The biblical stance on homosexuality is a complex and often debated topic. The view, based on several key passages throughout both the Old and New Testaments, is that homosexual acts are contrary to God’s will and are considered sinful. This perspective is rooted in a number of themes:
1. Old Testament Law
The most direct prohibitions are found in the Law of Moses.
- Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
- Leviticus 20:13: “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 clear and universal condemnations of male homosexual acts. Some modern scholarly interpretations, however, argue about the specific context of these laws, suggesting they might be aimed at specific forms of homosexual behavior (such as male cult prostitution) or male-on-male incest, rather than all same-sex relationships. However, the traditional view maintains that the language is a broad prohibition of all homosexual acts.
2. The Creation Narrative
The biblical view of sexuality is grounded in the Genesis account of creation, which establishes a model of male and female union.
- Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
- Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Jesus himself refers to this model in Matthew 19:4-6 to explain the nature of marriage, stating, “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female…So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” This “one flesh” union between a man and a woman is presented as the divinely ordained context for sexual intimacy.
3. New Testament Teachings
The Apostle Paul addresses homosexual acts directly in his letters.
- Romans 1:26-27: In this passage, Paul argues that humanity’s rejection of God has led to “dishonorable passions.” He writes, “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.” This passage is seen by many as a condemnation of both male and female homosexual acts as “unnatural” deviations from God’s created order.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Paul includes “men who practice homosexuality” in a list of those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The Greek words used here (malakoi and arsenokoitai) are sometimes debated, but the most common translations refer to individuals involved in homosexual behavior.
Conclusion
The overall biblical stance, based on a straightforward reading of these and other passages, is that homosexual acts are a form of sexual immorality. The Bible presents the sexual relationship between a man and a woman within the context of marriage as God’s design.
It is also important to note that, within the biblical framework, homosexual acts are placed on a list of sins alongside other behaviors like fornication, adultery, idolatry, theft, and greed (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The Bible’s perspective is not that homosexuality is a uniquely egregious or unforgivable sin. The same passage in 1 Corinthians goes on to say, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God,” which offers a message of forgiveness and redemption to all who turn from their sins, regardless of what they are.