What does the bible say about homosexuality?

Question

I was recently listening to a podcast and the preacher said that he has looked through the entire bible and could not find anywhere where it says that homosexuality was a sin.

Where does the bible stand on this? What verses talk about it?

Answer 1

There's an entire Wikipedia post regarding this subject. (Thus it's my source as it's easily referenced.)

1

Leviticus 20:13 is the first:

13 “‘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.

2

Genesis 18-19 has the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, where homosexuality was a big part of their culture. The town was destroyed for their wickedness.

Genesis 19:4-5
4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 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.”

Ezekiel even talks about this event here:

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

These verses clearly state that Sodom was destroyed because of they were haughty and did detestable things. While Ezekiel isn't clear which detestable things were done, the Genesis account only indicates rampant homosexuality (possibly alluding to public, homosexual orgies) as the cause for this phrase "detestable things".

This also echos the Leviticus scripture showing that God finds homosexuality detestable.

Looking at the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, we have to either conclude it was homosexuality that was detestable, or something that was not written about. But why would Moses have included homosexuality in Genesis if it weren't the "detestable thing" for which God was destroying the city? In fact, if it wasn't one of the primary reasons for God destroying the cities, why write about it at all? It simply becomes another attribute of the city.

It's hard (if not impossible) to separate the destruction of Sodom from the concept of homosexuality.

3

In the New Testament, there is Romans 1:26-27

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 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.

Then there's 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1 Timothy 1:8–10, which refer to sexual sin on a more general basis. Those previous three are pretty solid references, though.

Answer 2

In addition to Richard's post, it's important to keep Acts 15 in mind.

The clearest and most unambiguous prohibitions against homosexual acts in the Bible come from the Law of Moses. It's frequently pointed out that the Law was fulfilled in Christ and Christians aren't expected to be held to its many precepts and prohibitions, such as being forbidden to mix different types of fabric together in the same garment or various other precepts that are brought up to make the whole thing sound ridiculous and antiquated.

But in Acts 15, the apostles and elders hold a formal council about what should be done with regards to the Law, and how much of it Gentile converts should be expected to abide by. The final decision, which explicitly claims divine approval in verse 28, is that most of the Law doesn't matter anymore, as it was fulfilled in Christ, but the prohibitions on idol worship, fornication, (a general term for all sexual sins, including homosexual acts,) and the eating of blood are still in full force and ought to be observed by all Christians.

Answer 3

Many people like to have some kind of sin not categorized as sin. This question about Homosexuality is repeatedly asked by many, But bible clearly says that Homosexulal or Men having sex with Men will not enter in to the Kingdom of God. I also do not understand why no one refers to this passage written by Paul, which gives maximum clarity

Read 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 carefully in any of the popular versions of the Bible.

NIV:

9 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 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

ESV:

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[b] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[c] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

ASV:

9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

NCV:

9-10 Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob—these people will not inherit God's kingdom.

NKJV:

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Here: The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.

Answer 4

Relative to the amount of attention homosexuality as a sin gets among Western Christians, the Bible has comparatively little to say on the subject. For instance, greed is condemned loudly and often in the Bible. So is hypocrisy. Jesus compared anger to murder.

But there are very clear warnings and even condemnations of people who practice homosexuality. Paul says:

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.—Romans 1:26-27 (ESV)

There can be little doubt that Paul is referring to consensual homosexual acts of both the male and female variety. A little later, he provides a more comprehensive list of sinful behavior:

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.—Romans 1:28-32 (ESV)

In the rest of the letter, Paul makes clear that the punishment for any sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that all of us sin (Romans 3:23). In terms of eternal consequences, homosexual acts are in the same category as, say, gossip. That is to say, it's a sin worthy of death. Thankfully, God provided a way out:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.—Romans 8:1 (ESV)

---

John Piper did a two-part sermon on this passage that changed my views completely. Here is one of his conclusions:

The deepest problem of our lives, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is the terrible exchange of the glory of God for images (verse 23). The exchange of the truth of God for a lie (verse 25). The disapproval of having God in our knowledge (verse 28). Failed worship is our worst disorder. This is beneath all the maladies of the world. Repairing this, not first our disordered sexuality, is our main business in life.

Answer 5

Over the Centuries, people who misunderstood the Bible have done terrible things that have left a trail of suffering, bloodshed and death. The Bible has been used to defend bloody crusades, slavery, apartheid, and segregation, to persecute Jews and to support the KKK and deny science that proved the world was round as the Bible Scholars pointed to the scripture that say God put the heavens above and the earth below so it can't be round.

I am sorry that you refuse to read your Bible with an open mind and with God leading. Most people prefer to believe as you do because they don't understand gays and don't like "what they do."

I would like for you to correct me on my comments where the Bible tells us that rape is the same as same sex? Or that it was not Rape that was taking place in the the referred too scriptures noted in the Bible. Like I mentioned God knows how to bring a precevied to be Christian down. I Know because I was there before HE handed be a three year old adopted little girl with gig burns on her arms because he cried about wearing pink shoestrings, hid in the bedroom because she was ashamed of her hair bow and begged to be a boy. She didn't understand why her "mommy wouldn't let her."

All I can say to you is that I feel sorry for you. Your Bible doesn't say what mine does and I guess people like you would not want this sort of a post. It goes against your misinterpretation of the word homosexual. Some day you will beg forgiveness...I did!