What does the bible say exactly about homosexuality?

Answer 1

Before I answer your question, I am going to provide you with an illustration that pertains to this very subject of homosexuality. It is so easy for us to give our own opinions about whether homosexuality is okay. However, who are we, as imperfect humans, to give our opinion about something that has been occurring long before our very existence? Therefore, here is some background information along with scriptures regarding this practice.

There are many who profess to represent the Bible, but speak out in favor of homosexuality. For example, “Father” Henry Fehren says in U.S. Catholic magazine that anti-homosexual views have been “based on misinterpretations of stray Biblical texts written for another age and culture.” Echoing his words is Günter Hintze, a Lutheran Evangelical priest in Augustenborg, Denmark: “The Bible’s view on this matter cannot have any validity for us today.” Jewish rabbi Philip Horowitz recently said in Cleveland, Ohio: “The modern homosexual would resent the fact that his behavior is considered immoral.”

However, why do these men turn away from the Bible? Notice, again, what they say: the Bible is for “another age,” and is not “modern” or “for us today.” The bible is considered out-of-date for use in dealing with this problem. Is that the case? Fair-minded people like you are interested in the scripture that pertains to the stand on homosexuality.

True, the Bible is a very old book. However, that of itself does not disqualify it as a guide on personal moral matters like homosexuality; quite the opposite is the case. The Bible’s very age contributes to its value as a moral guide. How?

Well, for one thing, people are essentially the same now as they have ever been. Regardless of the time period when they lived, men have had the same basic physical and emotional needs. Logically, if the Bible is the Word of God by which men and women should direct their lives, is it not understandable that it would have a long history? Certainly. Thus, the Bible’s age is a factor in its favor and lends weight to what it says on homosexuality.
The Bible is not oblivious to homosexual practices. Such things are specifically referred to several times in the scriptures. For instance; we read at Romans 1:26, 27 (New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips:

“God therefore handed them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged the normal practices of sexual intercourse for something, which is abnormal and unnatural. Similarly the men, turning from natural intercourse with women, were swept into lustful passions for one another." But thereafter, most importantly, it accurately details the effects of homosexuality:

"Men with men performed these shameful horrors, receiving, of course, in their own personalities the consequences of sexual perversity."

The Bible accurately depicts the results of this practice. However, why do these adverse traits appear in “their own personalities?” The apostle Paul says it is because they engage in that which is “abnormal and unnatural.” Advocates of homosexuality say that what makes something “natural” or “unnatural” is purely subjective, and is a matter that must be decided by each person for himself. However, is that really the case?

Read this part carefully. Is it not obvious to virtually all persons that male and female are counterparts, opposites sexually? Is it not apparent that their sex organs were designed to “fit” together? Here are more scriptures to support your question:

Leviticus 18:22: “And you must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing.”

Deuteronomy 23:17, 18: “None of the daughters of Israel may become a temple prostitute, neither may anyone of the sons of Israel become a temple prostitute. You must not bring the hire of a harlot or the price of a dog into the house of Jehovah your God for any vow, because they are something detestable to Jehovah your God, even both of them.”

1 Kings 14:24: “And even the male temple prostitute proved to be in the land. They acted according to all the detestable things of the nations whom Jehovah had driven out from before the sons of Israel.”

Rom. 1:26-28: “That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature; and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.”

1 Corinthians 6:9: “What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men.”

Jude 7: “So too Sod′om and Go•mor′rah and the cities about them, after they in the same manner as the foregoing ones had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use, are placed before [us] as a [warning] example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire.”

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally [an intensive form of por•neu′o] and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." (RSV) For what type of 'immorality' or por•nei′a were those at Sodom and Gomorrah condemned?

The Bible narrative at Genesis 19:4, 5 answers: “The men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob. And they kept calling out to Lot and saying to him: 'Where are the men who came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intercourse with them.”

These men of Sodom and Gomorrah were homosexuals. In fact, the English word "sodomy," which particularly means 'intercourse between two men,' is drawn from the name of the city of Sodom. The Bible would call their sin por•nei′a. Jesus said por•nei′a was so wrong morally that it was a basis for severing the marriage bond.

Biblically speaking, the matter is quite clear, is it not? The Bible just plainly shows that homosexuality is wrong. The Scriptures are thus consistent, not just showing the bad effects of this practice, but also properly condemning what produces those ill effects.

Source(s):

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

August 15, 1974 Watchtower Magazine
Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses
Homosexuality—Is the Bible’s View Reasonable?
Pages 483-485

Answer 2

After intense study, the Bible does not say anything about homosexuals. It does condemn certain homosexual acts (mainly dealing with temple prostitution -- the phrase "as with a woman" indicates this), but that's about it. In fact it condemns far more heterosexual acts than it does homosexual ones. For example, a man should not have sex with a woman on her period (see Leviticus 20:18), and if they do they should be exiled.

Answer 3

Some people say that because God loves everyone, he doesn't care if someones gay. The first part about God loving everyone is true, but they second part is false. Yes, God does love everyone, even gay people. God also cares if someone's gay. Check it out for yourself in Leviticus 18:22. Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin. This doesn't mean that God won't help or forgive a person who practices homosexuality, or that we shouldn't love that person. However, it does mean that if we agree with God, we will agree that it's not OK to live a gay life.

Answer 4

The Bible says that homosexuality is an abomination. However, in the same section it also refers to wearing clothes made of two different types of thread, touching a woman who is on her period, and farming on Saturday as "abominations". Evangelical "homophobics" tend to leave out the other things though.

Answer 5

It also says he who with out sin cast the first stone......It also states we should not judge others...it is up to themselves to decide on what is right for them...not some book that has been over translated to fit some close minded peoples opinions...perversion is man with animals or children...not loving someone......

Answer 6

Lev 18:22

Answer 7

A man shall not lay with another man as he would with a woman, except in the case that the man is wearing assless chaps, worships Liza Minelli and has a fabulous lisp.

Answer 8

Well older version, they condemned or homosexuality is a big sin.

Since now, most pastors, priests are homos, so they change and made the new addition that homosexuality is not a big sin.

Answer 9

Romans 1:24-27...homosexuality is a sin that you choose

Answer 10

Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination." In other words, don't lie with a man the same way you would with a woman.

Answer 11

Romans 1-17 NIV For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
18. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19. since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23. and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural 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 indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
29. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30. slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31. they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Hope this helps there are more but this seems to explain it though. Peace and God bless