The topic of homosexuality and same-sex relationships is a complex one that requires examining multiple passages in the Bible. There are a handful of passages that directly mention same-sex behavior, but also broader principles about sexuality and God’s intent for marriage that have implications for this issue.
Overall, the biblical evidence points to God creating heterosexual marriage between a man and woman as His ideal for human sexual relationships. Passages forbidding homosexual acts suggest that expressing one’s sexuality in same-sex relationships is outside of God’s design and intent. However, the Bible does not single out homosexuality as an unusually egregious sin, and calls for Christians to have compassion, not condemnation, for all people.
Old Testament Passages on Homosexuality
There are three main passages in the Old Testament that reference same-sex behavior between men:
Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
Leviticus 18:22 states “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 says “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 Mosaic Law which contained strict regulations around purity, ritual cleansing, and religious ceremonies. Homosexual acts are prohibited here alongside other acts considered ritually impure like incest, adultery, and bestiality.
While Christians do not live under the civil and ceremonial laws given to ancient Israel, these verses do establish that God designed sexual activity to happen between a man and woman within marriage. Same-sex relations are considered an “abomination” because they distort God’s ideal for sex and marriage.
Genesis 19:1-29
This passage describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to the extreme wickedness of the cities’ residents. When two angels in disguise visit Lot in Sodom, the men of the city surround Lot’s house and demand to “know” (have sex with) the visitors. Lot refuses and offers his virgin daughters instead, but the men refuse.
This story illustrates the depravity into which Sodom had fallen. While homosexuality is certainly highlighted here, this was far from the only sin practiced in the city (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Genesis 19 serves as a cautionary tale of God’s judgment against sin more broadly.
Gibeah’s Crime – Judges 19-21
In this account, a Levite man and his concubine spend the night in Gibeah. Similar to the Genesis 19 account, the men of the city demand to “know” the man, and the host instead sends his daughter and the concubine. The concubine is raped and killed. This crime leads to war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel.
This story parallels Sodom and further establishes homosexual practice as atrocious and worthy of punishment. It is grouped with other examples of moral decay in Israel at the time, indicating that homosexuality was unacceptable in God’s eyes.
New Testament Passages on Homosexuality
The New Testament continues and expands upon the sexual ethics established in the Old Testament. Its instruction reflects an understanding of sexual behavior that begins at creation and reaches even into the new heavens and new earth.
Romans 1:18-32
This passage comes in the broader context of Paul’s argument that all people stand guilty before God and can only be justified by faith in Christ. Paul describes the downward spiral that leads to a society’s moral decay. Verses 26-27 specifically address homosexuality:
“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.”
Paul sees homosexual activity as an outworking of idolatry and overall immorality. It reflects rebellion against God and His design for natural relationships. Both the women and men he describes have “exchanged” and “given up” the natural for the unnatural.
Importantly, Paul does not single out homosexuality but includes it in his broader discussion of sin and human fallenness. The only hope he offers for all people is the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
In this passage, Paul provides a list of sins that characterize the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Homosexual behavior appears alongside immorality, idolatry, adultery, drunkenness, thievery, greed, and swindling. Verse 11 notes, “And that is what some of you were. 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.”
As in Romans 1, homosexuality is called out but not elevated above other sins. And again, Paul stresses that the Corinthian Christians have been forgiven and set apart from their old ways of life. They should not slip back into the sins from which Christ has freed them.
1 Timothy 1:8-11
Here Paul writes, “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine…”
He again includes homosexuality in a list of sins that characterize the lawless. But he also makes clear that the law was laid down for sinners and that he himself was the “foremost” of sinners who found mercy in Christ (1 Timothy 1:12-17).
Principles for Sexuality in the Bible
In addition to specific commands against homosexual practice, Scripture communicates broad principles for sexuality and marriage that inform a biblical view of this topic:
1. Sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage relationship between a man and woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6).
The Creator established marriage between male and female at the beginning and intended it to be an exclusive covenant between the two. All sexual activity outside of marriage distorts God’s good design for sex.
2. Lust is equated with adultery, even for those who are heterosexually married (Matthew 5:27-28).
All sexual immorality involves lustful desire that comes from within, not just external behavior. Marital fidelity encompasses both outward faithfulness and inner purity of thought.
3. God’s standard of morality reflects His character and design for human flourishing (1 Peter 1:14-16, Romans 12:2).
Commands against practices like homosexuality are not arbitrary but flow out of God’s nature and His beautiful purposes for humanity. Ways of living that suppress the truth and result in brokenness displease God (Romans 1:18).
