Pride Month – a Greek Word Study on Romans 1:24-32

Well, here it is, the month of June. The month on which my birthday falls, and a few of those in my family, my granddaughter’s graduation from high school, and associates degree in a community college which she took simultaneously…

And the dreaded Pride Month – when we’re supposed to celebrate homosexual, lesbian and transexual sin.

Let’s get something straight out of the box – I won’t celebrate sin. God doesn’t celebrate it, He doesn’t wink at it. He doesn’t excuse it, nor does he make excuses for it. He doesn’t change His mind on the meaning of words just because the culture shifted.

Sin is sin – God hates sin.

God is Holy – God cannot reside where there is unholiness.

It’s that simple. The Alphabet soup brigade of the LGBTQ… and whatever nonsense comes after those letters … community, are an abomination to God. He won’t stand for it.

A lot of this nonsense in the church started with the feminization of church leadership.

Data from U.S. Protestant denominations shows a recurring pattern: Mainline/liberal groups that pioneered women’s ordination in the 19th-20th centuries For example, the United Church of Christ, certain Presbyterians such as the PCUSA, Methodists such as the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Luthern Church of America (ELCA), the Episcopal Church,  which is the American branch of the Anglican Church – the Church of England – have largely shifted to affirming LGBTQ+ identities, same-sex marriage, and often ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy.

When you get into some of the not-so-mainstream denominations such as the Unitarian Universalists and the Society of Friends (Quakers), the liberalism really comes pouring out.

But Christians need to go back to their Bible to know what it says regarding homosexuality, same-sex relationships, transgenderism, really anything that’s not a traditional, hetrosexual, male-female sexual union in the covenant of marriage. 

But the proponents of these sinful acts often justify their positions by twisting the biblical text. Sometimes going back to the “customs of the times”, and many times attempting to twist the actual Greek meaning of scripture.

The best New Testament scripture is Romans 1:24-32:

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

The Apostle Paul uses very deliberate Greek vocabulary to show the progression of human rebellion against God and the consequences that follow. The structure is built around three uses of the Greek phrase παρέδωκεν (transliterated, pare-dō-ken – meaning “God gave them over”), showing God handing people over to the natural results of their choices.

The core theme, seen in verses 24, 26 and 28, “God gave them over,” paredōken, is the aorist active indicative of the verb para-di-dō-mi – literally “handed over” or “delivered up”. This isn’t God literally or actively forcing sin, but releasing people in a judicial sense, to the full consequences of their idolatry. 

This language of judgment is echoed throughout the Bible. It’s very similar to how God “gave over” Israel in the Old Testament.

And that’s the crux of the core theme – idolatry. Who were the gods that glorified sexual activity? Back then, it was Ashtorah and Baal. These have been worshipped all throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Homosexuality, same-sex relationships, any sexual act that opposes what God has created as good, is idol worship, and is abhorrent to God.

Let’s continue our study.

In verses 24 and 25, we see sexual impurity in relation to idol worship.

Verse 24: “…gave them up to uncleanness…”

Greek: ἀκαθαρσίαν, transliterated as a-ka-THAR-sian – meaning: “uncleanness/impurity.” This term is often used for ritual and moral defilement, especially sexual.

Verse 24: “…to dishonor their bodies…”

Greek: ἀτιμάζεσθαι, transliterated as a-tim-az-ESTH-ai – “to be dishonored, degraded.” Meaning that the body is dishonored through misuse. He also uses the reflexive pronoun au-tos, which denotes “their own bodies”.

Verse 25: “…who exchanged the truth of God, for a lie…”

Greek: μετήλλαξαν transliterated as me-tēll-AX-an – “exchanged, traded.” Humanity traded the true God for idols, echoing Genesis 1-3 and Psalm 106. The same word is used in verse 26.

In essence, rejecting God as creator of all things, including the act of sexual union, leads to worshiping created things – resulting in dishonoring the body. 

Let’s face it, homosexuality and the rest of this LGBTQIA alphabet soup garbage, is a “created thing” – which is indeed being worshipped.

The mere fact that they designated a month of the year to worship this stuff!

Let’s continue with verses 26 and 27, where we see the theme παρὰ φύσιν (para physin) – “against nature”.

Verse 26: “…God gave them up to vile passions.”

Greek: πάθη ἀτιμίας transliterated as pa-th-ē  a-TI-mias – “passions of dishonor, degrading or vile passions.”

And to finish off verse 26, and to connect the “para physin” to the passage: “For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.”

