Recommended collateral
reading: Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament:
379-389
Genesis 19:1-29
explicit references to the sin
of Sodom: 18:20-21; 19:7,13
explicit references to the behavior
of the men of Sodom: 19:4-5, (8), 9
later references to Sodom
Ezekiel 16:44-63 (cf. v.49):
Sodom (& Samaria) compared with Jerusalem. What was Sodom's
sin?
See also: Deut 23:18 Isa 1:9-10;
3:9; Jer 23:14; Lam 4:6
Matthew 10:15; 11:23-24 (Luke
10:12): is Sodom's offense described? Does this reference have
more than a rhetorical purpose?
2 Peter 2:6-8: how is Sodom's
offense described? How does this reference function in the larger
context (2:4-11)?
Jude 7: to what does the "strange
flesh" (NASV; "unnatural lust," NRSV) refer?
Leviticus 18:22;
20:13
what other deeds/behaviors are
discussed in the context?
what penalty is prescribed for
these behaviors? Why?
1 Corinthians
6:9-11
malakoi, from malakos (soft),
when used of persons, means soft, effeminate "especially
of men and boys who allow themselves to be misused homosexually"
(Bauer, s.v.). Thus we might paraphrase: male prostitute
or passive homosexual partner.
arsenokoitai: a compound word whose parts mean male
and intercourse (cf. Lev 18:22; 20:13 in LXX). In this
context, the compound probably means: male homosexual
or active homosexual partner, presumably the older user
of the younger passive partner.
See Philo, Special Laws
3.37-42 on the first term, and on the behavior of both partners.
What other offending behaviors
are grouped with this pair? Does Paul imply that the Corinthian
church was tolerating (even promoting) homosexual activity?
1 Timothy 1:10
arsenokoitai: same word as 1 Cor 6:9
What other offending behaviors
are found in this context?
Romans 1:18-32
logical flow: "all other deparvities follow from the
radical rebellion of the creature against the Creator" and
"moral perversion is the result of God's wrath, not the
reason for it" (MVNT, 384-385).
1:19-20
1:21-23, 25, 28a
1:18, 24a, 26a, 28b
1:24b, 26b-27, 28c-32
knowledge of God (power, nature)
rebellion against God; refusal to worship; idolatry
divine wrath and abandonment
moral perversion and ignorance
1:26-27: What is behavior contrary to nature (ten
para physin)?
against the way God intended? against the created order?
against what ought to be? (Cf. physis in 1 Cor
11:14)
has Paul imported a Stoic ideal into the discussion?
Could this be limited to sexual acts that violate one's sexual
orientation?
Secular References to Homosexuality
Plato's Symposium (e.g., 190-191)
Plutarch's Lycurgus; Eroticus
(e.g. 4-7)
Lucian's Dialogues of the Courtesans
#5: Clonarium and Leanea