Homosexuality And Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9 (Part 1)

 Homosexuality And Romans 1:26-27;

1 Corinthians 6:9 (Part 1)

Brett A. Todd

Interlude: Before we can actually talk about Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9, we must first look at the meaning of the word “homosexual” and how its meaning has changed over time.  This is important for a couple of reasons: first, what you may mean by the word homosexual may be different from another person’s definition. How are you going to talk about homosexuality if you are both talking about something different? Case in point, many conservative Christians’ definition of the word homosexual is completely different from that of progressive Christians.  Indeed, one’s understanding of the complexity of words and language is important in any study, especially, the study of homosexuality and the Bible.  

The meaning of words is always changing.  We have numerous examples of this, but let me give you two:  When I’m reading a book, I may say to someone that I’m perusing, meaning that I am lightly reading or scanning a book.  However, when the word was first used in the late 1400s, the word meant that a person was thoroughly examining something. Here is another one, you may refer to a person as being silly, meaning this person is foolish, but originally the word silly meant that a person was blessed. Again, the meaning of words changes over time.  This is also true of the word homosexual, its meaning also has changed over time.

First and foremost, keep in mind, the word homosexual never appeared in the Bible in its original languages.  Actually, the word homosexuality did not exist until Karl-Maria Kertbeny coined the word in 1869.  More than that, what Kertbeny meant by the word homosexual was that it was something inborn and unchangeable.  Over time, however, the word homosexual took on a more negative connotation of abnormal behavior and sin. Today, much of this has changed.  In modern psychiatry and most other academic fields, the word homosexual has reverted back to Kertbeny’s original definition, denoting one’s sexual identity and orientation.  Some have altogether chosen not to use the word homosexual because they feel this word is offensive (DSM-5).

So, we must ask, is using the original and modern definition of homosexuality appropriate when referring to same-sex activity in the Bible?  I think the answer is obvious, no, it should not be used.  What the Bible describes as same-sex activity is both abusive and exploitive.  

One instance in the Bible where same-sex activity is described as abusive and exploitative occurs in Genesis 19:1-11.  Here, the men of the city of Sodom (this is where we get the word “sodomy”) surround the house of the godly man named, Lot, and demand him to send out the two men, who were really angels, so they could have sexual intercourse with them (Genesis 19:1-11).  Clearly, this violent and obtrusive behavior does not match up with Kertbeny’s or modern psychiatry’s definition of homosexuality. It would do us well to use a different word when talking about this abusive and exploitive behavior.  If we had sufficient space, we could talk about this more.

In our next three studies, we will look at two passages used by some who think modern homosexuality is a sexual deviation and sinful according to the Bible.