Greek phrase: μετήλλαξαν τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν εἰς τὴν παρὰ φύσιν, transliterated me-tēll-AX-an tēn phy-si-kēn chrē-sin eis tēn pa-ra phy-sin – meaning  “exchanged the natural function for that which is against nature. 

So women were doing with each other, what God didn’t create. This is Lesbianism – the “L” in LGBT… – clearly against what God created and ordained, namely one biological woman having sexual activity with another biological woman.

You need to be specific these days, as liberals think that men can be women, and vice versa – DNA doesn’t lie. Biological men are men, biological women are women. God created them that way back in Genesis, amd God doesn’t change His mind with the culture or the times.

Paul is using explicit language here – there is no ambiguity, there’s no “gray area”.

Let’s continue, with the men, verse 27 – the G in the Alphabet soup, “Gay”.

Verse 27: “Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men …

Greek: ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσινb, transliterated ar-sen-es  en  ar-se-sin – Meaning specifically, “males with males.” In this case, sexual activity with one biological male and another biological male.

Verse 27: “… committing what is shameful, …”

Greek: ἀσχημοσύνην, Transliterated a-schē-mo-sy-nēn – Meaning “indecency, what is unseemly, a shameful act.”

Verse 27: “…and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

Greek: ἀντιμισθίαν, transliterated an-ti-mis-thian – “due penalty, recompense.”

Now we get to biological males having sex with other biological males.

Paul uses language that is akin to the order of creation. For example, the word “natural” (physikēn, used in the Septuagint – the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament). The Hebrew word that’s used in both testaments is מטבעו –  mit-BAO – “By Nature”.

The Greek is also very explicit in its symmetry – women, then men. It presents same sex activity as clear examples of exchanging God’s design for humanity and reproduction, for what is “contrary to nature.”

The “due penalty” has been interpreted by many as the spiritual and physical consequences built into the behavior itself.

For example, many have said that the AIDS epidemic of the 1980’s, and continuing to today, is a result of homosexual sexual behavior, since it infected mostly homosexual men.

Of course then the question remains, why did God allow women to get this dreaded disease? Only He can answer that question, but we can surmise. Lesbianism.

Bisexuals – This is the same insanity as Lesbianism and Male Gay sex.

For example, there are actual men that have sex “on the down low.” Many men that practice this don’t consider themselves “gay” and have sexual relations with women, but also have sex with men! 

That makes them bisexual…and it’s sin!

Men with men, women with women – it’s all sin, and that’s all there is to it. Any sexual activity with a same-sex partner is an abomination in God’s eyes, and is sin.

Transgenderism, and all these other “genders” in the alphabet soup list. This is all mental illness, pure and simple! It used to be called “transsexualism” back before the year 2000, and it was extremely rare.

It wasn’t until about 2010, and leading up to present day, that we see the proliferation of men and women “feeling” like the other sex – it’s pure abomination to God, and absolutely harmful to human beings.

Men competing in women’s sports? How demeaning to women! 

It’s funny, I just watched a video of Charlie Kirk debating a man dressed as a little girl at one of his events before his life was taken.  He asked the man a question, “Who’s the hateful one? Me, who refuses to recognize you as a woman?”

The crossdresser answered that indeed, Charlie Kirk was the hateful one.

Charlie countered, quite correctly, that “It’s hateful when you lie “ – and referring to this man as a woman was a lie – therefore, he was not being hateful.

The mere fact that every cell in the human body is encoded with DNA and an XX or XY chromosome, cannot be altered, and no amount of human “feeling” or medical/surgical intervention can change that. 

In other words, God created you as a male or a female, encoded that into your DNA – and God doesn’t make mistakes! 

And you – or medical science – cannot change that!

God does use calamity, pestilence, disease and other undesirable things to get our attention, to punish sin. God is patient, but He doesn’t wait forever. God is Holy, and where His design is being misused, He will weigh in.

OK, let’s finish up with verses 28-31:

Verse 28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind,…”

Greek: ἀδόκιμον νοῦν, Transliterated a-dok-i-mon  noun – Meaning “reprobate, depraved, disqualified mind.”

The root adokimos means “failing the test, rejected after examination.” in this context, Paul is saying that the mind that rejected God – is now itself rejected as unfit.

Verse 28: “…to do those things which are not fitting;…”

Greek phrase: τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα. ta mē, Transliterated ka-thē-kon-ta – Meaning “what ought not to be done. Things that are improper or unfitting.

Then comes a long list of vices in verses 29 to 31. These were common in ancient moral teaching. Paul however, being Jewish himself, and coming from a Pharisatical background, roots these directly into Jewish ethics and brings them to the Gospel itself.

