As a new Christian, I wanted to read and understand more of the Bible. As I was researching, I came across a lot of people saying that this part of the Bible specifically was misinterpreted/translated and is not true. I also came across a lot of people saying that homosexuality is not a sin, and the reason why it’s mentioned as being wrong in the Bible because those were exploitative and not loving relationships. Which doesn’t make sense because I feel like if that was the case, God would’ve made sure to put that exception in the Bible to avoid this debate, but I could be wrong. All of this causes a lot of confusion as a newer Christian. I do know that God is not the author of confusion, but it’s very hard to understand what is true and what is not and I really want to have the right idea and have the best knowledge about this. So why do people say that 1 corinthians 6:9 (and many other parts of the Bible) is miss translated
I have not heard, like you have, that this passage has been mistranslated or wrongly interpreted. There are many voices out there, so I don’t doubt some hold this view. The reasons for doing so are not obscure. Here’s my view of Paul’s strong admonishment to these Corinthian believers; here is (in my view) the point Paul is making that may be missed.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
I say this to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another.
Why do you not rather accept wrong?
Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!Do you not know that
the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived.__ Neither fornicators,
__ nor idolaters,
__ nor adulterers,
__ nor homosexuals,
__ nor sodomites,__ nor thieves,
__ nor covetous,
__ nor drunkards,
__ nor revilers,
__ nor extortioners
will inherit the kingdom of God.And such were some of you.
But you were washed,
but you were sanctified,
but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.(1 Corinthians 6:1-11)
Can you see how Paul is characterizing the unrighteous; how Paul is demonstrating the character of those unrighteous judges that the Corinthians have allowed to sit in judgement over their personal disputes?
See the book-ends to verses 9 & 10? “Will not inherit The Kingdom of God”.
Paul is saying “those unrighteous folks that you are allowing to settle disputes will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven”; they are unrighteous in the same way fornicators, idolators, adulterers, etc. are unrighteous; an obvious list that no one disputed.
What makes these characteristics unrighteous? Because they are all contrary to God and in opposition to God’s Holy righteousness.
God has chosen His bride and provided for her cleansing, to make her suitable for Himself. God is faithful, even when His bride is unfaithful. The first five describe unfaithfulness, and unsuitableness, and fail to reflect the faithfulness of God and the perfect union of Jesus and His purified bride.
Likewise, God is a giver and a provider; God supplies good gifts to all men, the just and the unjust alike because that is who God is. God meets needs. The last five speak of takers, those given to materialism and selfishness. These practices and attitudes are contrary to the nature of God and in oppositon to God’s activities. These practices and attitudes are unrighteous, and there will be no unrighteousness (no unGodliness) in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
This is the point Paul would have us not miss. The definitions of any in list of characteristics of the unrighteous are of far less importance than our understanding that these are contrary to God’s righteousness. Any arguable definition of the words translated “effeminate” or “homosexual” or “sodomite” or an “abuser of themselves with mankind” still will not, and cannot accurately represent the righteous, faithful, pure, loving, and beautiful relationship of Holy Jesus and His purified bride (The Church). I find little value in arguing over nuanced definitions if none of the opinons describe the righteous relationship of one man and one woman as representing God and His bride.
People are not barred from heaven because they maintain immoral relationships, people are barred from heaven for rejecting the Gift of God. Making efforts to get people to stop having immoral relationships is like washing a pig. As soon as you get any one spot of mud off, every pig will go right back to wallowing in it. Like painting firewood, It is wasted effort.
KP
Those people who say that must be the ones who are choosing sin over the Lord. On the bright side where we are going with the Lord wont have any of those people there, and we know it and look forward to it.
Sometimes you can only let them rationalize their choices themselves and move on. This explains the passage that says some have eyes to see and some do not, some have ears to hear and some wont. We have a lot to look forward to though!
Well, well, well…
Well said, well stated, well worded.
