Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he
does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

The roman centurion comes out
Since we are reading this two thousand years later, does it make sense to ponder the whole thing? Traditional biblical interpretation cannot conclusively prove that the centurion and his servant were not in a homosexual relationship. Likewise, it is just as impossible to prove that everyone would believe that it was the centurion and his lover. So if we can’t prove that here Jesus meets a homosexual man, then why bother even discussing the matter? The short answer would be: The Bible is important and what we believe based on the Bible is important.

For centuries, the prevailing perception has been that the Bible does not tell about the queer people in a positive light. For those of us who are personally affected by this discussion, it is extremely important.

Many Christians refuse to believe that God would include such a positive event in the Bible. Even in recent years, many openly homosexual Christians have been excluded from the religious life of their church. They have been told to keep silent and live in celibacy. My goal here is to examine the available evidence.

So is there such evidence? Does the knowledge brought by culture, history and linguistics support the assumption that the centurion of Capernaum was indeed gay? Emperor Augustus had banned heterosexual marriages for those who served in the Roman army even before the birth of Christ. Emperor Septimus Severus only lifted the ban in 197.

This influenced the emergence of homosexual relationships in the Roman army of the first century.

Let’s approach the matter from the point of view of linguistics. Let’s first look at what is an idiom? It is an established saying that is used in the language, even if the words themselves do not literally mean what is said. Everyone understands what is meant when it is said that “someone is under the weather”, “break a leg”, maybe someone goes and “jumps on a bandwagon”. These are idiomatic expressions.

How was the Greek word “pais” used in ancient Greece?

Plato in his work “Symposium”, refers to the relationship between the beloved and the lover eighteen times. “If a state or an army could be formed of lovers only, how could any body of men hope for more than these, who despise dishonor and vie with one another, who is the most honorable? A few of them, fighting side by side, might well conquer the world. “And yet, “Love gives men the courage to die for their beloved – love alone.”

In his book “History of the Peloponnesian War” 445-400 BC, Thucydides writes about Agathon, called “pais”, the same-sex lover of Pausanias, king of Sparta.

Eupolis, playwright, 446-411 BCE, also mentions this Agathon, an exceptionally good- looking man who was Pausanias’ “pais”.

Now we see that in verse 7, Luke uses this very word “pais” to tell that the question was about a lover of the same sex. Earlier he had used the word “doulos”. Thus, the interesting possibility arises from this event that Jesus encountered and blessed a homosexual centurion who was brave enough to express his homosexuality.

This centurion, who shall remain nameless, uses this particular saying to describe his servant. He is a very special man, a member of the army of the occupying country, who won the trust of the Jews and even built a synagogue for them. He is a completely honest man and refuses to hide the truth when he asks Jesus to heal his loved one. How did Jesus react to the fact that the centurion came to ask for healing for his beloved partner? Proclaimed judgment and certain fate in hellfire? Advised selibacy and repentance? Some time ago we were downright hated and it was considered justified, now the wise men have turned forward enough that we are already tolerated or maybe even accepted. However, there is still a long way to go before our lives are blessed like everyone else’s, without discrimination.

Jesus turned to the crowd following him and said: “Listen to what I say: such faith I have not met even among the people of Israel.” He healed the centurion’s beloved spouse and blessed his faith and life. So today I boldly declare to you that Jesus himself will bless you, (whether you are alone or have already found your partner,) without preconditions and completely: body, soul and mind.

(Lets pray: Jesus you know each and everyone of us, help us remember that all has already been done for us, that we are called to be the family of God. In your precious name. Amen)

— Tarja Pyykkö