Verse 29: “…being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, …” 

Greek: ἀδικία, πορνεία, πονηρία, πλεονεξία, κακία, Transliterated as  ad-ik-ia, por-ne-ia, po-nēr-ia, pleo-nex-ia, ka-kia) – unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, greed, evil.

Verse 29: “… covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,…” 

Greek: φθόνος, φόνος, ἔρις, δόλος, κακοήθεια, Transliterated as ph-thonos, pho-nos, er-is, do-los, ka-ko-ē-the-ia – envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice.

Verse 29: “… evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,…”

Greek: ψιθυριστάς, καταλάλους. Transliterated psi-thy-ris-tas, ka-ta-la-lous – gossipers, slanderers.

Verse 30: “backbiters, haters of God, …”

(Backbiters belongs to the list with the gossippers above)…

Greek: θεοστυγεῖς, Transliterated as theo-sty-geis – Meaning “God-haters.”

Verse 30-31, “…violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

Greek: ἀσυνέτους, ἀσυνθέτους, ἀστόργους, ἀσπόνδους, ἀνελεήμονας. Transliteration: asyn-e-tous, asyn-the-tous, as-tor-gous, as-pon-dous, an-e-leē-mo-nas – Meanings: senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless, unmerciful.

There’s one and only one meaning with these verses – when the mind is given over, every area of life and relationship breaks down.

Paul summarizes with verse 32:

“…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Two Greek words here:

ἐπιγνόντες (epi-gnon-tes),  knowing, or recognizing clearly.

συνευδοκοῦσι (syn-eu-do-kou-si), to give hearty approval or to join in approving.

The crux of this passage is simple.  People who not only practice these things, but even those who celebrate and endorse them – even while knowing God’s righteous decree for this sinfulness, such behavior deserves death.

You have been warned! God’s not playing around!

Now do you see why Pride Month – and the whole homosexual agenda – is such a sin?

And it’s been creeping in, bit by bit. 

Wanting to love whoever you want – God says it’s SIN! But you say, no one is harmed. 

Wanting to marry someone of the same sex – God says it’s SIN! But you say, it’s your right – and even got the US Supreme Court to somehow agree with you. 

Then it’s Drag Queens – and bring them into the public square, into libraries! God says it’s SIN! You say, “What’s the big deal?”

Now you’re bringing kids into this – God really has a problem here, Jack!

That’s pedophilia!

Yeah, exposing kids to sexual content and/or sexual material. Jesus was explicit – there are millstones for such actions. Luke 17:2, “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”

And that’s what this is all about – grooming the next generation into the perverted world, and away from God’s Word. They get it in public schools, they get it in places where we’re to trust our providers, like doctor’s offices and hospitals. 

Today, there are countries – even the one to our north – Canada, and others in Europe, that criminalize teaching biblical sexuality, and even threaten to take kids away from their parents if they don’t acquiesce to “transitioning” – heck, there are even states in the United States of America doing this! Massachusetts and California immediately comes to mind. 

Overall, Paul is arguing that idolatry – exchanging God for something else – will lead ultimately to desires and thinking that aren’t natural. The Greek terms used by Paul are strong and deliberate, not soft and culturally sensitive.

And that’s what this is: Homosexuality is idolatry. And what does God say about idols and idolatry? As far back as the Exodus, the FIRST of the Top-10, Exodus 20:3-6:

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 

This passage in Romans is part of Paul’s larger text of Romans chapters 1-3 that argues that all of humanity – Jew and Gentile – stands guilty before God and is in need of salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17).

The homsexual and transgender community will attempt to bastardize scripture to meet the culture and customs of today. But remember this, God does not change, as it’s stated in Numbers 23:19,

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

It was a sin in Moses’ day (Leviticus 18:22, Deuteronomy 22:5), as it was in Paul’s day (Romans 1), as it is today.

We, as Christians, must not stand for any of this – and must support any and all legal, political and moral methods to abolish this unnatural and sinful behavior. They were not “born this way” – and don’t have a natural disposition toward same sex attraction. It’s satanic – of Satan himself and by extension, mental illness – Satan playing with the minds of unsaved people – and God has given them over to their debased minds.

We must do whatever we can to bring these souls to repentance and salvation. Even if that means we’re persecuted – and we will be persecuted, and possibly see legal action. Canada has some laws on the books that makes it illegal to counsel someone away from these lifestyles and choices,

I’m sure it’s a matter of time before some states here in the US try the same tactics.

You have a question to ask yourself then. Whose side are you on?

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9)

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will be my servant also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:25-26)

Those were Jesus’ words – let them guide your answer – and choose your answer carefully.