Level 4
STATEMENT AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Statement: “Shameless” Links Romans 1 to A Universal Prohibition of Same-Sex Erotica
The Greek words used in verse 27, ten aschemosynen, link it to Leviticus. The noun form of aschemosynen appears only in Revelation 16:15. The adjectival form appears only in I Corinthians 12:23. The related verbal form is found only in I Corinthians 7:36. Therefore it is a rather unusual term Paul chose to use. In the Septuagint the majority of the instances of the noun form is found in Leviticus 18:6-19 and 20:11, 17-21. In the Septuagint the word aschemosynen is used to translate the Hebrew erwa. Of the 51 times erwa is found in the Hebrew Old Testament, 30 of them appear in Leviticus 18 and 20. And every one of them is translated by aschemosynen in the Septuagint. This allusion is another indication that Paul is clearly looking back to Levitical law. (Ibid. pages 238-39.) Paul used a relatively unusual term, aschemosynen, in Romans 1. That word is used more than seven times more frequently in just the two chapters of Leviticus 18 and 20 of the Septuagint than it is used in the entire New Testament. That term links his message of Romans 1 to the clear message of Leviticus 18 – one male is not to lie with another male. This is very direct and clear language.
Response
A response is needed for this section. How do those advocating same-sex marriage see the use of these words in the inspired text?