What does the Bible say about homosexuals?

Answer 1

One view

In regard to homosexual activity, the Bible definitely condemns penetrative sex between men.

In addition, the Bible criticizes (but does not condemn) sex between women.

Further, men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women can rightly claim that their actions are not sinful providing that these actions are loving (caring and selfless) and do not harm others or themselves. This is because St Paul in Romans 13:8-10 says that people keep God's law and commandments if they love other people and do not harm them.

Another View

The Bible says very little about homosexuality. Most of it comes from Old Testament Levitical Law.

• Leviticus 18:22 " Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination "
• Leviticus 20:13 " If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them "
• There are other verses but these two should make the point.

If Christians obeyed these laws then they would also have to be circumcised, not eat pork or shellfish, not wear two sorts of cloth at the same time, put to death all adulterers and put women out of society when they were menstruating... Levitical Law was completely superseded by Christ except that the early church decided that Christians would have to follow the Levitical sexual laws (Acts 15:28-29).

Cherry picking the Bible, such as the verses cited above, to 'back up' one's own prejudices, is not particularly helpful and places the Church (which should share God's love for others and not condemn them) in a shameful condemnatory position.

There are three main passages which refer to homosexuality in the Bible - the Levitical ones, and the other two in one of Paul's letters to the Corinthians, and in his letter to the Romans.

There are some Christians who take these passages at face value and therefore claim that homosexuality is a sin. Some of this group even believe that homosexuality can somehow be 'cured' as if it were a disease. Others may believe that homosexuals should be ostracised and dismissed from Christian congregations, whilst others do not go this far but reluctantly accept that homosexuals should be, at best, tolerated.

However, the majority of Christians worldwide look at scripture in a different way. They realise that the Levitical passages are relevant as Christians are bound by the Levitical sexual laws (Acts 15:28-29). They also look at the passages in Paul's letters and, by studying the Greek in depth, come to the conclusion that Paul was not making Church doctrine to be set in stone for all time, but answering specific questions about specific problems the churches had in ministering to a world (especially centred round the den of vice called Corinth) where pagan practices - including child rape - were widespread. Nor was he ever referring to a loving homosexual relationship as we would know today. By his use of 'arsenokoitai' in the Greek (men who have sex with men), Paul was referring to pagan homosexual prostitutes, and condemning Christians who were trying to follow Christ but who were still drawn by the evil pagan practices associated with these pagan prostitutes. He was more concerned with the infiltration of paganism into the Christian Church than by any sexual practice or loving relationship.

Similarly in Romans, Paul set out his own theology rather than the teachings of Christ - and his theology differs quite a bit in many areas. But in his first chapter he deals with what he sees as a downward spiral when people turn from God. They replace love with lust. The nuances of the Greek make the meaning of Romans 1:27 very clear. Rather than men - and women - following their naturalloving desires, they try out unnatural lustful desires. And Paul states this is wrong. Put simply, this passage does not just condemn straight men and women to be forced into lustful homosexual acts, but also homosexual men and women forced into lustful heterosexual acts. In other words, it condemns the forcing of people into committing lustful unnatural acts whether or not they are gay or straight. It says nothing about condemning homosexuality, nor heterosexuality - just the stepping outside what is natural to a person (whether gay or straight) and doing so with lust rather than love.

As for Jesus Christ, he is not recorded as saying anything on the matter.

It is very sad that there are those who cherry pick the Bible claiming that these few verses give them 'proof' that their own prejudices are justified, and ignore other passages where Jesus himself condemns Christians who judge others. It is even more sad that the Christian Church has torn itself apart over this issue in recent years, when it should be more concerned with poverty and oppression in the world, and by proclaiming God's love and acceptance of all people, black or white, male or female, gay or straight.

Another View

It's not so much what the Bible says as how you read it. Some people read the Bible literally, considering every word of it a truth. Some see it more as a whole parable, with a general message given through symbols and examples. Some see it as an imperfect testimony of the time when Christ was on earth. For them, the people who wrote the book are only humans, who made mistakes, and the perfect message of the Christ is to be found in this imperfect book.

