Comprehensive Study Notes: The Greek Term Arsenokoitai and Biblical Contexts and Biblical Context

Etymology and Historical Origin of the Term "Arsenokoitai"

• Coinage by the Apostle Paul: The Greek word "arsenokoitai" appears in the New Testament within the books of 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. There is no historical record of any writer utilizing this term prior to its use by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. It is widely believed that Paul himself created the word for his correspondence.

• Linguistic Breakdown: The word is a compound of two distinct Greek parts:

  • "Arsen": Meaning "man."

  • "Koitai": Meaning "beds."

• Absence in Contemporary Erotic Literature: Described as a "made-up word," it is notable that while a significant amount of Greek homosexual erotic literature has survived, none of these texts contains the word "arsenokoitai."

• Lexicographical Classification: Unlike other terms, "arsenokoitai" has not traditionally been assigned a Strong’s Number because it is essentially a neologism not found elsewhere in the standard Greek language of the time outside of these two Pauline contexts.

Evolution of Biblical Translations

• The King James Version (KJV) - 1611 CE:

  • In 1611, there was no single English word that referred specifically to "homosexuals" or "homosexuality," as the term "homosexual" was not created until the late 19th century.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Translation: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, 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 Timothy 1:9-10 Translation: "…for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons…"

• Modern Translations and Linguistic Scope:

  • New American Standard Bible (NASB): Translates the term as "homosexuals."

  • New English Bible (NEB): Translates the term as "homosexual perversion."

  • New International Version (NIV): Translates the term as "homosexual offenders."

• Critique of Modern Translations: Critics argue that by using the modern term "homosexual," translators have fundamentally changed the scope of the original verse. Whereas the original Greek refers specifically and only to men, the modern English translations expand the scope to include both males and females (gays and lesbians).

Authorship and Chronology of the Epistles

• 1 Corinthians: Theologians generally agree that this was written by Paul circa 55 CE.

• The Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus): There is significant debate regarding their origin:

  • Conservative Protestant View: Asserts Paul wrote these during an interval between 62 and 64 CE.

  • Liberal Scholarly View: Suggests these were written 85 years after Paul's execution, roughly between 100 and 150 CE, by an anonymous individual writing pseudonymously as Paul.

Alternative Interpretations and Historical Speculations

• Specific "Offender" Context: Some interpret the NIV’s use of "homosexual offenders" to mean that Paul is not condemning all homosexual individuals, but rather those who commit specific sexual offenses (e.g., child sexual abuse). This is analogous to how an attack on "heterosexual offenders" would not be seen as an attack on all heterosexuals.

• Pagan Temple Prostitution:

  • The Septuagint (a pre-Christian Greek translation of the Old Testament produced between the 3rd and 1st centuries BCE) translated the Hebrew word "quadesh" (referring to male temple prostitutes in I Kings 14:24, 15:12, and 22:46) into a Greek word similar to "arsenokoitai."

  • Early Christian church leaders and some scholars believe 1 Corinthians refers specifically to those engaging in ritual sex within Pagan temples.

• Economic Exploitation and Pimping:

  • Writings later than 1 Corinthians, such as the Sibylline Oracles (2.70-77), the Acts of John, and Theophilus of Antioch’s Ad Autolycum, use "arsenokoitai" in contexts suggesting economic exploitation via sex.

  • Possible English equivalents include "pimp" or "man living off of the avails of prostitution."

• Interpretations Involving Masturbation:

  • During the era of Martin Luther, "arsenokoitai" was universally interpreted to mean "masturbator."

  • This interpretation shifted in the 20th century as masturbation became more socially accepted. The last major religious reference to this interpretation is found in the [Roman] Catholic Encyclopedia of 1967.

• Abusive Pederasty and Catamites:

  • The word preceding "arsenokoitai" in 1 Corinthians 6:9 is "malakoi," often understood to refer to "catamites" (boys or young males, likely slaves, kept as sex partners for older men).

  • Under this view, "arsenokoitai" refers to the adult males who exploited these boys. The New American Bible (NAB) footnote acknowledges "malakoi" as boy prostitutes/catamites and "arsenokoitai" as those who indulge with them.

  • Harper's Bible Commentary (1998): States the passage refers to "both the effeminate male prostitute and his partner who hires him," describing a specific form of pederasty disapproved of in Greco-Roman and Jewish literature.

Justin Cannon’s Analysis of Synonym Pairs and Triads

• Structural Pattern: Justin Cannon identified that 1 Timothy 1:9-10 is organized into pairs or triads of synonyms or near-synonyms:

  • Lawless & disobedient.

  • Ungodly & sinners.

  • Unholy & profane.

  • Murderers of fathers, murderers of mothers, & manslayers.

  • Whoremongers ("pornoi"), "arsenokoitai," & menstealers ("andrapodistes").

  • Liars & perjurers.

• The Slavery Connection in the Triad:

  • "Pornoi" (Strong’s Number 4205): Derived from "pernemi" (to sell); refers to a male prostitute who sells his body.

  • "Andrapodistes" (Strong’s Number 405): Refers to a slave-dealer, kidnapper, or "man-stealer" who unjustly reduces free men to slavery.

  • Cannon's Proposed Translation: Given the theme of slavery in the surrounding terms, Cannon suggests "pornoi" is an enslaved male prostitute, "arsenokoitai" is the man who sleeps with the enslaved prostitute, and "andrapodistes" is the slave dealer who procures them.

  • Theme Conclusion: The behaviors relate to the exploitation inherent in the slave trade, rather than consensual sex between adults of the same gender.

External Bible Translations Supporting Categorical Contexts

• The Jerusalem Bible: Translates the triad in 1 Timothy as: "those who are immoral with women or with boys or with men."

• Alternative 1 Timothy 1:10 Translation: "…male prostitutes, boys who have sex with men, and slave dealers who enslave them both."

• 1 Corinthians 6:9 in Comparison: The Jerusalem Bible translates "arsenokoitai" here as "catamite."

The Teachings of Jesus on Sins and Defilement

• Matthew 15:18-20: This passage records Jesus listing specific things that "proceed out of the heart" and defile a person:

  • $\text{Evil thoughts}$

  • $\text{Murders}$

  • $\text{Adulteries}$

  • $\text{Fornications}$

  • $\text{Thefts}$

  • $\text{False witness}$

  • $\text{Blasphemies}$

• Notable Omissions: Homosexual behavior is not included in this list. Scholars conclude that either Jesus did not view it as a sin, viewed it as a minor sin not worth mentioning, or that the author of Matthew did not record a complete exhaustive list of Jesus' categories.