Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology Volume 3 | Number 1 Article 5 2018 A Historical and Hermeneutical Approach to the Vice-Lists: A Pauline Perspective Mark Hall [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalshowcase.oru.edu/spiritus Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, History of Christianity Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, New Religious Movements Commons, Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Custom Citation Mark, Hall. “A Historical and Hermeneutical Approach to the Vice-Lists: A Pauline Perspective.” Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theolody. 3, no. 1 (2018) 27-46. http://digitalshowcase.oru.edu/spiritus/vol3/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Theology & Ministry at Digital Showcase. It has been accepted for inclusion in Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology by an authorized editor of Digital Showcase. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Historical and Hermeneutical Approach to the Vice-Lists A Pauline Perspective Concerning Homosexuality and the Holy Spirit Spiritus 3.1 (2018) 27–46 http://digitalshowcase.oru.edu/spiritus/ © The Author(s) 2018 Mark R. Hall Reprints and Permissions: [email protected] Key Words homosexuality, vice lists, virtue lists, μαλακοί, ἀρσενοκοῖται, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, idolatry Abstract The subject of homosexuality is controversial in the Church, even among Pentecostals; consequently, there has arisen a need for a historical and hermeneutical examination of the topic, espe- cially in the Pauline corpus. The vice lists of ancient literature along with the ones in the Pauline epistles provide insight into the apostle’s understanding of their purpose and function. Of the ones where Paul lists sexual sins, three specifically mention homosexuality: Romans 1:26–27, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, and 1 Timothy 1:9–10. This article discusses Paul’s understanding of the connection between homosexuality and idolatry and provides an in-depth analysis of the Greek words μαλακοί and ἀρσενοκοῖται. It concludes by emphasizing the Pauline response to overcoming the vices he enumerates: follow the Spirit. 27 Setting the Stage: The Importance of the Subject aul Nathan Alexander, in his presidential address presented Pto the Society for Pentecostal Studies in 2013, entitled “Raced, Gendered, Faithed, and Sexed,” discusses “constructions of race and white supremacy, diversities of religious faith, and constructions of genders and sexes together with the concomitant ongoing inequalities for females and limitations on discourse regarding LGBT+ realities.”1 Particularly, he points out the various views of the Pentecostal Churches concerning a Christian approach toward homosexuality and argues for inclusive understanding and dialog.2 Alexander concludes, “I am hopeful we can thrive as a society even as we argue civilly and charitably about biblical, theological, ethical, historical, philosophical, practical, ecumenical, missional, and cultural perspectives regarding LGBT+ realities both within and beyond the pentecostalisms we experience and study.”3 Certainly, dialog on any subject is to be welcomed. However, it is imperative that both doctrine and praxis emerge out of a proper histor- ical and hermeneutical perspective. A valid and appropriate Pentecostal hermeneutic4 is one that treasures Scripture and seeks a correct Spirit- inspired textual interpretation. To do anything else is to do violence to the Biblical text and to create a culture of scholarly eisegesis. What has been happening in recent scholarly pursuits is the placing of a filter over Scripture that ignores tried and true exegetical methodologies—ones that enlighten and enliven the text, that create space for revelation as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that support interpretations grounded in Scripture. Gordon Fee, a premier Pentecostal scholar, and Douglas Stuart explain: The aim of good interpretation is simple: to get at the “plain meaning of the text.” And the most important ingredient one brings to this task is enlightened common sense. The test of good interpretation is that it makes good sense of the text. Correct interpretation, therefore, brings relief to the mind as well as a prick or prod to the heart.5 28 Spiritus Vol 3, No 1 Nowhere has this departure from truth and solid Biblical interpretation become more apparent than in the Church. Societal influences and the loud cacophony of voices advocating for special interests have replaced the reasoned and proven foundation of Scripture. Without rightly divided Scripture (2 Tim 2:15, NKJV), incorrect teaching