4. Celibacy is an acceptable option for Christians (1 Corinthians 7:7).
Marriage is the expected pattern for most, but both Jesus and Paul honored singleness as a way to serve God without distraction. This offers latitude for those unable to marry.
The biblical sexual ethic upholds sex within a marriage between a man and woman as the ideal. It places boundaries around sexual activity for all people, applicable both inside and outside of marriage. Same-sex relations clearly violate Scripture’s standards.
How Should Christians Respond?
Given the Bible’s assessment of homosexuality, faithful Christians should avoid condemning or shaming those who identify as gay or lesbian. They can humbly hold to convictions about God’s design for sexuality while showing gentleness, patience, and grace towards others. Christians can stand firmly for truth yet plead for mercy for all.
Additionally, all human beings have inherent worth as image-bearers of God. Christians should defend the dignity and welfare of those in the LGBTQ community. They can promote civility and respect in this heated cultural debate. And they can celebrate and affirm shared values such as justice, compassion, diversity, and human rights.
Above all, Christians are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). They can balance strong convictions about sexuality with care, nuance, and wisdom. The church must uphold God’s standards and lead by sacrificial example more than legislated morality. Christians can thoughtfully engage objections and questions around this sensitive topic.
Finally, Christians hold out forgiveness and redemption in Christ. They can make it clear that a gay lifestyle is no worse than other sins, and that homosexual desires do not preclude someone from receiving God’s transforming grace. Christ offers new life to all who repent and believe in Him.
Common Objections
There are several common objections raised to the biblical view outlined above. Here are responses to some key arguments:
1. The biblical authors had no concept of sexual orientation, so their prohibitions should not apply to consensual gay relationships today.
It is true that the modern notion of sexual orientation was unfamiliar in biblical times. The authors make no distinction between homosexuality rooted in orientation vs behavior. However, they understood and prohibited all same-sex relations, regardless of motives or causes behind those desires.
Scripture places boundaries around all sexual activity, not just that driven by lust or violence. The male-female requirement in marriage, for example, excludes modern consensual polygamy or polyamory despite any emotional attachment.
2. Most references to homosexuality in Scripture are in the context of rape, abuse, idolatry, or excess. Committed gay partnerships do not match those abusive dynamics.
All forms of homosexual practice were grouped under one prohibition in the ancient world. However, nothing suggests the biblical authors would have viewed consensual same-sex activity differently. The requirement of opposite genders is universal and not confined to certain contexts.
It is difficult to separate loving homosexual relationships from lustful or predatory ones in Scripture, because no positive examples of the former appear. However, the Bible praises love and intimacy between husband and wife which can be applied to same-sex couples.
3. Modern committed partnerships between two people of the same sex did not exist at the time these verses were written. We can’t know if the authors would have approved.
This is certainly true. Long-term homosexual relationships were almost nonexistent (or very hidden) in the ancient Mediterranean world. Same-sex behavior normally occurred in the contexts already mentioned.
However, we know enough of the biblical ethic to conclude with confidence that exclusive unions of two men or two women would have been condemned. The gender difference in marriage is thoroughly embedded in Scripture’s assumptions.
4. Jesus never directly addressed homosexuality, so we should not treat this issue with the same importance or certainty as other sins described in the New Testament.
Jesus did not explicitly mention many moral issues that Christians take clear stances on, including incest, child abuse, and domestic violence. His teachings clearly upheld the Old Testament and its categories of sexual ethics. The rest of the New Testament corroborates this approach.
However, this is a fair point against Christians who fixate on homosexuality above all other issues. The Bible does not place special weight on it relative to other sexual sins. In fact, Jesus reserved His strongest condemnations for self-righteous religious leaders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homosexuality represents one way in which humans distort God’s good design for sex and marriage. The Bible consistently prohibits all sexual activity outside of male-female marriage. This would include consensual same-sex unions, even those characterized by commitment, fidelity, and love.
Same-sex intimacy does not uniquely cut someone off from God’s grace. Christians should renounce homophobia or violence against gay people, while continuing to uphold chastity for all outside of marriage. They can engage this issue with wisdom, patience, and compassion even when deeply disagreeing.
Ultimately, Christians believe that human flourishing comes through embracing God’s purposes while recognizing our brokenness and need for a Savior. They invite all people into God’s transformative love.