Is Passive Homosexuality Permitted in Scripture? 1 Corinthians 6:9

Question

Is passive homosexuality permitted in Scripture? 1 Corinthians 6:9

Answer

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.

Passive and/or active homosexuality is forbidden in the Bible (Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:24-28, 32). In 1 Corinthians 6:9 we see two different Greek words used for homosexual relationships: malakos and arsenokoites. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Walter Baur, et al., defines malakos as "soft, effeminate, esp. of catamites, men and boys who allow themselves to be misused homosexually." It's used to describe "male prostitutes" (or "effeminate" in the KJV) and those that are the more passive (receptive) partner in a homosexual relationship. The Greek word arsenokoites is defined as "a male who practices homosexuality, pederast, sodomite," and "homosexual offenders" (or "sodomites" in the NKJV) to the more active partner in a homosexual relationship. Both parties in the relationship are seen as sinners before God.

One of Paul's points in 1 Corinthians 6:9 is that when a person comes to salvation, in time the Holy Spirit leads one away from such sins as adultery, homosexuality, and other sins unto true repentance (a full and complete gift) and acknowledging of the truth (2 Tim. 2:24-26). That is God's design for the family: one man and one woman to be husband and wife (Gen. 2:21-25; Eph. 5:21-33;1 Cor. 7:2). This is the pattern God ordained and it is the only pattern that is considered moral and ideal by God (Heb. 13:4). Please see "Practicing Homosexuals Can Go to Heaven?" below.