Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Jar]

>>The best translation I’ve been able to find comes from an article written by Paul R. Johnson in an article titled "A New Look at Arsenokoitais". <<

mtnlady, re: arsenokoites,

"best" is a subjective term. My research indicates that the historical translation is the proper one. It is also more consistent with the OT and Romans 1.

Here's a link to a forum with both sides of the issue. Interesting that the liberals don't necessarily disagree with the historical translation. They seem to say Paul was misinformed or biased by his background. This position denies that scripture is divinely inspired. If they feel this way, why bother at all with what the Bible says? If I were them, I'd just put it beside the work of Plato or Shakespeare and not let it bother me. I suspect that they do know it is inspired and they know the meaning is clear and they know that homosexuality is a sin.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibc1.htm

Liberals from the same forum:

J. Nelson: "Paul used the Greek word malakoi. They translate it as effeminate and so on. It could mean that; it might not. It can mean soft. Paul was a Jewish theologian. Someone from a Jewish background would consider that behavior unacceptable. Many Greeks did not."

D. Bartlett: "There's considerable debate over what the Greek words mean. We just don't know. I've read most of the debate, and I don't know."

K. Stendahl: "When people come to me -- deeply Christian people -- and say, `This is the way I am created. This is how God made me, how He makes me feel love,' I have to respect that. We know many things people [like Paul] did not know at that time. One should read the Bible with some kind of reason." 1