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1946
Philippians 4:4-9 Common English Bible
Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad!
Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near.
Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
_____
Things are not always as they seem.
I have a tattoo of a cross on my right upper arm.
I actually planned for a different cross than the one that is there. The cross I wanted I had seen on the arm of a young woman at a Christian music festival in Bushnell, Illinois. I asked her if I could take a photo of her tattooed arm and I took that photo with me to the tattoo parlor.
Arriving at Tattoo Charlie’s in Louisville, Ky, we were met by a tattoo artist. We chatted cordially for a few minutes before I showed him the photo.
Once he took a glimpse at the picture, his demeanor completely changed. It was as if he wanted nothing to do with me. He told me he didn’t have time for me and walked away.
I was befuddled. I had no idea what I had done to upset him. So, we talked to another artist and that’s when I learned a valuable lesson.
The tattoo I had admired on the woman’s arm was a simple depiction of Jesus on the cross- not elaborate at all, basically an outline, the face was an oval with no features, no hair, but a crown of thorns. I loved the quaintness of it.
The tattooist told me that the other guy blew me off because the tattoo I liked was actually a tattoo worn by skinheads and white supremacists. Imagine me, big guy, shaved head, earrings, goatee, asking for a white supremacist tattoo. I freaked out the guy at the tattoo parlor.
I was shocked as well. There was nothing obviously nefarious about the tattoo. It just looked like a very simple, very innocent, kinda cool image and I had no idea with what it was associated. So, word of advice- do thorough research, things aren’t always as they seem.
Perhaps you have listened to my last few sermons and you have heard me interpret some verses of the bible differently than you have heard before. You have heard me claim that the Scripture does not speak against LGBTQ people or condemn homosexuality, but that the passages often used to disparage same sex relationships actually address concerns like rape, idol worship, or the sexual exploitation of children.
Perhaps you have been wondering how I’m gonna work my way around 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 as the actual word “homosexuals” is used in those verses, and in a negative way.
1 Corinthians 6:9,10 from the Revised Standard Version, “Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.” (Thank you Bev for letting me use the Revised Standard Version you received at your baptism to look this up).
In 1946, the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published. A panel of 22 scholars, lead by Yale Divinity School Dean Dr. Luther Weigle, had worked for ten years on what would become the gold standard of translations.
In 1946, with its publication, the word “homosexuals” was printed in the Bible for the first time, ever. The word “homosexuals” had never been used in an English bible and the words that might translate “homosexuals” in other languages had never been printed in a Bible before 1946.
Several Translations that came out after the RSV piggybacked off its work and so, the word “homosexuals” is now found in several translations. Ironically, one translation where it is not found is in the Revised Standard Version which was revised in 1971 and the word “homosexuals” was dropped from the text.
Before 1946, the two Greek words that the Revised Standard Version combined to translate “homosexuals” were translated in a variety of ways. In older versions, one or the other of these Greek words were translated wantons, lechers, and buggerers. Newer translations included words and phrases like effeminate, those who make women of themselves, masturbators, abusers of themselves with men, and sodomites (just to be clear, sodomite is not a synonym for homosexual. By definition, a sodomite is anyone, male or female, who has sex without the possibility of procreation).
It might help us if we examine the two Greek words that the Revised Standard Version combined to create the word “homosexuals.”
The first word is μαλακοι. Μαλακοι is a very common Greek word which means “soft.” It is the word used to describe a nice coat or blanket. When referring to people, μαλακoι is translated weak, weakling, coward, lazy, even dishonest.
The second word, αρσενοκοιταi, is trickier because it is rarely used. In fact, there is no evidence of the word anywhere in Greek documents before Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and then again in 1 Timothy 1:10. This has lead some to believe that Paul coined the word. It is actually the combination of two Greek words, αρσεν, which means “male” and κοιτε which is translated “bed.”
In Greek usage after Paul, αρσενοκοιται is used to describe both sexual and financial exploitation, basically it is a word used to describe someone who takes advantage of others.
In other languages, the words used in translation for αρσενοκοιται, often reflect the idea of sexual exploitation, and specifically, the sexual exploitation of boys, which makes sense as pederasty, the practice wherein male slave owners would force a younger male slaves, often teenagers, to be their sex partners appears to have been a pervasive social reality in both Greek and Roman Empires.
A lexicon published in 1483 equated αρσενοκοιται with the Latin “paedico,” “child molester.”
When Martin Luther translated the New Testament in 1522, he translated αρσενοκοιται with the German word “knabenschander” which means “boy molester.”
In foreign language translations before 1946, the translation of αρσενοκοιται often reflected the idea of illicit sexual relationships with minors.
As English translations were first produced, the two Greek words were translated separately with μαλακοι translated as “weak, or effeminate” and αρσενοκοιται translated as “one who abuses himself or others.”
