An awesome series of articles donated to the site by Bruce Lowe, a retired Baptist minister. I encourage you to take the time to read the four part series. Bruce's analysis is excellent and his research thorough.

To read the series go to the "Gay and Christian?" section of the site and scroll down towards the bottom of the page. There you will find the series of articles entitled "A Letter to Louise". Enjoy and praise God for men and women in the ministry like Bruce and his wife Anna.

I just wanted to say that Bruce is a wonderful man and very committed now to our cause. He sees this as another civil rights movement. The civil rights movement of our century. While he may be in *retirement* it is a very active 'retirement' to say the least. I've been pondering lately the number of 'retired' or near retirement age straight ministers (and very highly placed and respected ones at that) who have started to come out for our cause. Interesting times right now and the Holy Spirit is beginning to move many folks' hearts towards this issue. Something big is coming.

Bruce stated:

Quote:

Malakoi literally means “soft” and is translated that way by both KJ and RSV in Matt. 11:8 and Luke 7:25. When it is used in moral contexts in Greek writings it has the meaning of morally weak; a related word, malakia, when used in moral contexts, means dissolute and occasionally refers to sexual activity but never to homosexual acts. There are at least five Greek words that specifically mean people who practice same-gender sex. Unquestionably, if Paul had meant such people, he would not have used a word that is never used to mean that in Greek writings when he had other words that were clear in that meaning. He must have meant what the word commonly means in moral contexts, “morally weak.” There is no justification, most scholars agree, for translating it “homosexuals.”

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I am interested in the other greek words that Paul could have used. And do we know that these words were used in the days of Paul? Thereby, showing a deliberate decision by Paul not to use the greek word for "homosexual."

It is a good article. Thank you.


Jae

I don't know what those other Greek words are but I've heard this from many sources. Homosexuality wasn't rare in Greek (or Roman) culture.