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1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10 Know
ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be
not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
There are a wide range of
translations of this verse. Biblical linguists see enough differences
in
meaning that one needs to be very cautious when applying this passage
to gay people. A few of
the different translations include:
Good News Bible - Surely
you know that the wicked will not possess God's Kingdom. Do not fool
yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are
adulterers or homosexual perverts or who
steal or are greedy or are drunkards
or who slander others or are thieves---none of these
will possess God's Kingdom.
Moffatt
Bible - What! do you not
know that the wicked will not inherit the Realm of God? Make no mistake
about it; neither the immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers not
catamites nor sodomites nor thieves nor the lustful nor the drunken nor
the abusive nor robbers will inherit the Realm of God.
New
Revised Standard Version - Do
you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do
not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,
sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers - none of
these will inherit the kingdom of God.
Leon Morris, in the Tyndale New Testament
Commentary on 1 Corinthians observes, “The inclusion of idolaters may
point us to the immorality of much heathen worship of the day.” When
commenting on immorality and unchastity, Charles Errdman, in his
commentary on 1 Corinthians indicates, “The
practice of impurity formed a feature of idolatrous worship.”
Gay Christians do not express their love for each other as an act of
worship to idols. Because gay Christians are not worshipping idols,
this text does not appear to condemns gay Christians.
The Catholic Study Bible indicates these
verses may be in reference to religious prostitution or as a symbol of
any sexual relationship that conflicts with Christ’s claim over us.
These verses are a call to gay and straight Christians to maintain only
relationships that strengthen their relationships with God. Any
relationships, be they sexual or non-sexual, that weaken our bonds with
Christ should be terminated. Relationships at work that harm our
connection with God need to be changed. And relationships with
abusive churches, with churches that threaten the relationships gay
Christians have with God are to be abandoned.
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