The topic of homosexuality and the Bible is one that has sparked considerable discussion, debate, and varying interpretations among individuals and religious communities.
Understanding what the Bible says about homosexuality requires careful examination of relevant passages and consideration of their historical, cultural, and theological contexts.
What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality?
In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 also declares, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” These verses are part of the Levitical law that governed the ancient Israelite community.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses homosexuality in two passages. In Romans 1:26-27, Paul writes, “For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
Bible Verses Against Homosexuality
When discussing the topic of homosexuality in relation to the Bible, it is essential to approach it with sensitivity, respect, and an understanding of the diverse perspectives held by individuals and communities.
The Bible contains several passages that are often interpreted as expressing a prohibition or negative view towards same-sex relationships.
These verses have been a subject of extensive debate and discussion among theologians, scholars, and believers.
While interpretations may differ, it is important to explore what the Bible says about homosexuality in order to gain insights into various perspectives on this topic.
1 Corinthians 7:2 (NIV) – Get Married
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
Proverbs 5:18-19 (NIV) – Marriage Is a Gift From God
“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) – Honor Marriage
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
Song of Solomon 4:9 (NIV) – Let Love Lead
“You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV) – Free From Sexual Immorality
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Ephesians 5:31(NIV) – Men Have To Unite With Their Wife To Become One
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NIV) – Live a Purified Life
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
Proverbs 18:22 (NIV) – Marriage Is a Good Thing
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV) – God Is Our Maker
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-4 (NIV) – Husband Should Fulfil Their duty
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.”
Song of Solomon 2:16 (NIV)
“My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.”
Proverbs 5:15-17 (NIV)
“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.”
Mark 10:9 (NIV)
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Genesis 2:24 (NIV)
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Proverbs 19:14 (NIV)
“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV)
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Song of Solomon 7:10 (NIV)
“I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.”
Malachi 2:15 (NIV)
“Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.”
Proverbs 31:10-12 (NIV)
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
1 Corinthians 7:9 (NIV)
“But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
Song of Solomon 4:1(NIV)
“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves.”
Homosexuality In The New Testament
When it comes to the topic of homosexuality, the New Testament of the Bible provides some passages that are often discussed and debated.
These passages, found in the letters of the apostle Paul, have shaped different interpretations and understandings within the Christian community.
The New Testament addresses homosexuality through the writings of Paul in particular. His letters contain references that are commonly understood as addressing same-sex sexual activity.
These passages have played a significant role in shaping theological discussions and perspectives on homosexuality within Christianity.
Romans 1:26-27 (NIV)
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV)
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 (NIV)
“We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.”
Jude 1:7 (NIV)
“In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 (NIV)
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NIV)
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
9. Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Peter 4:3-5 (NIV)
“For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Mark 10:6-9 (NIV)
“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Corinthians 7:9 (NIV)
“But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
Genesis 2:24 (NIV)
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Leviticus 18:22 (NIV)
“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”
Leviticus 20:13 (NIV)
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
Deuteronomy 23:17-18 (NIV)
“No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute. You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both.”
Matthew 15:19 (NIV)
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
1 Timothy 1:8-11 (NIV)
“We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
Revelation 21:8 (NIV)
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Conclusion
the Bible contains several verses that are often interpreted as expressing a negative view or prohibition against homosexuality.
These passages have been the subject of extensive debate and discussion within religious and scholarly communities.
It is important to approach these verses with sensitivity, understanding the historical and cultural context in which they were written.
Interpretations of these verses vary among individuals and religious traditions. Some interpret them as universal and timeless condemnations of all forms of same-sex relationships, while others emphasize the need for a nuanced understanding that considers cultural and historical factors.
These differing interpretations have led to diverse perspectives within the Christian community regarding homosexuality.