The translation team for the Revised Standard Version decided to combine the two words μαλακοι (soft) and αρσενοκοιται(male bed) and translated them as the word “homosexuals.”
A rationale for the translators’ decision for combining these two Greek words seems to be a mystery, and since the conjunction ούτε (nor) is inserted between the words in the Greek μαλακοι ούτε αρσενοκοιται, it certainly appears that the two words were not written to be connected.
And how the translation team landed on the word “homosexuals,” a word that did not exist until 1869, leaves one scratching one’s head. It has left some scholars believing that it was a ideological and cultural choice, rather than a theological or linguistic decision.
Later, The translating team removed the word “homosexuals” from the Revised Standard Version, but by then other English translations had followed suit and voila “homosexual” had become a bible word.
I assume the word μalakoi probably refers to the morally weak and I am confident that the word αρσενοκοιταi refers to a pederast, a sexual abuser of boys. It makes sense to me from historical, contextual, and cultural perspectives that as Paul writes to churches located in the heart of the Roman Empire, that this empire-wide sanctioned pedophilia would garner his comment and condemnation.
And so, I contend that 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 don’t refer to same sex attraction, or same gender intimacy, or sexual identity, but rather, the sexual exploitation of children by adults.
Interestingly, 13 years after the Revised Standard Version was first published, and 11 years before a revision would remove the word “homosexuals” from the text, a seminary student wrote a letter to the translating team that is now in the translation archives at Yale.
In the letter he challenged the translation. He believed the combining of the two words μαλακοι and αρσενοκοιται and translating them “homosexuals” was without merit and a grievous mistake.
He received a return letter from Dr. Weigle himself, the head of the Translation team. Dr. Weigle agreed that the team would consider a different term in its next revision.
The word was changed to a more appropriate translation based on the history of the Greek words, and “sexual perverts” replaced “homosexuals” in the Revised Standard Version in 1971.
In his initial letter, the Seminarian wrote, “I write… because of my deep concern for those who are wronged and slandered by the incorrect usage of this word. Since this is a Holy Book of Scripture, sacred to the Christian, I am the more deeply concerned because well-meaning and sincere, but misinformed and misguided people may use this Revised Standard Version translation as a sacred weapon, not for the purification of the Church, but in fact for injustice against a defenseless minority group.”
Perhaps, more prophetic words have never been spoken!
Amen
_____
Pastoral Prayer/ Lectio Divina
Romans 5
Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.
But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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By Pastor Steve MechemPhilippians 4:4-9 Common English Bible
Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad!
Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near.
Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
_____
Things are not always as they seem.
I have a tattoo of a cross on my right upper arm.
I actually planned for a different cross than the one that is there. The cross I wanted I had seen on the arm of a young woman at a Christian music festival in Bushnell, Illinois. I asked her if I could take a photo of her tattooed arm and I took that photo with me to the tattoo parlor.
Arriving at Tattoo Charlie’s in Louisville, Ky, we were met by a tattoo artist. We chatted cordially for a few minutes before I showed him the photo.
Once he took a glimpse at the picture, his demeanor completely changed. It was as if he wanted nothing to do with me. He told me he didn’t have time for me and walked away.
I was befuddled. I had no idea what I had done to upset him. So, we talked to another artist and that’s when I learned a valuable lesson.
The tattoo I had admired on the woman’s arm was a simple depiction of Jesus on the cross- not elaborate at all, basically an outline, the face was an oval with no features, no hair, but a crown of thorns. I loved the quaintness of it.
The tattooist told me that the other guy blew me off because the tattoo I liked was actually a tattoo worn by skinheads and white supremacists. Imagine me, big guy, shaved head, earrings, goatee, asking for a white supremacist tattoo. I freaked out the guy at the tattoo parlor.
I was shocked as well. There was nothing obviously nefarious about the tattoo. It just looked like a very simple, very innocent, kinda cool image and I had no idea with what it was associated. So, word of advice- do thorough research, things aren’t always as they seem.
Perhaps you have listened to my last few sermons and you have heard me interpret some verses of the bible differently than you have heard before. You have heard me claim that the Scripture does not speak against LGBTQ people or condemn homosexuality, but that the passages often used to disparage same sex relationships actually address concerns like rape, idol worship, or the sexual exploitation of children.
Perhaps you have been wondering how I’m gonna work my way around 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 as the actual word “homosexuals” is used in those verses, and in a negative way.
1 Corinthians 6:9,10 from the Revised Standard Version, “Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.” (Thank you Bev for letting me use the Revised Standard Version you received at your baptism to look this up).
In 1946, the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published. A panel of 22 scholars, lead by Yale Divinity School Dean Dr. Luther Weigle, had worked for ten years on what would become the gold standard of translations.
In 1946, with its publication, the word “homosexuals” was printed in the Bible for the first time, ever. The word “homosexuals” had never been used in an English bible and the words that might translate “homosexuals” in other languages had never been printed in a Bible before 1946.
