Debunking Clobber Verses: Part 2

With the “clobber verses” being taken care of in Debunking Clobber Verses: Part 1, we can now take a look into the New Testament. But first, let’s get a basic understanding of the word “homosexual” as it relates to the Bible.

There is no word in ancient Biblical writing that can be interpreted into what “homosexual” is, at least not correctly. The closest terms that are supposed to stand for homosexual are:

• Malakos (translates as “effeminate” in KJV and “soft” in Greek)
• Arsenokoites (translates as “abusers of themselves with mankind” in KJV)

Over the years, Biblical translators have taken the above terms and translated them in their own, unique ways such as: effeminate, male prostitutes, homosexuals, abusers, sexual perverts, catamites, sensualists, and homosexual perverts/perversion.

Giphy

As you can see, there already is disconnect and confusion from these multiple translations. The confusion grows even deeper with there not being a correct term for homosexuality.

Let’s start with 1 Corinthians.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not enter the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 6: 9-10

With having the understanding of what malakos and arsenokoites mean, you can see them both clearly used in this passage. This passage was written to Gentile Christians in Corinth, so the Greek lexicon malakoi was used to be understood as “catamite” (boy slaves) and arsenokoitai to be understood as “pederast.”

In other words, 1 Corinthians is referring to men buying and selling young boys to be their sex slaves, pederasty. In no way, shape or form does this reflect homosexual or even decent human being behavior. Debunked, let’s move on.

Up next is 1 Timothy.

This “clobber verse” is very similar to 1 Corinthians. The phrase used in 1 Timothy 1:10 is “pornois arsenokoitais andrapodistais” which translates to “fornicators, sodomites, slave traders” or another similar way depending on the Bible version.

This passage is not only referring to the prohibition of male prostitution, it is condemning the entire sex slave trade industry (which is unfortunately still around). Nowhere does it prohibit, condemn, or even frown upon consensual, monogamous, homosexual relationships.

The final main “clobber verse” we will be covering is Romans.

“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change their natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust toward one another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”

Roman 1: 25-27

Looking at these few verses alone without having the rest of the context can be disheartening to a LGBTQ+ member. However, when looking within the broader context of Romans 1, the term “natural” or “divine nature” is translated from “theiotes.” This word is only used once in the Bible and people use it against homosexuals by claiming that it refers to the Natural revelation argument. This argument is not only extremely flawed, it is not even supported by the Bible in general.

In terms of female same-sex behavior being mentioned (for the first and only time in the entire Bible) and compared to male same-sex behavior, it is clear that Paul was prohibiting a behavior.

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but, the behavior getting prohibited is cult prostitution and idolatry which was known to the Roman Church. This is vastly different from a monogamous, God loving, homosexual relationship.

Another thing to consider is that these Romans CHOSE to exchange their natural sexual orientations to engage in homosexual activity, they did not possess a natural orientation to be gay/bi/lesbian. There is a big difference between choosing to do something and having the natural, God given orientation to do something.

So, what all does this mean?

Mark Sandlin has a good perspective on clobbering.

There are only 6 of the Bible’s 31,173 verses that briefly mention “homosexuality” but after further reading and digesting, no verses in the Bible prohibits a consensual, monogamous, God loving, and God fearing same-sex relationship.

Instead, the Bible consistently mentions how we should be love, equity, fairness, and compassion.

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

John 8:7

As mentioned in the previous post, the New Testament came forth with a new set of laws, making the old laws irrelevant anymore. The greatest among these laws is to:

 “Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does not harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Romans 13:9-10

Not only should we love one another as God loves us, we should be proud of who we are. Each and everyone one of us were handcrafted by God, we were not created a mistake, instead we were created fearfully, wonderfully, and perhaps, with a dash of glitter.