Biblical Answer

The Greek term "arsenokoitai" is a compound word derived from "arsen" (man) and "koite" (bed). This term is found in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Jews in the first century, in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. The Septuagint translation is meta arsenos on koimethese koiten gynai- (with a man lying down in the bed of a woman), which implies a man engaging in sexual activity with another man. The term "arsenokoitai" carries the basic meaning of men who have sex with other men, making it a clear reference to homosexual behavior.

In the New Testament, the term "arsenokoitai" is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. The word is not found in surviving Greek literature prior to Paul's use of the term, indicating that it is a new creation or a neologism. Paul's use of the term is likely derived from the Holiness Code of Leviticus, which forbids certain sexual practices. The term "arsenokoitai" is almost certainly taken from Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, where the phrase "arsen" and "koite" are used together to describe a man lying with another man.

The understanding of "arsenokoitai" as referring to men who practice homosexuality is consistent with the consensus of modern English translations and the ethics of the Old Testament. The term is not linked to the story of Sodom, and early translations of the New Testament translate it as "men lying together with males" or "those who lie with men." The use of "arsenokoitai" by Paul in the New Testament is a clear condemnation of homosexual behavior, and it is essential to understand the term's meaning in its historical and cultural context to appreciate the full significance of Paul's teaching. The Bible's teaching on homosexuality is not a recent development, but rather a consistent theme throughout the Old and New Testaments.