and doctrine arise in the Church. A Spirit-empowered path leads to a more satisfac- tory and intentional interpretation of the Bible, especially regarding the treatment of homosexuality in the works of the Apostle Paul. Paul’s Vice Lists Compared to Other Ancient Literature Paul’s epistles advocate righteous living, and he promotes this specifically through his ethical catalogs. By presenting virtue6 and vice7 lists in his letters, Paul clearly demarcates the means by which the believer is to live a holy life—one pleasing to God—itemizing what is to be shunned and what is to be embraced. According to J. D. Charles, “vice and virtue lists in the NT function paraenetically [as moral exhortations] in different contexts. They may be used for the purpose of antithesis (e.g., Gal 5:19–23 and Jas 3:13–18), contrast (e.g., Titus 3:1–7), instruction (e.g., 2 Pet 1:5–7) or polemics (e.g., 1 Tim 1:9–10; 6:3–5; 2 Tim 3:2–5).”8 “Common in ancient literature,”9 vice lists are “a literary form widespread in secular moral writings as well as in the NT”10 —including the twenty-one “vices” listed in Romans 1:29–31 and the twelve “vices” listed in 1 Clement 35:5 and “even longer lists in Philo and in other writings.”11 In the Pauline corpus, there are at least three of these passages that mention sexual sins, especially condemning homosexuality: Romans 1:26–27 (A.D. 57–58), 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (A.D. 53–58), and 1 Timothy 1:9–10 (A.D. 61–66). As Paul delineates these iniquities and admonishes believers to reject them, he advocates they walk a Spirit-filled life. Various vice lists exist outside of the New Testament, for example, in the Wisdom of Solomon, the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1 Clement, and the Didache. Similarities to the Pauline passages are apparent. In Wisdom of Solomon 14:23–26 (ca. 50 B.C.), the author mentions “unnatural lust” and “murder” (Rom 1:26–27, 29), “adultery” and “theft” (1 Cor 6:9–10), and “murder” and “perjury” (1 Tim 1:9–10): Homosexuality in Paul | Hall 29 For while they practice either child sacrifices or occult mysteries, or frenzied carousing in exotic rites, They no longer respect either lives or purity of marriage; but they either waylay and kill each other, or aggrieve each other by adultery. And all is confusion—blood and murder, theft and guile, corruption, faithlessness, turmoil, perjury, Disturbance of good people, neglect of gratitude, besmirching of souls, unnatural lust, disorder in marriage, adultery and shamelessness.12 The Dead Sea Scrolls also contain examples of vice lists as seen in “The Community Rule” (ca. 150 B.C.): But the ways of the spirit of falsehood are these: greed, and slack- ness in the search for righteousness, wickedness and lies, haughti- ness and pride, falseness and deceit, cruelty and abundant evil, ill-temper and much folly and brazen insolence, abominable deeds (committed) in a spirit of lust, and ways of lewdness in the service of uncleanness, a blaspheming tongue, blindness of eye and dullness of ear, stiffness of neck and heaviness of heart, so that man walks in all the ways of darkness and guile. (1 QS 4:9-11)13 The vices mentioned in this DSS passage that are common to the Pauline corpus are “greed, and slackness in the search for righteous- ness,” “abundant evil,” and “abominable deeds (committed) in a spirit of lust.” For example, Paul categorizes some of these sins as “being filled with all unrighteousness,” “greed,” “inventors of evil,” and a descrip- tion of unnatural lusts in Romans 1:26–32.14 First Clement 35:5 (ca. A.D. 100) also incorporates vice lists, admonishing believers to cast off iniquities: But how shall this be, dearly beloved? If our mind be fixed through faith towards God; if we seek out those things which are well pleasing and acceptable unto Him; if we accomplish such things as beseem His faultless will, and follow the way of truth, casting off from ourselves all unrighteousness and iniquity, 30 Spiritus Vol 3, No 1 covetousness, strifes, malignities and deceits, whisperings and backbitings, hatred of God, pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality.15 The vice lists in the Pauline corpus mention “all unrighteousness,” “strife,” “deceit,” “haters of God,” “arrogant,” “gossips,” and “slan- derers” (“whisperings” and “backbitings,” 1 Clement) (Rom 1:29–31). Of course, Clement is familiar with Romans since he quotes from the book. Another detailed vice list occurs in the Didache 5:1 (A.D. 50–120): But the Way of Death is this: First of all, it is wicked and full of cursing, murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, witchcrafts, charms, robberies, false witness, hypocrisies, a double heart, fraud, pride,