What is the Bible's stance on homosexuality?

1. Foundational Context of Human Sexuality

According to the biblical narrative, human sexuality is designed within the created order of male and female. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” This depiction forms the basis for the biblical understanding of marriage and sexual intimacy, further clarified in Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” These verses establish a pattern of man-woman union as normative in Scripture for sexual relationships, setting the backdrop for any subsequent teaching on sexual ethics.

2. Old Testament Passages Addressing Homosexual Acts

The Law of Moses includes several explicit references to homosexual behavior. Leviticus 18:22 states, “You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.” While the term “abomination” (Hebrew: tôʿēbah) can refer to various acts violating the covenant purity codes, the moral weight of this passage indicates that such behavior is not condoned. Leviticus 20:13 reiterates this prohibition in a legal context for Israel, linking homosexual acts to other sexual transgressions that contravene the holiness code.

Archaeological excavations near the proposed sites of Sodom and Gomorrah (traditionally identified around the southern edge of the Dead Sea) have uncovered evidence that regions once inhabited there underwent catastrophic destruction by intense fire or geological upheaval. While scholarly debate continues over the precise cause, Genesis 19 narrates the grave moral breakdown of those cities, including an attempt at same-sex coercion (Genesis 19:4–5). The narrative consistently portrays such actions as contrary to God’s design, though it also underscores that multiple forms of wickedness were rampant there.

3. New Testament Affirmations

The New Testament addresses homosexual acts directly on multiple occasions, emphasizing continuity with Old Testament principles and broadening to include the redeeming love offered to all sinners.

3.1 Romans 1:26–27

Romans 1:26–27 states, “For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Here, homosexual conduct is presented as part of humanity’s willful departure from reverence for God. The broader context of Romans 1 includes a list of varied sins, portraying this behavior as one example of a deeper spiritual estrangement.

3.2 1 Corinthians 6:9–11

In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, a series of sinful lifestyle patterns are listed: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” The subsequent verse in 6:11 declares hope and transformation: “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.” This highlights the biblical perspective that all sin, including sexual sin, can be redeemed through Christ.

3.3 1 Timothy 1:9–10

1 Timothy 1:9–10 also groups “those who practice homosexuality” (as rendered in many translations of the Greek term “arsenokoitai”) alongside other ways people depart from God’s moral law. The context speaks to the need for a standard of righteousness consistent with sound teaching.

4. Consideration of Scriptural Consistency

Across the Old and New Testament, passages dealing with homosexual acts reflect a consistent viewpoint: these acts lie outside the boundary of what Scripture presents as morally permissible. The biblical texts frequently place homosexual practices in lists of sins or among examples of human rebellion. It is important to note these passages do not single out homosexuality to the exclusion of other behaviors that Scripture deems sinful; rather, they place it within the full scope of moral teachings on sexuality.

From a manuscript perspective, ancient Greek Papyrus fragments (such as P46, containing large portions of Pauline Epistles, dated around AD 175–225) confirm the wording of key passages (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6 and Romans 1). This consistency in transmission lends weight to the conclusion that the biblical statements on homosexual acts are neither incidental nor scribal errors but reflect the authors’ original intent.

5. Theological Implications and Redemption

Scripture’s overarching theme is reconciliation between God and humankind. Whether addressing sexual sins, dishonesty, or other violations of divine law, the Bible consistently calls all people to trust in Christ’s redeeming work. As 1 Corinthians 6:11 underscores, believers who once engaged in various sins have been made new. This implies that while the Bible identifies homosexual acts as sinful, it also affirms that each person can find forgiveness and renewal in Christ.

6. Pastoral Concerns and Love for All People

Biblical teaching values every individual as created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Throughout Jesus’ ministry, people from every walk of life—regardless of their particular sins—were invited to repentance and a restored relationship with God. John 3:16 declares: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Believers are instructed to walk in love toward others (Romans 13:8–10), fostering compassion and humility while maintaining convictions about biblical truth.

7. Wider Observations on Historical and Cultural Context

In various historical documents from both the Greco-Roman world and ancient Near East, moral norms regarding sexuality often differed drastically from those found in Scripture. Greek and Roman literature, such as the works of Plato and later Roman historians like Suetonius, reflect practices that conflicted with Jewish and Christian teachings. Early Christians, guided by the apostles, upheld distinct sexual ethics amidst these cultural pressures.

Archaeological and historical confirmation—such as the lifestyles in Corinth known from Greco-Roman records—demonstrate the prevalence of multiple forms of sexual expression, including homosexual relationships. Yet 1 Corinthians reveals that early believers stood out by embracing a transformed way of life, illustrating the countercultural nature of biblical teaching on sexuality.

8. Conclusion

Within the biblical canon, homosexual acts are consistently presented as outside the created order and subject to moral prohibition. However, the Bible’s stance also offers grace to all who trust in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. While Scripture maintains a boundary for sexual conduct, it equally proclaims hope, redemption, and wholeness for anyone who comes to God in repentance and faith.

“What is the Bible’s stance on homosexuality?”—The answer is that, from Genesis through Revelation, the Bible portrays sexual intimacy as designed by God for the union of man and woman, and it regards homosexual acts as a departure from that design. At the same time, it emphasizes divine mercy, calling individuals from all backgrounds to find restoration through Jesus Christ.