{"id":7300,"date":"2016-11-18T21:46:17","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T15:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=7300"},"modified":"2024-05-15T12:46:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T17:46:48","slug":"sexual-immorality-revisited-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=7300","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

The exercise of revisiting Paul\u2019s Religious Mind<\/a><\/em> and the meaning of Sexual Immorality<\/a><\/em> has clarified a few things that were right in front of me all along.\u00a0 I considered again the list of sins that described the former lives of some <\/a><\/em> who were called to faith in Corinth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 6:9b, 10 (NET) Table<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Parallel Greek<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards<\/a>, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not<\/a> inherit the kingdom of God.<\/td>\n\u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 (another form of \u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03bf\u03bb\u1f71\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03bf\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bc\u03b1\u03bb\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03bb\u1f73\u03c0\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd\u1f73\u03ba\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bc\u1f73\u03b8\u03c5\u03c3\u03bf\u03b9, \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bb\u03bf\u1f77\u03b4\u03bf\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9, \u03bf\u1f50\u03c7 \u1f05\u03c1\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u1f75\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Each word preceded by \u03bf\u1f54\u03c4\u03b5<\/a>, \u03bf\u1f50<\/a> or \u03bf\u1f50\u03c7 (a form of \u03bf\u1f50) gives a strong indication that Paul did not consider \u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 the one word that included all of the others. \u00a0In other words the list is not to be understood as, The \u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9: idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers.\u00a0 I\u2019ve considered this option, by the way, given the shorter list in Ephesians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Ephesians 5:5 (NET)<\/td>\n\n

Parallel Greek<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u1f34\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u1f7d\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f22 \u1f00\u03ba\u1f71\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f22 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd\u1f73\u03ba\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1f77\u1fb3 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>So I began a subtractive process, trying to determine what \u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 did not mean.\u00a0 As I studied \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 (a form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2<\/a>; translated, practicing homosexuals<\/a><\/em>) the obvious became more clear.\u00a0 The Greek word \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 is a compound of two words: 1) \u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7\u03bd<\/a>, male<\/em>, and 2) \u03ba\u03bf\u03af\u03c4\u03b7<\/a>, couch<\/em>, bed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator<\/a><\/em> made them male <\/em><\/strong>(\u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd, a form of \u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7\u03bd) and female<\/em><\/strong>,[1]<\/sup><\/a> Jesus answered the Pharisees who asked Him about divorce.\u00a0 The men<\/a> <\/em>(\u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2, another form of \u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7\u03bd) also abandoned natural relations with women<\/em>, Paul wrote the Roman believers, and were inflamed in their passions for one another. \u00a0Men<\/em> (\u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2, another form of \u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7\u03bd) committed shameless acts with men<\/em> (\u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd, another form of \u03b1\u03c1\u03c3\u03b7\u03bd) and received in themselves the due penalty for their error<\/em>.[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 The Greek is a bit more graphic: \u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u1f04\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03c3\u03c7\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03b6\u1f79\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 (literally, \u201cmale in male this unseemliness performing\u201d).\u00a0 The writer of Hebrews penned: Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed <\/em>(\u03ba\u03bf\u1f77\u03c4\u03b7) kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people<\/em> (\u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, another form of \u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2) and adulterers<\/em> (\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2, a form of \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I can\u2019t imagine one word better than \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 (male marriage bed<\/em>) to describe You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I combined this with the fact that Paul\u2019s particular usage of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1<\/a> in 1 Corinthians 5:1<\/a> is a fairly clear reference to You must not have sexual intercourse with your father\u2019s wife; she is your father\u2019s nakedness<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And I came to one inescapable conclusion irrespective of whether Paul used \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 because he thought it meant anything and everything<\/a> that was not sex between one man and one woman or because it was the only word he had had to use when he arrived in Corinth, constrained by his reliance on James\u2019 abbreviated version of the law:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

James\u2019 abbreviated version of the law<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u2026to abstain from<\/a> things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood\u2026<\/p>\n

Acts 15:20 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03c7\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03b3\u03b7\u03bc\u1f71\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f7d\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1) \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 |\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6| \u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b1\u1f35\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2026that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled<\/a> and from sexual immorality\u2026<\/p>\n

