Biblical Answer

The Greek word arsenokoitai is a compound of two words: arsen (man) and koite (bed). The word is derived from Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Jews in the first century. In these texts, the word arsenokoitai refers to men who have sex with other men. This understanding of the word is supported by the fact that there are no examples of the word arsenokoitai in the surviving Greek literature prior to Paul's use of the term in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10.

The word arsenokoitai is often translated as "sodomites" or "men who lie with men," but this translation is not entirely accurate. The word is not specifically linked to the story of Sodom, and it is not a reference to a specific city or place. Instead, it is a general term that refers to men who engage in homosexual behavior. This understanding of the word is supported by the fact that early translations of the New Testament, such as the Latin and Syriac versions, translate the word as "men lying together with males" or "those who lie with men."

In 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul uses the word arsenokoitai to refer to men who practice homosexuality. The word is part of a list of sins that Paul considers to be contrary to God's will, and it is used to emphasize the gravity of homosexual behavior. The word is not a reference to a specific type of behavior or a specific group of people, but rather a general term that refers to men who engage in homosexual behavior. This understanding of the word is supported by the fact that modern English translations, such as the English Standard Version and the Holman Christian Standard Bible, translate the word as "men who practice homosexuality."