Page 616 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SNARE - SODOMY

It had many pagan temples dedicated to gods and SOCIALISM. [See Private Ownership of Property.]
goddesses, including Zeus, Dionysius, and a goddess SOD. To boil; cook (Ge. 25:29; Ex. 12:9; Le. 6:28; 1
called the Mother of the Gods, who was said to be both Sa. 2:15).
the mother and wife of Zeus and the mother of all SODOM (to scorch, burning). One of the cities
things. From the time of Tiberius there was a temple in destroyed by God because of its wickedness (Ge.
Smyrna dedicated to Roman emperor worship. 19:1-25). Lot lived in Sodom (Ge. 13:8-13). Sodom is
Olympic games dedicated to Zeus were held here and used as a symbol of wickedness and a warning to
a magnificent 20,000-seat stadium was built for this sinners that God judges evil (De. 29:23; Is. 1:9-10; 3:9;
purpose. It was in this stadium that the Christian Je. 23:14; 49:18; 50:40; Eze. 16:46-56; Am. 4:11; Zep.
preacher Polycarp was martyred in 155 A.D. “It was 2:9; 2 Pe. 2:6; Jude 7). [See Gomorrah, Sodomy.]
exactly on such occasions that what the pagans SODOMA. The Greek form of “Sodom” (Ro. 9:29).
regarded as the unpatriotic and anti-social spirit of the [See Sodom, Sodomy.]
early Christians became most apparent; and it was to
the violent demands of the people assembled in the SODOMITE. [See Sodomy.]
stadium that the Roman proconsul yielded up the SODOMY. The sodomite of the O.T. refers to male
martyr” (McClintock and Strong). prostitution and homosexual moral perversion practiced
The city was famous for its wine and drunkenness. It in connection with idolatry (De. 23:17; 1 Ki. 14:24;
was devoted to the worship of Dionysus, the god of 15:12; 22:46; 2 Ki. 23:7). The same Hebrew word is
wine and moral debauchery. A statue “representing an translated “unclean” (Job 36:14). The term is connected
old woman intoxicated illustrates the prevalent habits of with the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and has come to
the population.” be identified with homosexuality. The 1828 Webster
dictionary defined “sodomy” as “a crime against nature.”
Today Smyrna is called Izmir, and the population is The Webster’s Deluxe Unabridged Dictionary of 1983
two million. The modern city is built over the ancient defines sodomy as “any sexual intercourse regarded as
one, and there are no archaeological excavations of any abnormal, as between persons of the same sex,
significance. The harbor is very beautiful and is visited especially males, or between a person and an animal.”
by many large cruise ships. The term is descriptive of the moral perversion of the
SNARE. A trap (Ps. 91:3; 124:7; 141:9). city of Sodom (Ge. 19; Jude 7). Other Bible Terms for
SNUFF. (1) To inhale eagerly (Je. 2:24; 14:6). (2) To Sodomy. Some contend that the Bible only condemns
puff at; to treat scornfully, with a gesture of contempt or prostitution and forced immorality, and that sodomy, or
dislike (Mal. 1:13). homosexuality, in general, is not addressed in the Word
SNUFFDISH, SNUFFER. A pair of tongs used for of God. That this is not true is evident by the
snuffing out a flame (Ex. 25:36; Nu. 4:9; 1 Ki. 7:49; 2 terminology used in the following passages of Scripture.
Ki. 12:13). The language the Holy Spirit uses in the N.T. to describe
SO AS. (1) As (Ex. 7:10; Nu. 17:11). (2) So that (Re. same-sex relations prove that God considers this a great
8:12). wickedness, whether or not it is done with consent:
SO MANY. As many (De. 1:11; He. 11:12). “uncleanness” (Ro. 1:24); “dishonour their own bodies
between themselves” (Ro. 1:24); “vile affections” (Ro.
SOBER. The N.T. term “sober” means to be in control 1:26); “that which is against nature” (Ro. 1:26); “that
of one’s mind and life to the end of obeying the Lord in which is unseemly” (Ro. 1:27); “reprobate mind” (Ro.
all things. It refers to spiritual alertness and seriousness 1:28); “effeminate” (1 Co. 6:9); “abusers of themselves
of purpose; prudence; temperance (1 Th. 5:6, 8; 1 Pe. with mankind” (1 Co. 6:9); “inordinate affection” (Col.
1:13; 5:8). This is to characterize every Christian, from 3:5); “them that defile themselves with mankind” (1 Ti.
the young to the old (Tit. 2:4, 6, 12). It is a qualification 1:10); “filthy conversation” (2 Pe. 2:7); “going after
for Christian service (1 Ti. 3:2, 11; Tit. 1:8). [See strange flesh” (Jude 7). Under the Mosaic law,
Drunkenness, Grave, Temperance, Wine.] homosexuality required the death penalty (Le.
SOBRIETY. Spiritual alertness; self-control (1 Ti. 18:22-29; 20:13). The terminology used in the passages
2:9,15). The Greek word translated “sobriety” is also in Leviticus describe and condemn homosexuality in
translated “soberness” (Ac. 26:25). [See Modesty, general—man lying with man, and woman lying with
Separation, Sober.] woman. What Does God Think of Sodomy? (1) It is an
SOCKET. The holders for the boards which formed abomination (Le. 18:22). (2) It bore the death penalty
the sides of the Tabernacle (Ex. 26:19-27). in the O.T. dispensation (Le. 20:13; Ro. 1:32). (3) It
SOCHO (a hedge). 1 Ch. 4:18. defiles the land (Le. 18:25). (4) It is the product of a
SOCHOH (a hedge). 1 Ki. 4:10. morally reprobate mind (Ro. 1:26-28). (5) It is worthy
of the judgment of eternal fire (Jude 7). (6) It can be

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