Answer by John Mackay and Diane Eager
This question is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, taken from the words of the publishers of the new “Queen James Bible” for gays, which is now available and is a re-version of the King James Bible with editorial changes to make it pro-homosexual. The publishers state their reason for doing this as: “Homosexuality was first mentioned in the Bible in 1946 in the Revised Standard Version. There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this – only interpretations have been made. Anti-LGBT Bible interpretations commonly cite only eight verses in the Bible that they interpret to mean homosexuality is a sin; Eight verses in a book of thousands! The Queen James Bible seeks to resolve interpretive ambiguity in the Bible as it pertains to homosexuality: We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible.” (LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual.)
It is true the words “homosexuality” and “homosexual” do not appear in the King James Bible, which was printed in the year 1611, but the simple reason is that those words hadn’t even been invented, even though the sexual act between males is clearly described in the King James Version (KJV) Biblical record. e.g. from the Old Testament: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination” (Leviticus 18 22 KJV) and: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: (Leviticus 20:13 KJV). If you like to check the Apostle Paul’s use of the Greek word “arseno – koites” in 1 Corinthians 6: 9 (Strong’s number 733), which shouldn’t need any translation as a description of anal sex. Of course the similarity of the Greek to the vulgar Anglo Saxon ‘arse’ which has been doing the rounds for the past 1,000 years or so does not prove the case. You can either plug the English word homosexual into a modern online English Greek dictionary and find the translation is still arsenokoites, or you can trace the meaning from its parts arsen and koites which refers to men in bed. And when men are sleeping together – we think you’ve got the point.
In 1 Corinthians 6: 9 chapter Paul wrote on the sinfulness of homosexuality. The King James Translators rendered the Greek as “abusers of themselves with mankind.” The word “homosexual” wouldn’t be available in English for at least another two and half centuries. The Oxford Dictionary informs us the word “homosexual” has its origin in the late 19th century, and is a blend of the words “homo” (from the Greek: homos, meaning ‘same’) and “sexual” (no explanation necessary).
Many words have been added to the English language since 1611, and some of these are used in more modern translations of the Bible. As long as they are accurate translations of the original Hebrew and Greek this is quite appropriate, and it is no excuse for perverting the clear meaning of a passage, as the “Gay Bible” crowd have done. Acts of homosexuality (and Lesbianism) are clearly described in the Bible and exclusively mentioned in the context of condemnation and judgement, even in the New Testament, e.g. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; … For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:18, 26-27 KJV)
The argument that “only eight verses” interpret homosexuality as sin is no excuse for changing the meaning of any Scripture. Truth is never determined by the number of times something is mentioned in the Bible. God needs only tell us once to pronounce something right – or wrong!
At the end of their introduction the Queen James publishers quote the famous verse: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) We would remind us all that the gift of everlasting life is given to those who repent of their sins, rather than pretend their sins don’t exist. The Apostle John reminds us: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8-9)
The Apostle Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth that they once participated in many sins that would exclude them from the kingdom of God, including being “effeminate”, and “abusers of themselves with mankind” as translated in the KJV. Modern translations use the word “homosexual” here, which falls just a little short, as the King James Bible has translated two Greek words referring to both passive (effeminate) and active participants in homosexual acts (abusers). So much for “I am gay but not practising,” claim of some clergy! Paul then reminds the Corinthian Christians of the glorious truth: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11 KJV)
By deceiving people into denying that homosexuality is sin, the Queen James publishers are hindering their followers from receiving the wonderful free gift of forgiveness and new life in Christ, and in so doing are locking people out of Jesus’ Kingdom here and for eternity. They need to repent now, and do so publically!
For more information on this topic see the questions:
Homosexual behaviour is widespread in animals. Doesn’t this prove it is a natural behaviour? Answer here.
HOMOPHOBIA? Why do you people hate homosexuals if you claim God is a God of love? Answer here.
You claim homosexuals are not born that way. What evidence do you have? Answer here.
Addendum: You may also not have observed that the word “grandfather” does not appear in the original King James Bible, but has been used in later translations where it is an accurate description of a family relationship, e.g. 2 Samuel 9:7, which records David speaking to Mephibosheth. The original KJV is: “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Saul. Therefore, Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson. Therefore, in later translations “Saul thy father” is rendered “Saul thy grandfather”, but this does not change the meaning – it just uses a different English word.
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