It is the question that has torn apart denominations, ended family dinners, and filled library shelves for decades. Honestly, if you grew up in a traditional church, you probably think you already know the answer. You might have been told it’s an open-and-shut case. But when people ask, "does the bible talk about gays," they are usually looking for a "yes" or "no" that simply doesn't exist in the way we want it to.
The Bible doesn't actually have a word for "homosexuality" in the sense we use it today—meaning a fixed internal orientation toward the same sex. That's a 19th-century psychological concept. The biblical authors were looking at specific behaviors within a very different cultural context. To understand what’s actually on the page, we have to look at the Hebrew and Greek, the history of the Roman Empire, and even some pretty weird stuff involving angels and salt.
The Old Testament: Sodom, Levites, and Context
Let’s start with the big one. Most people point straight to Sodom and Gomorrah. It's the "origin story" for a lot of religious pushback. But if you actually read Ezekiel 16:49, the Bible defines the sin of Sodom itself. It says their sin was pride, gluttony, and a failure to help the poor and needy. The story in Genesis 19 is about attempted gang rape and a total violation of ancient Near Eastern hospitality. It’s a far cry from a committed, loving relationship between two guys.
Then you have Leviticus. Specifically Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These are the verses that call same-sex acts an "abomination." It sounds harsh. It sounds final. But scholars like Dr. David Gushee and Dr. James Brownson point out that the Hebrew word used here, to’evah, is usually about ritual impurity or things that are "un-Jewish" rather than something that is inherently evil for all people at all times. Think of it this way: the same book forbids wearing polyester blends or eating shrimp. Does that mean those things are "sins" for Christians today? Most people say no.
The context here was the "Holiness Code." The Israelites were a small tribe trying to stay distinct from the Canaanites and Egyptians. In those cultures, same-sex acts were often tied to pagan temple rituals or power dynamics where a superior shamed an inferior. It wasn't about "gays" in the modern sense; it was about protecting the Israelite identity from outside religious practices.
Paul and the New Testament "Clobber Verses"
When we move into the New Testament, things get even more complicated. The Apostle Paul mentions same-sex behavior in three main places: Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, and 1 Timothy 1.
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In Romans 1, Paul describes people "exchanging" their natural use for that which is against nature. For a long time, this was read as a blanket condemnation. But look at the history of the 1st century. In the Roman world, sex was about power. Men of high status would often sleep with male slaves or boys. This wasn't about love; it was about dominance. When Paul talks about "nature," he is likely operating under a Stoic worldview where anything that wasn't for procreation was seen as a loss of self-control.
Then there are the "Greek words from hell": malakoi and arsenokoitai. You’ll find these in the lists of people who won't inherit the kingdom of God.
- Malakoi literally means "soft." In the ancient world, it was a slur for men who were "effeminate" or lacked self-discipline—it could even refer to a guy who liked expensive clothes too much.
- Arsenokoitai is a word Paul seems to have made up himself, combining the Greek words for "male" and "bed."
Because Paul basically coined the term, translators have struggled for 2,000 years to figure out exactly what he meant. Was he talking about male prostitutes? Pederasts? People who exploited others? The first time the word "homosexual" ever appeared in an English Bible was in the Revised Standard Version in 1946. Before that, these verses were often translated to mean "sexual perverts" or "boy-molesters."
The Great Translation Debate
Translations aren't neutral. They are interpretations. If you grew up with the King James Version, you’re reading 17th-century English sensibilities. If you use the NIV, you’re reading a specific evangelical perspective.
The shift in 1946 was massive. By swapping specific terms for a broad category like "homosexuality," translators inadvertently changed how millions of people viewed the text. It took a specific identity and made it a "sin" in a way the original authors likely never intended. This is why many modern scholars, like those at the Reformation Project, argue that the Bible doesn't talk about gays as we know them today at all. It talks about exploitation, lust, and pagan rituals.
What About David and Jonathan?
It’s not all "thou shalt nots." There are sections of the Bible that people often use to show a different side of same-sex intimacy. Take David and Jonathan. In 2 Samuel 1:26, David says of Jonathan, "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." They made a covenant. They wept together. They kissed.
Now, was this a "gay" relationship? Most traditional scholars say no, it was just "heroic friendship." But many LGBTQ+ Christians find a lot of comfort here. It shows that the Bible leaves room for deep, soul-level intimacy between people of the same gender that is celebrated by God.
Then there’s the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth’s vow—"Where you go, I will go"—is used in countless weddings today. It was originally a vow from one woman to another. While these aren't explicit endorsements of "being gay," they show that the biblical narrative is much wider and more inclusive than the "clobber passages" suggest.
Looking at the "Big Picture" Theology
If you zoom out, the Bible is a library, not a single book. It was written over 1,500 years by dozens of authors. If you want to find a verse to justify something, you probably can. People used the Bible to justify slavery for centuries. They used it to keep women from voting or preaching.
The question isn't just "does the bible talk about gays," but "how does the overall message of the Bible apply to LGBTQ+ people?"
Many theologians argue that the "trajectory" of the Bible is always toward more inclusion. You see it with the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. In the Old Testament, eunuchs were excluded from the assembly. But in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit leads Philip to baptize him immediately. No questions asked. No "change your identity first." He was accepted exactly as he was.
The Practical Reality of Faith Today
So, where does that leave you? If you’re a person of faith trying to reconcile your identity with the text, or if you’re just someone trying to understand the debate, here are the facts:
- The Bible is silent on sexual orientation. The concept of "orientation" didn't exist in the ancient world.
- Translations matter. Many modern Bibles use the word "homosexual" where the original Greek was much more specific and focused on exploitation.
- Context is king. You cannot understand Leviticus or Paul without understanding the pagan cultures they were reacting against.
- Theology is evolving. Just as the church changed its mind on slavery and the role of women, millions of Christians now believe that the Bible supports loving, monogamous same-sex relationships.
Living in this tension is hard. It’s okay to acknowledge that the Bible is a complex, ancient text that doesn't always give us the 21st-century answers we want. But it’s also important to remember that the core of the New Testament is love, grace, and the breaking down of barriers.
Next Steps for Deeper Understanding
If you want to move beyond the surface level, stop looking for single-verse proof texts and start looking at the history.
- Read the original context: Use a tool like Blue Letter Bible to look up the Greek and Hebrew words for yourself.
- Explore different perspectives: Read God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines for an affirming view, and compare it with traditionalist views to see where the actual linguistic disagreements lie.
- Look at church history: Study how the 1946 translation change happened. There is a great documentary called 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture that digs into the archives of the RSV translation committee.
- Focus on the Fruit: Jesus said you will know a tree by its fruit. Look at the lives of LGBTQ+ Christians. If their lives produce love, joy, peace, and patience, that tells you something about their relationship with the Divine that a single verse from Leviticus might not capture.
The Bible is a living text. It has been used as a weapon, but it has also been a source of liberation. The way you read it depends entirely on the lens of love you bring to the page.
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