You’ve probably seen it on a picket sign or heard it shouted from a pulpit. Honestly, 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv is one of those Bible verses that people love to use as a conversational hammer. It’s blunt. It’s heavy. And for a lot of folks, it’s terrifying. But when you actually sit down and look at the Greek manuscripts behind the King James English, the picture gets a lot more complicated—and a lot more interesting—than a simple list of "bad people."
The King James Version, published in 1611, uses language that sounds archaic to our modern ears. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" it asks. That’s a heavy opening. It’s a rhetorical question, really. Paul, the guy writing this letter to the church in Corinth, was frustrated. Corinth was a mess. Think of it as the Las Vegas of the ancient Mediterranean—a massive port city where every culture, religion, and vice collided in a humid, crowded space.
The Problem with "Effeminate" and "Abusers of Themselves"
If you open your Bible to 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv, you’ll see a list. It mentions fornicators, idolaters, and adulterers. Most people get those. But then you hit two words that have caused centuries of debate: effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind.
The Greek word for effeminate here is malakoi. Literally? It means "soft." Like a fine silk robe or a soft pillow. In the first century, it didn't necessarily mean what we think of as "effeminate" today. It was often used to describe someone who lacked self-control, someone who was "soft" in their moral fiber, or someone who lived in luxury while others starved. It’s nuanced.
Then there’s arsenokoitai. This is the one that gets the most heat. Paul actually seems to have invented this word. He mashed together two Greek words from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) found in Leviticus. Because it’s a "hapax legomenon"—a word that appears nowhere else in literature before this—translators have spent lifetimes arguing over it. Was Paul talking about all same-sex relationships? Or was he specifically targeting the exploitative pederasty common in Roman culture?
Dr. David Bentley Hart, a renowned Eastern Orthodox scholar and linguist, argues in his recent translation of the New Testament that these terms are notoriously difficult to pin down. He suggests that applying modern identities to these ancient Greek labels is a bit like trying to use a map of London to navigate New York. It doesn’t quite fit.
Why the Context of Corinth Changes Everything
Paul wasn't writing a systematic theology textbook. He was writing a "stop being jerks" letter. The church in Corinth was dealing with people taking each other to court over minor petty grievances. They were getting drunk at Communion. It was chaotic.
When Paul lists these sins in 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv, he’s pointing out that the "unrighteous" are those whose lives are characterized by exploitation and selfishness. He’s not just picking on sexual sins. He includes "covetous" people and "extortioners."
Think about that.
In many modern churches, we ignore the "covetous" part. We’re fine with the guy who is obsessed with money and status, but we lose our minds over the other stuff. Paul puts them in the exact same sentence. He’s saying that a heart that craves what belongs to someone else is just as "unrighteous" as any other category on that list.
The Missing Verse 11
The biggest mistake people make with 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv is stopping at verse 10. They treat it like a "Keep Out" sign on the gates of Heaven. But verse 11 is the pivot point.
"And such were some of you," Paul writes.
That "were" is massive. It’s the past tense. He’s telling the Corinthians that their past behavior—whether they were thieves, drunkards, or "soft"—doesn't define their current standing. He says they are "washed," "sanctified," and "justified." Basically, he’s saying, "Yeah, you used to be a mess. We all were. But that’s over now."
Translation Shifts Over Time
If you compare the King James Version to the NIV, the ESV, or the NRSV, you’ll see the struggle.
- KJV (1611): "Abusers of themselves with mankind."
- NIV (1984): "Homosexual offenders."
- NRSV: "Sodomites."
- ESV: "Men who practice homosexuality."
Each translation reflects the cultural understanding of the time it was written. The KJV translators in the 17th century were looking at the world through a very different lens than the committee that put together the NIV in the 1970s. This is why word studies are so vital. If you just read the English and walk away, you’re missing the layers of the original Koine Greek.
Is it a List of "Dealbreakers"?
Some people read 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv and see a checklist for exclusion. They use it to tell people they aren't welcome. But scholars like N.T. Wright point out that Paul’s lists are usually meant to show the contrast between the "Old Age" and the "New Creation."
In the Old Age, people exploit each other. They steal. They lie. They use their bodies and others' bodies for power.
In the New Creation, which Paul believes started with Jesus, those things don't fit anymore.
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It’s less about "You’re banned from Heaven" and more about "Why are you still acting like the world is broken when God is making it new?" It’s a call to a higher standard of love and integrity, not just a threat of fire and brimstone.
Common Misconceptions About 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv
Most people think this verse is a ranking system of sins. It isn't.
Another big one? The idea that "inheriting the kingdom" only means "going to heaven when you die." For Paul, the Kingdom of God was something that was breaking into the present. To "inherit the kingdom" meant participating in God’s rule here and now. If you're an extortioner or a drunkard, you can't really experience the peace and justice of God's kingdom today because you're too busy causing chaos.
Actionable Steps for Studying This Verse
If you really want to understand 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv, don't just take a Sunday school teacher's word for it.
First, get a good interlinear Bible. Look at the Greek words malakoi and arsenokoitai. See how they are used in other contemporary Greek writings, not just the Bible. You’ll find that malakoi was often used to describe men who were "lazy" or "cowardly" in battle.
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Second, read the whole chapter. Verse 9 doesn't exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger argument about lawsuits and the sanctity of the body. If you pull it out as a standalone quote, you’re stripping away its power.
Third, look at the historical context of Corinth. Understand the temple prostitution that was rampant in the city. Understand the social hierarchies where the wealthy exploited the poor. When Paul mentions "thieves" and "extortioners," he’s likely talking about specific people in the Corinthian legal system who were stripping the poor of their land.
Final Thoughts on Application
Don't use this verse as a weapon. If you’re using 1st corinthians 6 9 kjv to make yourself feel superior to others, you’ve probably missed the point of the entire book. Paul’s goal was unity. His goal was to show that through Christ, the "unrighteous" are made right.
Focus on the "And such were some of you" part. That’s where the hope is. It’s a reminder that no matter what category someone falls into on that list, there is a path toward being "washed" and "sanctified." It’s an invitation to change, not just a condemnation of the past.
Next Steps for Deep Study:
- Download a free Greek lexicon app (like Blue Letter Bible) and search for G3120 and G733.
- Read the surrounding chapters (1 Corinthians 5 and 7) to see how Paul handles different types of moral failures.
- Compare the KJV wording with the "Revised Standard Version" to see how the academic consensus shifted in the 20th century.
- Reflect on the "extortioner" and "covetous" labels—ask how those might apply to our modern obsession with consumerism and "getting ahead" at any cost.