Where Does The Bible Say That Homosexuality Is A Sin
The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are many passages we have not included below. But here are a few of the more relevant ones from each testament:
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.
Romans 1:2627 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.
1 Corinthians 6:911 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.
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Gods Love To The Sinner
Before we answer the question: Where in the Bible does it say that homosexuality is a sin, you need to know that although God hates sin, He loves the sinner to the point of death. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting .
Does The Bible Endorse Homosexuality
I am not gay, have no family members who are, and have no experience with this lifestyle. So who am I to judge? Why dont we just let consenting adults do what they wish so long as no one else is hurt?
Many in our society take this approach to the subject, whatever their own sexual preferences might be. To do otherwise seems to be intolerant and judgmental, two words our postmodern, relativistic society condemns.
On the other hand, believers and those interested in the Christian faith do well to ask what Gods word says to every subject present in our culture. An objective reading of history and Scripture will inform our faith and make it more relevant to our problems and issues. For many paragraphs, weve considered such a survey. Now lets summarize what weve found and ask how it all applies to our lives and relationships.
We have surveyed the seven passages typically cited with regard to this issue.
In Genesis 19, we find the attempt by men in Sodom to have sex with Lots angelic visitors and Gods consequent punishment against the city. While homosexual practice is clearly part of the text, the passage is less clear as to whether Gods judgment is against homosexuality itself or the crowds abusive attempt to commit homosexual rape.
Next, we found Leviticus 18:22, with its clear prohibition against homosexual activity, and Leviticus 20:13, with its prescription of the death penalty for such activity.
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Does The Sin Of Sodom Condemn Homosexuality
The Supreme Court made history on June 27, 2003, when it struck down the sodomy laws of the state of Texas. In a 6-3 decision, the justices reversed course from a ruling seventeen years ago that states could punish homosexuals for private consensual sex. Such activity is typically called sodomy because of the text well study today.
In a survey of passages typically cited on the divisive issue of homosexuality, Genesis 19 and the sin of Sodom is usually listed first. Lot entertained two angels who came to the city to investigate its sins. These angels appeared as men. Before they went to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodomboth young and oldsurrounded the house. They called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them . For such sin, the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah , destroying them.
Is this text a condemnation of homosexuality?
Dr. Walter Wink believes not: That was a case of ostensibly heterosexual males intent on humiliating strangers by treating them like women, thus demasculinizing them . However, Dr. Wink offers no textual evidence that the men were ostensibly heterosexual. His view is only conjectural and stands against the vast majority of interpretation across the centuries.
What The New Testament Says About Homosexuality
Volume 21-3May-June 2008
Mainline Christian denominations in this country are bitterly divided over the question of homosexuality. For this reason it is important to ask what light, if any, the New Testament sheds on this controversial issue. Most people apparently assume that the New Testament expresses strong opposition to homosexuality, but this simply is not the case. The six propositions that follow, considered cumulatively, lead to the conclusion that the New Testament does not provide any direct guidance for understanding and making judgments about homosexuality in the modern world.
There are a number of passages in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament that have been interpreted as involving same-sex sexual acts and desires. The passages about homosexuality in the Hebrew Bible start as early as the Torah . Several scriptures in the New Testament also reference homosexuality, including the Gospel in the books of Matthew, Luke, and various letters from Saint Paul to the early churches in Asia Minor.
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What Do Jehovahs Witnesses Believe
Jehovahs Witnesses believe that the Bibles moral code is the best standard for living, and they choose to abide by that code. This means that Jehovahs Witnesses reject all sexual misconduct, including homosexuality. That is the Witnesses lifestyle choice, and they have a right to it.
Jehovahs Witnesses strive to follow the Golden Rule by treating others the way they themselves would like to be treated
At the same time, Jehovahs Witnesses strive to pursue peace with all people. While they reject homosexual acts, Jehovahs Witnesses do not force their view on others, nor do they participate in homophobic hate crimes or rejoice when they hear of them. Jehovahs Witnesses strive to follow the Golden Rule by treating others the way they themselves would like to be treated.Matthew 7:12.
