The Greek word(s) for "homosexual?"

Kyle Dillon spiffy at learningstar.com
Sat Oct 3 03:27:26 EDT 1998


In 1 Corinthians 6:9, we find the two Greek words, ARSENOKOITAI and MALAKOI, which may or may not deal with the practice of homosexuality. Have their definitions been established from extra-biblical literature?

It would seem as though MALAKOS is in clear reference to a passive male homosexual as used in 1 Corinthians 6:9. In Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians, he calls it a lust. And the only times MALAKOS is used in conjunction with lust in Greek texts, it refers to a passive male homosexual. Can anyone verify this?

Very rarely is ARSENOKOITHS found outside the Bible. Is it possible that Paul made up this word? If so, what does it mean, and how is it used in Greek literature? I have often heard that it is used in reference to male temple prostitutes (or sometimes pederasts), but I have been unable to find any example in Greek texts where this is true.

(I apologize if this topic has already been discussed/resolved in previous threads on this list.)

Kyle Dillon
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