From: Stephen C. Carlson (scarlson@washdc.mindspring.com)
Date: Thu Apr 24 1997 - 01:33:52 EDT
At 07:11 4/23/97 -0400, Mike MacKinnon wrote:
>Currently I am wrestling with the proper interpretation of the word
>"arsenokoitai" in this verse. Etymologically, the word seems to be
>compound in nature, containing both "arsenos"=man/male, and
>"koitai"=beds/marital relationships. The question is, is it fair to
>translate this as "male marital relationships" as in homosexual marital
>relationships.
I would say not, because I regard as probably that this word was used,
if not coined, in reference to the prohibitions in Leviticus (LXX) :-
18:22 KAI META ARSENOS OU KOIMHQHSHi KOITHN GUNAIKEIAN, BDELUGMA GAR ESTI.
20:13 KAI hOS AN KOIMHQHi META ARSENOS KOITHN GUNAIKOS, BDELUGMA EPOIHSAN
AMFOTEROI: QANATWi QANATOUSQWSAN, ENOIXOI EISIN.
Note particularly the wording of Lv20:13 (LXX). Thus, I would conclude
that an ARSENOKOITHS is someone who beds a male in a manner that would
violate Lv18:22 and 20:13, as understood in the first century. There is
a recent article in Novum Testamentum about Rm1:20-25 that suggests that
the manner of intercourse was considered more offensive than the sexual
identities of those involved.
Stephen Carlson
-- Stephen C. Carlson : Poetry speaks of aspirations, scarlson@mindspring.com : and songs chant the words. http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/ : -- Shujing 2.35
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