First A Translation Does Not Determine Meaning But Is A Reflection Of The Translator Understanding Of A Text Conveyed Through The Capacity Of A Target Language
This is a very important point at every level. Every translation is ultimately an interpretation by the translator, but it is also limited by the target language. Anybody who knows more than one language understands this. Each language has its own idiosyncrasies, common vocabulary, and idioms which must be accounted for. Most languages do not represent ideas in the same ways.
With regard to Bible translation specifically, there are plenty of examples where Bible translations convey a meaning which is not exactly in line with the original meaning of the Greek or Hebrew. For example, the use of James instead of Jacob in the NT, or even the KJVs use of Appearance in 1 Thessalonians 5:22. In other words, translation is not a simple issue, and there will often be differences in how translations are done.
I would argue the idea of using a particular word in a translation is less important than the question of meaning. Ultimately, the most important question to ask is, what does the text mean. In other words, what did the author mean when he wrote the original words in Greek or Hebrew. Our translations are supposed to be a window through which we can discern that answer, but translations can be imperfect . Regardless, the most important question relates to meaning of the original text. The issue of word choice in a target language is secondary because words change and develop in the target language over time.
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Will Homosexuals Go To Heaven
- As mentioned in the Interpretation and Questions section above, these verses have been translated from the original Greek into English in various ways, and there are uncertainties about which specific homosexual practices are intended.
- As stated in verse 11 of , all these sins are sins that God will forgive if a person repents.
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Jesus’ Discussion Of Marriage
In Matthew 19:3, Jesus is asked “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He answered that:
“Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’ , and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Rob Gagnon, an associate professor of New Testament studies, argues it is “obvious” that Jesus’ back-to-back references to Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 show that he “presupposed a two-sex requirement for marriage” even though the question he was being asked was about a contemporary dispute about whether married couples could divorce.
Interestingly, still in response to the question in Matthew 19:3, Jesus speaks further and discusses a class he calls ‘eunuchs’, which would seem to be a reference to something more than simply those who have removed their testicles or external genitalia or been born without such:
But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
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Homosexuality: One Parishioners Perspective
Some Christians say that The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is an abomination to God. As a Christian, I have to admit that until recently I had never thoroughly explored the Biblical position on homosexuality. I decided to review the topic of homosexuality in The Bible in order to get a better perspective on why some Christians find homosexuality so troubling. In my review, I found that the word homosexual does not appear in the Bible. The word homosexual first was used in the English language during the eighteenth century.
Seek The Intended Meaning Of The Bible
And so I must begin with an interpretive word.
When I taught principles of biblical interpretation at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I often told my students, The Bible can never mean what it never meant. We must seek the intended meaning of the text as understood in its original context.
I also said often, The only word God is obligated to bless is his word. What matters to us today is not my opinions or yours, but Gods.
Such a position is not held universally on this subject.
For instance, Dr. Walter Wink states in his thoughtful booklet, Homosexuality and the Bible, Where the Bible mentions homosexual behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct .
Dr. Wink then compares homosexuality to the issue of slavery: he argues that the Bible condones slavery, states that the Bible was wrong on that subject, and concludes that it is equally wrong on the issue before us .
I greatly respect Dr. Winks enormous contributions to New Testament studies, especially on the subjects of spiritual warfare and nonviolence. But I could not disagree more strongly with his assertion, The issue is precisely whether that Biblical judgment is correct.
For my purposes, the only question well seek to answer is: What does the Bible intend to teach on this subject?
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Homosexuality In The Hebrew Bible
The bible addresses the act of two people of the same sex having a relationship, but it does so differently to sociey.
Its important to undertsand the bible doesnt assume that a person is homosexual because of their behaviours alone, as the world does.
For example if two people of the same sex have a non physical relationship, theyre not automatically categorised as being homosexuals.
The bible tells us how we should act as men and as women.
So lets deal with these two things i.e. behaviour and sexual relations.