Acts 15:29a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03c7\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b8\u1f7b\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b1\u1f35\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>The inescapable conclusion is: in the letter called 1 Corinthians Paul taught Levitical law (as knowledge of sin<\/a> not as a path of salvation<\/a>) to Gentiles (1 Timothy 1:8-10 NET).<\/p>\n

But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people (\u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2, another form of \u03c0\u03cc\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2)<\/em>, practicing homosexuals (\u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u1f77\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2, another form of \u1f00\u03c1\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03ba\u03bf\u03af\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2)<\/em>, kidnappers, liars, perjurers \u2013 in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>Gone was any pretense to be concerned<\/a> about nothing among<\/a><\/em> [them] except Jesus Christ, and him crucified<\/em>.[6]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 More importantly, perhaps, the pretense of not placing on the neck of the<\/em> [Gentile] disciples a yoke that neither <\/em>[Peter\u2019s] ancestors nor <\/em>[his contemporaries had] been able to bear<\/em>[7]<\/sup><\/a> was utterly gone from Paul\u2019s thinking.\u00a0 That yoke <\/em>would not be borne by the works of the flesh.\u00a0 That is true.\u00a0 But it would not be shirked either.\u00a0 The yoke would be borne by the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe<\/em>,[8]<\/sup><\/a> the fruit of the Spirit<\/a><\/em>, the love <\/em>[that] is the fulfillment of the law<\/em>.[9]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0<\/em>Jesus said (Matthew 11:28-30; 5:17-20 NET):<\/p>\n

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. \u00a0Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. \u00a0For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.<\/p>\n

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.\u00a0 I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. \u00a0I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. \u00a0So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. \u00a0For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do we then nullify the law through faith?<\/em> Paul asked rhetorically.\u00a0 Absolutely not! \u00a0Instead we uphold the law<\/em>.[10]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Have I just made the case<\/a> for \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1 as a violation of Leviticus 18 or 20?\u00a0 But I say to you, whoever<\/a> divorces<\/a> his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful<\/em> [\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1]) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery<\/em>.[11]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I might have made that case<\/a>.\u00a0 I have a philosophical bent to my mind; I am a legalist in theory and in practice.\u00a0 Why not see Matthew 5:32 as Jesus\u2019 instruction to governor-priests and as vindication or exoneration of Ezra the priest?\u00a0 Ancient Roman legislators had articulated concepts of lawful connubium<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 The priests and bishops Constantine left to govern Rome when he abandoned it for Byzantium<\/a> heard Jesus\u2019 words as Roman law.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t Jesus follow Roman law?\u00a0 It\u2019s certainly more in line with the way my mind works.\u00a0 Until, that is, I heard<\/a> ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h <\/em>in the prophet Malachi (2:14b, 15a, 16 NET):<\/p>\n

The Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/a>, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this [Table<\/a>]<\/em>…<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate divorce,\u201d says the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> God (<\/em>\u02bc\u0115l\u00f4h\u0131\u0302ym<\/a>, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9)<\/em> of Israel, \u201cand the one who is guilty of violence,\u201d says the Lord (<\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4)<\/em> who rules over all. \u201cPay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful\u201d [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the intellectual and spiritual equivalent of a ratchet, and I cannot go back.\u00a0 Now I hear, For God has consigned <\/em>(\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f73\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd, a form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03b3\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03c9<\/a>) all people to disobedience<\/em>\u00a0(\u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u1f77\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/a>; literally, disbelief<\/em>) so that he may show mercy to them all<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 We are all like fish caught<\/a> in a net of disobedience.\u00a0 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under <\/em>(\u1f10\u03bd<\/a>; literally, in<\/em>) the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable <\/em>(\u1f51\u03c0\u1f79\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>; literally, under sentence<\/em>, under judgment<\/em>) to God<\/em>.[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Ezra was exactly where ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em> wanted him to be when he said: O Lord <\/em>(ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4) God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day.\u00a0 Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt.\u00a0 However, because of this guilt no one can really stand before you<\/em>.[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Who knows what would have happened if Ezra had stayed there, waiting on ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h<\/em>, instead of chasing after Shecaniah\u2019s get-righteous-quick scheme (Ezra 10:2-4 NET).<\/p>\n

Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: \u201cWe have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples. \u00a0Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God. \u00a0And let it be done according to the law [Table<\/a>]<\/em>. \u00a0Get up, for this matter concerns you. \u00a0We are with you, so be strong and act decisively [Table<\/a>]<\/em>!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I want to make this as clear as I possibly can.\u00a0 If a man has married the wrong sort of woman he cannot redeem himself in God\u2019s eyes, he cannot make himself righteous again, by divorcing her and sending their children away.\u00a0 The religious mind encourages us to change our own behavior, to conform us to some image of righteousness derived from the law<\/a> (or some lesser doctrine) by that religious mind.\u00a0 The mind of Christ speaks to the wriggling soul caught in a net of disbelief, saying, Stop your striving <\/em>(r\u00e2ph\u00e2h<\/a><\/em>, \u05d4\u05e8\u05e4\u05d5) and recognize <\/em>(y\u00e2da\u02bd<\/a><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d3\u05e2\u05d5) that I am God!\u00a0 I will be exalted over the nations!\u00a0 I will be exalted over the earth!<\/em>[15]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Do not be amazed that I said to you, \u2018You must all be born from above.\u2019<\/em>[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t live in Rome in the first half of the fourth century.\u00a0 I don\u2019t hear Jesus speaking to Roman legislators about external controls<\/a>.\u00a0 I hear Him speaking to the \u1f10\u03ba\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03af\u03b1<\/a>, those called by God the Father<\/a> through Jesus Christ to be led by his Holy Spirit.\u00a0 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God<\/em>.[17]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 For this and other reasons<\/a> I still hear Jesus\u2019 use of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1) in Matthew 5:32<\/a> and \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u1fb3 in Matthew 19:9<\/a> as a reference to the same \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>, e.g., sexualized worship) He condemned<\/a> in Revelation 2:20 (NET):<\/p>\n

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality (\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9)<\/em> and to eat food sacrificed to idols (\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u1f79\u03b8\u03c5\u03c4\u03b1, a form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03cc\u03b8\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Such sexualized worship was the bane<\/a> of Israel’s descendents from the beginning of their existence as a nation: So do not be idolaters <\/em>(\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03bf\u03bb\u1f71\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9, a form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03bf\u03bb\u03ac\u03c4\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2<\/a>), as some of them were. \u00a0As it is written, <\/em>\u201cThe people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d \u00a0And let us not be immoral<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03c9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9), as some of them were <\/em>(\u1f10\u03c0\u1f79\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd, another form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9), and twenty-three thousand died in a single day<\/em>.[18]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Rather than thinking of it as an abbreviated version of the law it would be far more charitable to assume that sexualized worship was what James had in mind at the Jerusalem Council<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Jesus (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Parallel Greek<\/td>\nJames (NET)<\/td>\n\n

Parallel Greek<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u2026to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols\u2026<\/p>\n

Revelation 2:20b<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9\u00a0\u03ba\u03b1\u1f76\u00a0\u03c6\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u00a0\u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u1f79\u03b8\u03c5\u03c4\u03b1<\/td>\n\u2026to abstain from<\/a> things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood\u2026<\/p>\n

Acts 15:20 Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03c7\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03b3\u03b7\u03bc\u1f71\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u1f7d\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1) \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 |\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6| \u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b1\u1f35\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2026that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality\u2026<\/p>\n

Acts 15:29a<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u1f00\u03c0\u1f73\u03c7\u03b5\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03bf\u03b8\u1f7b\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd (another form of \u03b5\u1f30\u03b4\u03c9\u03bb\u03cc\u03b8\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd) \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b1\u1f35\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 (a form of \u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03bd\u03b5\u03af\u03b1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>I want to substitute a more literal understanding<\/a> of \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6 (a form of \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) translated confesses <\/em>and confess <\/em>respectively in 1 John 4:1-3 (NET):<\/p>\n

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. \u00a0By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that [speaks the same as]<\/em> Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not [speak the same as]<\/em> Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To that extent that the religious mind encourages us to reform our own behavior rather than to rely on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, it is the spirit of antichrist no matter how well-intentioned the mouthpiece. Suspicious<\/a> of the Gospel I tried to be good first to prove that I was, failing that, I tried because “God will get you if you don’t watch out.” \u00a0My fear was flight from<\/a> rather than\u00a0toward<\/a> God. \u00a0And yet, in that dark foreboding I became most aware of His forgiveness and patience. \u00a0Paul put it this way for Timothy (1 Timothy 1:15, 16 NET):<\/p>\n

