The following is a response to a friend (Stephen) of TTGM to a statement made about Paul’s sexual orientation towards men (was Paul a sodomite?).

Apologist Response to Stephen

Completed by TTGM – 22.04.2022

Stephen wrote (SW):
Shalom my brother, I sincerely believe Paul was Gay.

TTGM’s Response (TR):
We need to see the evidence that brought you to this conclusion. Please note we will draw references from the KJV as the newer bibles have been corrupted. KJV makes for a more accurate analysis of God’s word. Watch these two videos to understand why.

THE EVIDENCE AS PRESENTED BY SW:
SW:
1. He made two statements in 1 Corinthians 7:1 and 7:7 that reflect this, these two statements are anti-creation and opposed many other very basic G-d given Commands.
1Cor 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

TR:
We cannot agree that he is saying you should not touch a woman because he is a homosexual. Why not? In the next verse Paul tells us the reason, he does not want the believer to be caught up in fornication. He recognizes that touching a woman can lead men to f*ck (fornication) them. He writes in the next verse.
1Cor 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

–  –  –
1Cor 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

TR
Paul is saying that all men would be like him (myself). Why, is it being homosexual? In the following verse 32, it highlights what Paul was thinking (focus on pleasing the Lord). He writes.
1Cor 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

TR2
What was Paul saying in verse 32? The unmarried were better focused on the things that belong to the Lord. Why? Scholars believed that Paul and the other apostles were thinking that the Lord was going to return in their time, so every effort was needed to share the Gospel without any distraction (eg. for Paul it was marriage to a woman). Paul believed the time was short as he wrote here; do not be distracted by a woman in marriage, focus on the gospel with all thy might. Notice “the time is short”.
1Cor 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

TR3:
In conclusion, if the scholars are right Paul thought the time was short because he believed the Lord’s return was imminent. Or it could be that Paul believed his own time of life was short, and every effort was needed to share the gospel without distraction. Either way, his statement is no clear evidence that Paul was a homosexual. They are men that do not want a woman in their life (called celibates), this does not mean or make them a homosexual.

* * * * * *
SW:
2. He confesses to being a Benjamite (Rom 11:1). Read Judges chapter 19:21, chapter 20, and chapter 21. During this time the tribe of Benjamin was all Sodomites.

TR
To say ALL Benjamites were Sodomites makes Paul one as well is an illogical statement. Eg. How could they have propagated if they were all given over to being sodomites? Note these men in verse 22 were “certain” sons/group (a certain house within the Benjamite nation – NOT All). Note the following.
Judg 19:22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

* * * * * *
SW:
3. He confesses to being a Pharisee (LIE) only Levites and the sons of Aaron could have been Pharisees or Priest or even handle earthing spiritual.
Deut 10:8
Deut 21:5
Num 3:5-10

TR
First, there were no Pharisees at the time of Aaron. We need to ask or define what or who were Pharisees?
The Pharisees (/ˈfærəsiːz/; Hebrew: פְּרוּשִׁים, romanized: Pərūšīm) were a social movement and a school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Pharisaic beliefs became the foundational, liturgical, and ritualistic basis for Rabbinic Judaism.
For more visit Wikipedia:

What is a Levant?
The term is often used in reference to the ancient lands in the Old Testament of the Bible (Bronze Age): the kingdoms of Israel, Ammon, Moab, Judah, Edom, and Aram; and the Phoenician and Philistine states.

TR2
The Pharisees were linked to belief and not necessarily a descendant of Levi or Aaron. Anyone from any tribe (at the time of Paul they were all called Jews) could be a Pharisee or Sadducee. Your assumption is in error. 

* * * * * *
SW:
4. Under Jewish or Torah law you need two or three witnesses for a matter this important to be accepted. When Yehoshua the Prophet call Peter, it was before many, so were Joshua and Elisha. But Paul was the only witness to his conversion and he also lied about it in the Book of Acts. 

TR:
At Paul’s conversion, others were there to see Paul. They witnessed the event. Also, remember he was made blind, and the others that were there to witness it had to take him where he needed to go. It is written.
Acts 9:7 And the men (witnesses) which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice (can be translated sound), but seeing no man.

The men both saw what happened to Paul and they also heard the sound of the King as He spoke to Paul. 

* * * * * *
SW:
5. (LIES ) In  Acts 9:7 conflicting accounts Acts 22:9 and to think he wrote all this garbage, Devil inspired himself, with no one to question him. 

Acts 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
AND
Acts 22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

TR:
First, let us look at the Greek word for voice used in both verses. You would notice the word in both verses can be translated as a tone, noise, sound, or voice (Strong’s concordance) in English.

Voice = G5456 φωνή phone (fō-nee’) n.

1. a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial).
2. a voice.
3. (by implication) an address (for any purpose), saying or language.

[probably akin to G5316 through the idea of disclosure]
KJV:  noise, sound, voice 

In Acts 9:7 the translators rendered it “a voice”, whereas in Acts 22:9 it is rendered “the voice”. The witnesses heard a sound (a voice) but Paul heard the actual voice/words (the voice). This is supported by other commentators – see references (Ref#1 & 2).  

Ref#1   |   Ref#2
End

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CONCLUSION
Dear Stephen,
The evidence you shared from scripture does not prove that Paul was a sodomite/homosexual. The Scripture, Gospels, Acts, and all Books of the Bible is our final authority, and the prophets that wrote them should be respected as God’s messengers.

To our Readers
If you have any Biblical question(s) write to us at info@truthgospel.org, and we will be happy to respond.