Views on the 'Centurion before Christ' story?

**Cornelius Plautus** · March 07, 2010, 10:57 PM

I read this story on-line, and to me it seemed to promote tolerance of homosexuality among Christians. Admittedly, I'd imagine that the source material is a bit biased, but I've seen it in more places than one.

Before I decide either way what my opinion on this little story is, I was wondering if I could get a few opinions, specifically those of stricter Christians. I am aware that this story's meaning is heavily based on the translation of the biblical Greek to modern English as well.

Additionally, is this story common knowledge? I've only heard of it recently, myself.

**Phier** · March 07, 2010, 11:07 PM

I would think Jesus would have said something directly, being the son of god and all, if this wasn't suppose to be an issue.

Blessed are the homosexuals for they have fashion sense.

Its interesting, but its pretty hard to use it for anything. Perhaps its comforting to gay Christians, but too much room for interpretation.

**Stavroforos** · March 07, 2010, 11:10 PM

this story is pretty common knowledge as far as Orthodoxy is concerned, but I don't really see much reason to believe that the Centurion was homosexual. My main objection of course being that open homosexuality was illegal in the Roman Army, and that the ban on marriages didn't actually do much to dissuade the soldiers from having relationships with local women, either carnal or more. I don't object to Jesus blessing a gay man or the idea of a gay story in the Bible, but I just don't see enough evidence beyond one debatable word to suggest that this actually refers to a homosexual.

**Cornelius Plautus** · March 08, 2010, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Stavroforos

this story is pretty common knowledge as far as Orthodoxy is concerned, but I don't really see much reason to believe that the Centurion was homosexual. My main objection of course being that open homosexuality was illegal in the Roman Army, and that the ban on marriages didn't actually do much to dissuade the soldiers from having relationships with local women, either carnal or more. I don't object to Jesus blessing a gay man or the idea of a gay story in the Bible, but I just don't see enough evidence beyond one debatable word to suggest that this actually refers to a homosexual.

Do you happen to know why the Roman army banned homosexuality (I knew about the ban on marriages, as it was mentioned in Twelve Caesars on occasion).

**Stavroforos** · March 08, 2010, 02:37 PM

Probably something about it being immoral or unroman. At the same time, I can't say that this was necessarily enforced strictly, but if a centurion openly admitted he was a homosexual, I wouldn't imagine he would get away with it.

**Elfdude** · March 08, 2010, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Stavroforos

Probably something about it being immoral or unroman. At the same time, I can't say that this was necessarily enforced strictly, but if a centurion openly admitted he was a homosexual, I wouldn't imagine he would get away with it.

No their problem was the sexual distraction (same as wives). They regarded homosexuality little different than a relationship between a man and a woman or even permissible for straight folk to engage in homosexual acts. Like having a wife that lived in your barracks with you (quite common regardless of the ban) you could quite easily, have a homosexual act. The law has little bearing on human behavior.