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: \u201cChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners\u201d \u2013 and I am the worst of them! \u00a0But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost<\/a> patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Amanda Bynes<\/a> delivers one of the funniest and most poignant lines in the movie Easy A<\/a>: “Jesus tells us to love everyone. \u00a0I mean, even the whores and the homosexuals, but it’s just so hard. \u00a0It’s so hard because they keep doing it over and over again.” \u00a0An attitude of forgiveness toward others flows from the love that comes from the Holy Spirit. \u00a0Still, Jesus said,\u00a0the one who is forgiven little loves little<\/em>.[19]<\/a><\/sup> One who is forgiven much is forgiven often for the same offense, sometimes many more than seven times<\/a> a day<\/a>. \u00a0And that experience is far more persuasive than any threat (Matthew 18:34, 35 NET):<\/p>\n

And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture [the unforgiving slave]<\/em> until he repaid all he owed. \u00a0So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In that sacred space of loving forgiveness the truth began to dawn on me that not only the desire<\/em> and effort<\/em><\/a> were God’s but the fulfillment of his desire and his effort was his as well, the kingdom, the power and the glory<\/a>. \u00a0I\u2019ll substitute the same literal understanding I used above for \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1f75\u03c3\u1fc3\u03c2 (another form of \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9) translated confess<\/em>, and \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 (another form of \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03c9) translated confesses <\/em>in Romans 10:9, 10 (NET):<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u2026if you [speak the same as Jesus]<\/em> with your mouth that Jesus is Lord[20]<\/sup><\/a> [e.g., <\/em>ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h as opposed to <\/em>a Lord or <\/em>Sir]<\/em> and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. \u00a0For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness [\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd; literally, \u201cbelieves unto righteousness\u201d]<\/em> and with the mouth one [speaks the same as Jesus]<\/em> and thus has salvation [\u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c9\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f77\u03b1\u03bd; literally, \u201cspeaks the same as Jesus unto salvation\u201d]<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 11<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 8<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 90<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Door of Hope, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Christianity, Part 13<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Christianity, Part 15<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Matthew 19:4 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Romans 1:27 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Hebrews 13:4 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Leviticus 18:22a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Leviticus 18:8 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Acts 15:10 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Romans 3:22 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Romans 13:10b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Romans 3:31 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> Matthew 5:32b (NAB)<\/a> Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Romans 11:32 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Romans 3:19 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Ezra 9:15 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> Psalm 46:10 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> John 3:7 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> Romans 8:14 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> 1 Corinthians 10:7, 8 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Luke 7:47b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> NET note 10<\/a>: Or \u201cthe Lord.\u201d The Greek construction, along with the quotation from Joel 2:32 in v. 13 (in which the same \u201cLord\u201d seems to be in view) suggests that \u03ba\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd (kurion) is to be taken as \u201cthe Lord,\u201d that is, Yahweh. Cf. D. B. Wallace, \u201cThe Semantics and Exegetical Significance of the Object-Complement Construction in the New Testament,\u201d GTJ<\/em> 6 (1985): 91-112.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The exercise of revisiting Paul\u2019s Religious Mind and the meaning of Sexual Immorality has clarified a few things that were right in front of me all along.\u00a0 I considered again the list of sins that described the former lives of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2719,3533],"tags":[3435,660,363,1648,3561,3557,613,3556,740,3553,174,3559,3555,3026,166,150,3558,262,3209,3554,2880,120,3500,1696,3463,771,3560,1694,1046,75,291,288,1136],"class_list":["post-7300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-section-three","category-sexual-immorality","tag-1-corinthians-107-8","tag-1-corinthians-22","tag-1-corinthians-69-10","tag-1-john-41-3","tag-1-timothy-115-16","tag-1-timothy-18-10","tag-acts-1510","tag-acts-1520","tag-acts-1529","tag-ephesians-55","tag-ezra-102-4","tag-ezra-915","tag-hebrews-134","tag-john-37","tag-leviticus-1822","tag-leviticus-188","tag-malachi-214-15","tag-malachi-216","tag-matthew-1128-30","tag-matthew-194","tag-matthew-517-20","tag-matthew-532","tag-movies-easy-a","tag-psalm-4610","tag-revelation-220","tag-romans-127","tag-romans-109-10","tag-romans-1132","tag-romans-1310","tag-romans-319","tag-romans-322","tag-romans-331","tag-romans-814"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7300"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23838,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7300\/revisions\/23838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}