If you are part of the first group, homosexuality is an abomination, and should be punished by death as is written in Leviticus (this is the position of many Baptists). If you see the Bible as a parable, then homosexuality is a problem, a sin, that you should try to avoid, but it's not your fault, it's a test put unto you by God (this is for example the position of the Catholic church). If you're part of the third group, being gay just happens, and as long as it does not prevent you from being good, accepting Christ and spreading peace, it is no problem (like says the Lutheran Church of Sweden, for example).

Another View

In these two verses, we are given by God an example and model for marriage and procreation between the male and female. It is a belief of mine, strongly supported in the Bible, that any sexual activity outside this example is called fornication. This, according to the Bible, includes man with man, woman with woman, whoredom, harlotry, prostitution, rape, incest, adultery and bestiality; none of which were apart of God's creation.

• " So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply "

Paul had this to say:

• " Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murders of father, for murders of mothers, for man slayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that in contrary to sound doctrine ".
• And this..."Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. For this cause God gave them up into vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves recompence of their error which was meet ".
• An example and warning...."Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire ". And..." For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication ".

All quotes mentioned above came from Jesus, Paul and Jude; word for word from a King James version Bible.

Another View

Not much. In fact, the word 'homosexual' is not even used in the Bible and Jesus Christ never spoke a word against homosexuality. However, the Bible does condemn 'sodomy' (ie. anal intercourse) as being sinful.

There are only three (3) references to sodomy in the entire New Testament. None of them are in the Gospels, but only in the Epistles (or letters) of St Paul. Those three are: Romans 1:27, 1Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1Timothy 1:9-11.

Another View

It says very little.

There are three main passages which refer to homosexuality in the Bible - one in Leviticus, and the other two in one of Paul's letters to the Corinthians, and in his letter to the Romans. The first letter to Timothy above refers to the 'profane' or 'whoremongers' and not to homosexuals at all.

There are some Christians who take these passages at face value and therefore claim that homosexuality is a sin. Some of this group even believe that homosexuality can somehow be 'cured' as if it were a disease. Others may believe that homosexuals should be ostracised and dismissed from Christian congregations, whilst others do not go this far but reluctantly accept that homosexuals should be, at best, tolerated.

However, the majority of Christians worldwide look at scripture in a different way. They realise that the Levitical passages are irrelevant as Christians are not bound by Levitical Law (or else Christians would refrain from pork, be circumcised and subject to draconian punishment for minor offences). So, Levitical Law can be disregarded outright. They also look at the passages in Paul's letters and, by studying the Greek in depth, come to the conclusion that Paul was not making Church doctrine to be set in stone for all time, but answering specific questions about specificproblems the churches had in ministering to a world where pagan practices - including child rape - were widespread. Nor was he ever referring to a loving homosexual relationship as we would know today. By his use of 'arsenokoi' in the Greek, Paul was referring to pagan homosexual prostitutes, and condemning Christians who were trying to follow Christ buit who were still drawn by the evil pagan practices associated with these pagan prostitutes. He was more concerned with the infiltration of paganism into the Christian Church than by any sexual practice or loving relationship.

Similarly in Romans, Paul set out his own theology rather than the teachings of Christ - and his theology differs quite a bit in many areas. But in his first chapter he deals with what he sees as a downward spiral when people turn from God. They replace love with lust. The nuances of the Greek make the meaning of Romans 1:27 very clear. Rather than men - and women - following their naturalloving desires, they try out unnatural lustful desires. And Paul states this is wrong. Put simply, this passage does not just condemn straight men and women to be forced into lustful homosexual acts, but also homosexual men and women forced into lustful heterosexual acts. In other words, it condemns the forcing of people into commiting lustful unnatural acts whether or not they are gay or straight. It says nothing about condemning homosexuality, nor heterosexuality - just the stepping outside what is natural to a person (whether gay or straight) and doing so with lust rather than love.

As for Jesus Christ, he had absolutely nothing to say on the matter.

It is very sad that there are those who cherry pick the Bible claiming that these few verses give them 'proof' that their own prejudices are justified, and ignore other passages where Jesus himself condmns Christians who judge others. It is even more sad that the Christian Church has torn itself apart over this issue in recent years, when it should be more concerned with poverty and oppression in the world, and by proclaiming God's love and acceptance of all people, black or white, male or female, gay or straight.

Another View

Genesis 19 describes Lot telling a group of men that homosexuality is wickedness and offers the men his own daughters in an attempt to persuade them against being with other men. Because of the prevalence of homosexuality, Lot leaves Sodom so that the Lord can destroy it.

