Biblical Answer

Arsenokoitai: Understanding the Term

In the Greek language, the term arsenokoitai is derived from two words: arsen (man) and koite (bed). This combination of words is found in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 of the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Jews in the first century. The term arsenokoitai is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 to describe men who engage in homosexual behavior. In these passages, Paul is using the term to describe a sinful activity that is contrary to God's will.

The meaning of arsenokoitai is clear from its derivation from Leviticus. The Septuagint translation of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 uses the phrase meta arsenos on koimethese koiten gynai, which means "men who have sex with other men." This phrase is the basis for the term arsenokoitai, which is used by Paul to describe men who engage in homosexual behavior. Early translations of the New Testament, such as the Latin, Syriac, and Coptic translations, also translate arsenokoitai as "men lying together with males" or "those who lie with men."

The understanding of arsenokoitai as a term describing homosexual behavior is consistent with the ethics of the Old Testament and the broader biblical witness. In Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, God prohibits men from engaging in homosexual behavior, and Paul's use of the term arsenokoitai in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 is a clear continuation of this prohibition. The term arsenokoitai is not a reference to pederasty or any other specific type of homosexual behavior, but rather a general term for men who engage in homosexual behavior. I

It is clear that arsenokoitai refers to men who engage in homosexual behavior. The term is derived from the Greek words arsen (man) and koite (bed), and is found in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 of the Septuagint. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul uses the term to describe men who engage in homosexual behavior, and it is consistent with the ethics of the Old Testament and the broader biblical witness. The understanding of arsenokoitai as a term describing homosexual behavior is widely accepted among modern English translations and scholars.