HOMOSEXUALITY NOT IN THE BIBLE
Homosexuality Is Not In The Bible
The Bible actually contains no word for homosexuality or homosexual, and there is good reason. Follow along, and you will see why.
Some English – and Spanish, and Chinese, and Russian etc. – translations of the Bible include the word "homosexual." This is most definitely an incorrect because the word homosexual is nowhere in the original Hebrew or the original Greek of the book know as the Holy Bible.
The actual word "homosexual" didn’t even exist when the Biblical scriptures were written. In fact, it was not until 1869 that Dr. Karoly Benkert, a Hungarian physician created the term "homosexual" by combining the "homo," the Greek word for same, with the Latin "sexual." The word homosexual did not come into use in the United States until the 1880’s.
The concept homosexual didn’t even exist when the Bible scriptures and scrolls were written down.
If you see the word homosexual or homosexuality in the Bible, it is because translators chose those words to reflect their own homophobic feelings and ideas.
Now, where in the Bible you might find the word homosexual translated ad used incorrectly:
The Hebrew word "kedah" means temple prostitute and is sometimes inaccurately translated at sodomite or homosexual.
In 1 Corinthians, sodomite or homosexual are sometimes used, but they are incorrect translations of the Greek "malakos" which means something closer to soft/softer indicating an opposite of a rough condition. Someone in robes and jewels rather than warriors and commoners.
1 Corinthians also refers in Greek to "arsenokaitai," which appears nowhere else in the Bible or in Greek writings about homoerotic sexuality, but more than likely would be better translated as meaning a male prostitute.
Jude 7 sometimes refers to "homosexual flesh" that the Sodomites pursued. This is an inaccurate translation of "hetera sarx" which means, literally, strange flesh used in description of the flesh of angels who were sent by God to evaluate Sodom and Gomorrah.
In Timothy 1:9-10, translators sometimes use "homosexual" for the original Greek words, pornoi, arsenokoitai, and andrapodistai, meaning male prostitutes - males who hire male prostitutes - or the slave dealers who procured them.
Including the word "homosexual" in the Bible is the choice of translators and is not a reflection of the Bible, or Biblical Truth and/or ancient Myth. It is a word that modern translators have chosen to include in order to support their own homophobic agenda.
And if you want to talk about the Old Testament where it speaks of "men laying with men," it was in reference to the Hebrews denying participation in Pagan customs that were being referenced - and that particular scripture that has been taken out of context ... as have many Biblical texts used to support personal, church, corporate, private, and governmental agendas.
If you are a religious person, and you accept God is Love teachings - then this would also affirm that of God is Love, then love is God. So whoever, wherever, whatever ... LOVE IT. When you love ... you show the Source Energy of all that is God. And personally, I don't particularly think that God/Love care WHAT you love, as long as it is non-injurious and mutually agreeable.
The Bible is a book of allegories and metaphors with no intended literal or historical intent. There are deeper lessons to be learned beyond the text, and beneath the stories. It was never about the who, where, and when ... it has always been about the WHY. It is OUR journey ... our story.
Just a thought ...
~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.