Leviticus 18:22-23 and Leviticus 20:13 say that homosexuality is an abomination, similar to beastiality and punishable by death.

Deuteronomy 23:17 says that homosexuals will not be counted as Children of Israel.

Isaiah 3:9 says that homosexuals cannot hide their sin.

Romans 1:27 says that homosexuality is unseemly and that they will receive consequences for their errors.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Timothy 1:9-10 lists homosexuals with muderers, kidnappers, liars, the ungodly, and others who act contrary to sound doctrine.

Jude 1:7 says that homosexuals will suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

Homosexuality is not the design of God and is therefore wrong for mankind to engage in it as we fall short of God's mark for us of being perfect - a sin. Her is just one scripture about it:

Romans 1:27New King James Version (NKJV)

27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Answer 2

Christian Answer:

The Bible does not condemn homosexuality any more than it condemns looking at a woman in lust, or lying, or stealing, or any other sin. Homosexuality is a deviation from God's plan for one man with one woman. Any departure from God's perfect plan, for us, is called sin. Sin is sin; one is no better or worse than the other. The Bible condemns all sin because it separates us from a holy God. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23"

Due to Hollywood's numerous renditions of "Sodom and Gomorrah", many people have been led to falsely believe that homosexuals are hated, above other sinners, by God. The Bible, however, clearly states that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah had absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality. God had already announced his plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah before the men of Sodom tried to molest the two angels (Genesis 18:16-19:29).

So then, why did God destroy Sodom and the villages around it? The Bible plainly tells us in Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Homosexuality may have been a result of the people's wicked lifestyle, but it had nothing to do with why they were destroyed. Their sin was that they were arrogant, overfed, lazy, and didn't care about anyone but themselves.

Homosexuals are sinners just like all the rest of us. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23" And it was for homosexuals, and all us other sinners, that Jesus died. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8"

Real Answer:

The Bible never mentions Homosexuality. The concept was unknown in ancient times. It only talks about certain circumstances, not innate behaviors.

Answer

What the Bible says about homosexuality:-

1Co 6:9-11 MKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit thekingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor abusers,nor homosexuals, (v.10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,shall inherit thekingdom of God.(v.11) And such were[past tense] some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

This is confirmed by other versions:-

(ASV) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, noreffeminate, norabusers of themselves with men,

(GNB) Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God's Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts

(ISV) You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, don't you? Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers,male prostitutes, homosexuals,

(KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, noreffeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

(MKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inheritthekingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,nor abusers, nor homosexuals,

(WEB) Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,

Homosexuality will cause a person to go to hell, it is a perversion of God's set ordinances and a sin, and is contrary to sound doctrine. The Old Testament was full of condemnation of sin, but it couldn't do anything about it except continually offer sacrifices. That said, that is only half the story: instead, the New Testament gives exoneration upon repentance.

Hebrews 9

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Some of the members of the church at Corinth had been homosexuals previously before repenting and becoming a Christian, and having their previous sins forgiven. With the exception of sin against the Holy Spirit and the unforgiveable sin which cannot be forgiven (because the perpetrator does not recognise it as a sin and therefore can't repent of it in order to receive forgiveness), upon repentance all sins can be forgiven, and that includes the sin of homosexuality:-

1Co 6:11

(GNB) Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(KJV) And such weresome of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

(MKJV) And such were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

(However, do not turn this Grace into a licence to sin!)

One of the problems with all translations is that there is no direct and exact equivalent of words in one language with that of another.(If there was, there would only need to be one translation!) Bibles often have Footnotes against a word (eg "Lit...., Gk says..., Or..., NU..., Sept... ) and as a result, various translations can render the same Greek word differently. This can be contentious with doctrine, such as on homosexuality, and knowing what the writer is actually saying unless you know Greek.

However, the NET Bible has overcome this problem by adding as Footnotes all the various word translations, interpretations, views, and renderings, and because it is on the internet [hence the name], and not restricted by page length, these can be as long as required. This means you can know the original meaning of the Greek without having to know any Greek and make your own decision as to what it actually means.

