Incest

Dr. Couch, when did incest stop in the Bible? Is there a verse that would tell us? ANSWER:  Intermarriage between siblings is not stated but it is implied in the early chapters of Genesis. This would be the only way the race could begin to perpetuate itself. Abraham married a half-sister, Sarah, who had the same father as Abraham (Gen. 11:20-25:10).    Lot's daughters got their father drunk and both had sex with him for the reason "that we may preserve our family through our father" (19:34). Not only was their reasoning sinful but the consequences were as well. Their children were named Moab ("from the father") and Ben-ammi ("son of my people"), Ben-ammi's children were the Ammonites (vv. 37-38).    Abraham's family had been pagans in Ur so the marriage between him and Sarah was wrong but there was no prohibition about it known by Abraham.    Incest was especially destructive among the Canaanites and the Egyptians, and was by the Law in Leviticus 18, prohibited among the Israelites. It was banned between mother, stepmother, sister, half-sister, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and aunt by blood.    Why was it allowed at the first of the human race? Apparently it was not as emotionally destructive at first but later it would be a twisted and perverted practice that would destroy relationships. Sexual emotional issues are powerful, and only immoral habits would follow. When incest is practiced to the extreme, it can produce physically harmed offspring. Where it is practiced today it virtually destroys the culture that has no prohibitions against it.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)

Homosexuality and the Natural Function

Dr. Couch, I have noticed that Paul, when writing about homosexuality, in Romans 1:26-27, speaks of the issue of the "natural function" that the homosexuals go against. What does this mean? ANSWER: When Paul speaks of the "natural" he is speaking about that which is normal, right, or correct. In regard to sin, it is only in these passages where Paul writes that the sin of homosexuality is actually going against what is natural. The Greek word "phusikos" means "natural" and is used in Romans 26 and 27. The word "phusis" is translated as "nature" and is used also in verse 26 with the preposition "para" as "against nature." Homosexuality is against nature; no other sin is so described. In a very broad sense, Paul says that we all, before salvation, were "by nature the children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3). Yet he still focuses down on this sin and writes that those who practice such are going against what is really abnormal! The apostle uses two words in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 to describe sodomy. He uses the word "effeminate" which means "soft" and is describing the male who plays the part of the women in the homosexual relationship. And he uses the word "homosexuality" which here is the Greek word that means "man-bed," referring to the man who takes another man to bed. The grace of God can save any sinner because Paul goes on and writes "And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in (by) the Spirit of our God" (v. 11). All that Paul says on the subject shows that homosexuals are not just "made" that way, they are actually going against what God made naturally when they give in to this sin. Since the laws in early America had their orientation from Scripture, until lately on the law books, homosexuality was called sodomy, in reference to this sin that is described so clearly in Genesis. But now the laws have been changed, and God is adding a penalty to the sin by the scourge of AIDS. While AIDS can spread to the innocent woman or child, it is still known as the homosexual sin. The black population, and those living in Africa, is virtually being self-destroyed with the promiscuity of sex, both by what is natural sex (though will multiple partners), and by homosexuality. It costs billions of dollars now to fight AIDS, though it is almost a lost cause. Millions are dying because of sin. The foolishness of mankind who lives by "degrading passions" (Rom. 1:26) and by the "depraved mind" (v. 28). Dr. Mal Couch (Jan., 10)

Babylonian Ziggurats

Dr. Couch, what do you think of the Babylonian ziggurats? ANSWER: It is possible that one presently in Babylon could be the one mentioned in Genesis, or, it could certainly be one like that in Genesis. I believe also that the pyramids of Egypt, and of Central and South America, are patterned after the ones in Babylon.    Remember, the Bible is not giving us mythology but factual history that we can rely on. Unger writes in his book "Archeology and the Old Testament: "The Genesis account neither misrepresents the attitude of the tower-builders nor misunderstands the name of the tower. The temple-tower or "high place" called "the hill of heaven" or "the mountain of God," on whose topmost stage the shrine and the image of the city's patron deity was worshipped. The tower shows man's revolt against God and his determination to promote and glorify himself. All history goes back to what the Bible says of the scattering found in Genesis 10, the Table of Nations!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Birth, Genealogy, and Beginnings

Dr. Couch, Kenneth Wuest makes an issue of the two uses of the idea "to birth" and "genealogy" as seen in Matthew 1:1 and 11:11. What is he referring to? ANSWER:  Matthew 1:1 reads: "The book of the becoming of Jesus Christ." The word "becoming" is actually the word "genealogy"! The Greek word genealogy is the word gensis which comes from the verb ginomai, meaning to become, come into being. This is the only place the word is used, in reference to the coming of Christ!    However, another word, gennesis, is used describing the birth of Christ in Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:14. This word is used only of Him and only in these two places. The Bible is trying to tell us something by the fact that there are several distinct words being used to describe the coming of Christ. I'm not sure exactly what the message is, except the fact that He is a very special One coming into the world!    Of John the Baptist it is said in Matthew 11:11: he came "Among them that are born (genneetos) of women."    Both words (gensis and genneetos) come from ginomai ("to come into being") but it's interesting to see how the biblical text focuses in the different way to describe the natural birth of John and the miraculous birth of Christ. There are no accidents in the inspiration of Scripture. Every word has its own purpose as given to us by the Holy Spirit.     Summary: Christ had "a becoming" being the Son of God who was pre-existent. John the Baptist, and other human beings, are born into this earth—thus, "birthed."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch