotes “a male bed”—that is, an individual who utilizes a “bed designated for males” or a “bed for males.” This explanation is sufficient to grasp the meaning behind 1 Corinthians 6:9.
Similar to English, the Greek term for “bed” can carry both sexual and non-sexual connotations. Stating “I purchased a new bed” lacks any sexual implication; however, “I shared a bed with her” does. Within the context of 1 Corinthians 6:9, koitai implies a sexual context—the apostle is unequivocally addressing “wrongdoers.”
Here. The conclusion is that the term arsenokoitai refers to homosexuals—men who engage in same-gender sexual activity.
It is interesting to note that arsenokoitai was not a common term in the Greek language to describe homosexuality. Some have even suggested that the apostle Paul coined the term. This is not accurate. In the Septuagint Greek translation of the two verses in the Mosaic Law that mention homosexuality, both contain variations of arseno and koitai (Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13). This likely suggests that Paul had Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in mind when he wrote 1 Corinthians 6:9, clarifying what Paul meant by the term arsenokoitai.
The idea that some homosexual relationships are acceptable is not even hinted at in this passage. The level of commitment among men or the presence of “love” is not discussed. The notion that the condemned same-sex activity is associated with economic exploitation or abuse is also an unsupported interpretation.
Paul’s mention of “homosexuals,” along with a reference to “effeminate” men in the same verse (in the NASB), effectively encompasses both active and passive homosexual behavior. God’s Word does not allow for personal interpretation on this issue. Homosexuality is deemed inappropriate; it always has been, and it always will be.
Just two verses later, 1 Corinthians 6:11 states, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (emphasis added). This statement rejects the notion of “homosexual Christianity” being acceptable to God. Paul informs the Corinthian believers that practices like homosexuality were indications of their former life before Christ. Now they have been reborn, possessing a new nature and new desires. The old nature persists, and the temptations continue, but as children of God, they have the strength to resist.
Christians have been called to fight against sin, not to live in it any longer. Through the life-changing grace of God, the Corinthians’ new life stands in opposition to the way they used to live.