Several Translations that came out after the RSV piggybacked off its work and so, the word “homosexuals” is now found in several translations. Ironically, one translation where it is not found is in the Revised Standard Version which was revised in 1971 and the word “homosexuals” was dropped from the text.
Before 1946, the two Greek words that the Revised Standard Version combined to translate “homosexuals” were translated in a variety of ways. In older versions, one or the other of these Greek words were translated wantons, lechers, and buggerers. Newer translations included words and phrases like effeminate, those who make women of themselves, masturbators, abusers of themselves with men, and sodomites (just to be clear, sodomite is not a synonym for homosexual. By definition, a sodomite is anyone, male or female, who has sex without the possibility of procreation).
It might help us if we examine the two Greek words that the Revised Standard Version combined to create the word “homosexuals.”
The first word is μαλακοι. Μαλακοι is a very common Greek word which means “soft.” It is the word used to describe a nice coat or blanket. When referring to people, μαλακoι is translated weak, weakling, coward, lazy, even dishonest.
The second word, αρσενοκοιταi, is trickier because it is rarely used. In fact, there is no evidence of the word anywhere in Greek documents before Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and then again in 1 Timothy 1:10. This has lead some to believe that Paul coined the word. It is actually the combination of two Greek words, αρσεν, which means “male” and κοιτε which is translated “bed.”
In Greek usage after Paul, αρσενοκοιται is used to describe both sexual and financial exploitation, basically it is a word used to describe someone who takes advantage of others.
In other languages, the words used in translation for αρσενοκοιται, often reflect the idea of sexual exploitation, and specifically, the sexual exploitation of boys, which makes sense as pederasty, the practice wherein male slave owners would force a younger male slaves, often teenagers, to be their sex partners appears to have been a pervasive social reality in both Greek and Roman Empires.
A lexicon published in 1483 equated αρσενοκοιται with the Latin “paedico,” “child molester.”
When Martin Luther translated the New Testament in 1522, he translated αρσενοκοιται with the German word “knabenschander” which means “boy molester.”
In foreign language translations before 1946, the translation of αρσενοκοιται often reflected the idea of illicit sexual relationships with minors.
As English translations were first produced, the two Greek words were translated separately with μαλακοι translated as “weak, or effeminate” and αρσενοκοιται translated as “one who abuses himself or others.”
The translation team for the Revised Standard Version decided to combine the two words μαλακοι (soft) and αρσενοκοιται(male bed) and translated them as the word “homosexuals.”
A rationale for the translators’ decision for combining these two Greek words seems to be a mystery, and since the conjunction ούτε (nor) is inserted between the words in the Greek μαλακοι ούτε αρσενοκοιται, it certainly appears that the two words were not written to be connected.
And how the translation team landed on the word “homosexuals,” a word that did not exist until 1869, leaves one scratching one’s head. It has left some scholars believing that it was a ideological and cultural choice, rather than a theological or linguistic decision.
Later, The translating team removed the word “homosexuals” from the Revised Standard Version, but by then other English translations had followed suit and voila “homosexual” had become a bible word.
I assume the word μalakoi probably refers to the morally weak and I am confident that the word αρσενοκοιταi refers to a pederast, a sexual abuser of boys. It makes sense to me from historical, contextual, and cultural perspectives that as Paul writes to churches located in the heart of the Roman Empire, that this empire-wide sanctioned pedophilia would garner his comment and condemnation.
And so, I contend that 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 don’t refer to same sex attraction, or same gender intimacy, or sexual identity, but rather, the sexual exploitation of children by adults.
Interestingly, 13 years after the Revised Standard Version was first published, and 11 years before a revision would remove the word “homosexuals” from the text, a seminary student wrote a letter to the translating team that is now in the translation archives at Yale.
In the letter he challenged the translation. He believed the combining of the two words μαλακοι and αρσενοκοιται and translating them “homosexuals” was without merit and a grievous mistake.
He received a return letter from Dr. Weigle himself, the head of the Translation team. Dr. Weigle agreed that the team would consider a different term in its next revision.
The word was changed to a more appropriate translation based on the history of the Greek words, and “sexual perverts” replaced “homosexuals” in the Revised Standard Version in 1971.
In his initial letter, the Seminarian wrote, “I write… because of my deep concern for those who are wronged and slandered by the incorrect usage of this word. Since this is a Holy Book of Scripture, sacred to the Christian, I am the more deeply concerned because well-meaning and sincere, but misinformed and misguided people may use this Revised Standard Version translation as a sacred weapon, not for the purification of the Church, but in fact for injustice against a defenseless minority group.”
Perhaps, more prophetic words have never been spoken!
Amen
_____
Pastoral Prayer/ Lectio Divina
Romans 5
Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.
But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.