1Cor 6:9 [NET] Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers,passive homosexual partners,note5practicing homosexualsnote66:10thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive,note7and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.6:11Some of you once lived this waynote8But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Flee Sexual Immorality

6:12"All things are lawful for me"note10-but not everything is beneficial. "All things are lawful for me" - but I will not be controlled by anything.6:13"Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both."note11The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 6:14Now God indeed raised the Lord and he will raise us by his power.6:15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 6:16Or do you not know that anyone who is united withnote12a prostitute is one body with her?note13For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."note146:17But the one united withnote15the Lord is one spirit with him.note166:18Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin a person commits is outside of the body"note17- but the immoral person sins against his own body.6:19Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?6:20For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Footnotes ( "….." represents removed Greek words ):-

5tnThis term is sometimes rendered "effeminate," although in contemporary English usage such a translation could be taken to refer to demeanor rather than behavior. BDAG 613... has "pert. to being passive in a same-sex relationship, effeminateesp. of catamites, of men and boys who are sodomized by other males in such a relationship." L&N 88.281 states, "the passive male partner in homosexual intercourse - 'homosexual.' …As in Greek, a number of other languages also have entirely distinct terms for the active and passive roles in homosexual intercourse.".... A number of modern translations have adopted the phrase "male prostitutes" ….in 1 Cor 6:9 (NIV, NRSV, NLT) but this could be misunderstood by the modern reader to mean "males who sell their services to women," while the term in question appears, at least in context, to relate to homosexual activity between males. Furthermore, it is far from certain that prostitution as commonly understood (the selling of sexual favors) is specified here, as opposed to a consensual relationship. Thus the translation "passive homosexual partners" has been used here.

6tnOn this term BDAG 135 ... states, "a male who engages in sexual activity w. a pers. of his own sex, pederast 1 Cor 6:9…of one who assumes the dominant role in same-sex activity,...." L&N 88.280 states, "a male partner in homosexual intercourse - 'homosexual.'…It is possible that ...in certain contexts [this] refers to the active male partner in homosexual intercourse in contrast with ...the passive male partner." Since there is a distinction in contemporary usage between sexual orientation and actual behavior, the qualification "practicing" was supplied in the translation...

7tnOr "revilers"; BDAG 602 ...defines the term as "reviler, abusive person." Because the term "abusive" without further qualification has become associated in contemporary English with both physical and sexual abuse, the qualifier "verbally" has been supplied in the translation.

8tnGrk"and some [of you] were these."

10snAll things are lawful for me. In the expressions in vv. 12-13 within quotation marks, Paul cites certain slogans the Corinthians apparently used to justify their behavior. Paul agrees with the slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused these ideas.

11tnGrk"both this [stomach] and these [foods]."

snThere is debate as to the extent of the Corinthian slogan which Paul quotes here. Some argue that the slogan is only the first sentence - "Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food" - with the second statement forming Paul's rejoinder, while others argue that the slogan contains both sentences (as in the translation above). The argument which favors the latter is the tight conceptual and grammatical parallelism which occurs if Paul's response begins with "The body is not for sexual immorality" and then continues through the end of v. 14....

12tnOr "is in relationship with."

13tnGrk"is one body," implying the association "with her."

14snA quotation from Gen 2:24.

15tnGrk"in relationship with."

16tnGrk"is one spirit," implying the association "with him."

17snIt is debated whether this is a Corinthian slogan. If it is not, then Paul is essentially arguing that there are two types of sin, nonsexual sins which take place outside the body and sexual sins which are against a person's very own body. If it is a Corinthian slogan, then it is a slogan used by the Corinthians to justify their immoral behavior. With it they are claiming that anything done in the body or through the body had no moral relevance. A decision here is very difficult, but the latter is to be preferred for two main reasons.

(1) This is the most natural understanding of the statement as it is written. To construe it as a statement by Paul requires a substantial clarification in the sense (e.g., "All othersins…" [NIV]).

(2) Theologically the former is more difficult: Why would Paul single out sexual sins as more intrinsically related to the body than other sins, such as gluttony or drunkenness? For these reasons, it is more likely that the phrase in quotation marks is indeed a Corinthian slogan which Paul turns against them in the course of his argument, although the decision must be regarded as tentative.

In the Old Testament there was no hope held out for homosexuals, lesbians, etc, but the New Testament gives the solution: accept the free gift of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sin and become a Christian: Upon repentance all sins can be forgiven, and that includes the sin of homosexuality!