Proposition : Two Of The Three Passages That Possibly Refer To Homosexuality Are Simply More
1 Corinthians 6:910 says that certain types of people will not inherit the kingdom of God. The list of such people begins with fornicators, idolaters, and adulterers, and it ends with thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers. Near the middlebetween adulterers and thievesare the two Greek words translated in the New Revised Standard Version as male prostitutes and sodomites. But no special emphasis is placed on these people they are simply listed along with the others. Similarly, 1 Timothy 1:811 says that the law was given not for good people but for bad people, and it then provides a list, giving representative examples of who these bad people might be. Included in the listthis time near the end but again without any special emphasisis the Greek word translated in the New Revised Standard Version as sodomites. In both texts, such people are mentioned simply in passing, in more-or-less miscellaneous catalogues of unacceptable behaviors, but with no special emphasis or attention called to them.
Group B is where they putcha if you may not be moral enough to join the army after committin your special crime. There was all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly-lookin people on the bench there. There was mother rapers . . . father stabbers . . . father rapers . . . Father rapers! sittin right there on the bench next to me!
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Q11 How Should Christians Treat People In Same Sex Relationships
We should treat them with the same love and grace that God has shown to us. All of us are sinners. Our sins may vary, but it is all rebellion against God. We have been and are being rescued from sin. That should allow us of all people to be able to relate with compassion and true care. The love of Jesus did not leave people where they were, but it did meet them there.
Christians should not expect those who are not believers in Jesus to live like they were followers of Him . While we may not condone sin or become involved with it , we should pursue friendships with all people like Christ did. There is no room for partiality, disdain, disrespect, or unkindness. There is only plenty of room for showing the same grace of God that we are receiving.
Christians should help those who are believers to live like followers of Him. Growth is a lifelong process. The kinds of issues believers struggle with varies from person to person and at different times in life. Regardless, we should continually be available to assist, disciple, encourage, counsel, challenge, and rebuke as needed. This availability should be throughout the course of our lives and involvements with each other. For the one claiming to be a Christian and persisting in living this way the normal process of church discipline should be exercised . In this way, homosexuality is no different than any other persistent sin. In all of this our actions must be done with humility and in love .
God Is The Highest Authority
Our personalities, inclinations, reactions, orientations, viewpoints, opinions etc. are complex. Some of these are hardwired in our genes, whereas others are influenced by our environment, circumstances, education, upbringing, and other factors.
Societies, cultures and norms are continuously changing and evolving, but God and His Word and the Spirit in the Word remain unchanged. When God specifically forbade homosexual activity and other sexual immorality, it wasnt because He was unenlightened, naïve, or intolerant. The law was given because people had strayed from His original purpose and blessing. What was immoral by Gods standards then has not become moral today just because the majority tolerates and accepts it.
We are fortunate in this day and age that human rights and freedoms have been in focus, clamping down on oppression, abuse and injustice. Every person has the right to choose their own faith, outlook on life and way of life, and that must be respected. However, if we want to live as believing Christians, Gods Word cannot be ignored. The Bible gives us many promises, but also conditions, for a good and happy life. God is our Creator, and it is only His will, as expressed in the Bible, that is unchanging and perfect in time and eternity.
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People Claim The Bible Was Intentionally Translated Wrong The Original Never Mentioned Homosexuality
History can often be one-sided and deceitful, and its not often what really happened thats written in history books. As the old saying goes, history is written by the winners after all, so its easy to use it as a tool for manipulation.
The original ideas often get lost in translation to make a place for rewrites and translations which would suit the current tide, and this is especially the case for a book that has originally been written 2700 years ago.
As it turns out, this is what happened with the word homosexuality in the Bible. For example, many people claim that this word wasnt added in the Bible until 1946, and it causes quite a stir among people.
Some have decided to take it to social media to point out the wrong translations in the Bible, and you can check out what Tumblr users posted on the issue below.
The posts found their way on Reddit, where people had a lot to say about the use of the word in the Bible and how it was used by Christians to share their propaganda.