Note 1 at 1 Cor. 6:9: In the Greek there is no article used with the word "unrighteous" indicating that character, not the act, is being discussed. Paul is not saying anyone who has committed one of these acts is doomed to hell. There is forgiveness through faith in Christ (v. 11) which makes an individual a totally new person (2 Cor. 5:17). Those who experience the new birth are no longer sinners even though they sin (see note 1 at Rom. 6:20, p. 783; see note 6 at v. 11, p. 886).

Note 2 at 1 Cor. 6:9: The Apostle Paul tells us that through creation, a revelation of God was made known to mankind (see note 2 at Rom. 1:18, p. 744). As a result of man turning away from that light, he turned to darkness, with the final outcome being idolatry (Rom. 1:21-23).

Idolatry may be described as the worship of anything that takes the place of devotion to God. In the Old Testament this included false gods, idols, images, etc. (Dt. 32:37-38; Jud. 10:14; 2 Ki. 18:33; Lev. 26:30; Ezek. 14:6). In the New Testament idolatry includes being lovers of self, lovers of pleasures more than God (2 Tim. 3:2,4), with a strong emphasis on covetousness, which Paul states is idolatry (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5).

The apostle John ends his epistle to believers by saying, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 Jn. 5:21). A strong antidote to this sin is a constant acknowledgement of God in all our ways with thanksgiving, praise, and glory to Him (Prov. 3:5-6; Rom. 1:21).

Note 3 at 1 Cor. 6:9: The word "effeminate" is found only one time in the King James version (this verse). The dictionary defines "effeminate" as "having the qualities associated with women; not characteristic of or befitting a man; unmanly; characterized by softness, weakness, or lack of force; not dynamic or vigorous" (The American Heritage Dictionary).

The word in Latin is "effeminatus" from the past participle of "effeminare," which means "to make a woman out of." Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines this word as "a catamite," which is according to the American Heritage Dictionary "a boy kept by a pederast (a man who practices sexual relations with a boy)."

The marginal note in the New American Standard Version states, "i.e., effeminate, by perversion." Plainly stated, it seems that effeminate in this context is a male taking the female role in a sexual relationship with another man. Scripture plainly states such conduct as being against nature (Rom. 1:26-27).

The Apostle Paul stresses in this chapter that the believer's body is the Lord's (v. 13), the temple of the Holy Spirit (v. 19), bought with a price, and is to be used to glorify God (v. 20).

Note 4 at 1 Cor. 6:9: This phrase, "abusers of themselves with mankind," comes from one Greek word, "arsenokoites." This word was only used one other time in the Bible in 1 Timothy 1:10, where it was translated "defile themselves with mankind." According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance this word means "a sodomite" (homosexual).