People argue about it constantly. You've seen the protests, the heated Facebook threads, and the church splits. But when you actually sit down and ask where is homosexuality mentioned in the Bible, the list of specific verses is surprisingly short. We're talking about maybe half a dozen passages in a book that contains hundreds of thousands of words.
It's not just about finding the words, though. Context matters. History matters. Even translation choices made in the 1940s changed how we read these texts today. If you're looking for a simple "yes" or "no" answer, you might be disappointed. The Bible was written over a span of 1,500 years by dozens of authors in cultures that looked nothing like our modern world. They didn't even have a word for "homosexuality" as an identity back then.
The "Clobber Passages" in the Old Testament
The conversation usually starts with Genesis. Specifically, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. For centuries, people assumed this story was a divine condemnation of same-sex acts. A crowd of men surrounds Lot’s house, demanding to "know" his male guests. It's a dark, violent scene. But if you look at how other biblical authors interpreted this story—like the prophet Ezekiel—they don't mention sex at all. Ezekiel 16:49 says the sin of Sodom was pride, gluttony, and a refusal to help the poor. It’s a story about radical inhospitality and attempted sexual violence, which is a far cry from a committed, consensual relationship.
Then there’s Leviticus. This is where things get more "legal." Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are the most cited verses when people ask where is homosexuality mentioned in the Bible. They basically say it’s an "abomination" for a man to lie with a man as with a woman.
Strict. Clear. Or is it?
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Scholars like Dr. David Gushee point out that these laws were part of the "Holiness Code." This was a set of rules designed to keep the ancient Israelites distinct from their neighbors, like the Egyptians and Canaanites. The same book forbids eating shellfish, wearing blended fabrics, and trimming your beard. While some Christians believe the moral laws in Leviticus still apply even if the ritual laws don't, others argue that these specific prohibitions were tied to ancient temple prostitution or the need for population growth in a nomadic tribe. It’s a messy debate.
The New Testament: Paul and the Greek Language
Fast forward to the New Testament. Jesus never mentions same-sex behavior. Not once. He talks a lot about divorce and adultery, but on this specific topic, he's silent. The heavy lifting is done by the Apostle Paul.
In Romans 1:26-27, Paul writes about people giving up "natural relations" for "unnatural" ones. He describes men burning with lust for other men. On the surface, it looks like a slam dunk for the traditional view. However, New Testament scholars like the late John Boswell or Dr. James Brownson suggest Paul might have been describing something else entirely. In the Roman world, "natural" often referred to social hierarchies. High-status men were expected to be "active," while low-status individuals were "passive." Paul might have been critiquing the excess and exploitation common in Roman cultic practices or pederasty (relationships between men and boys), rather than what we understand as modern sexual orientation.
Then we hit the "translation wall" in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10.
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Paul uses two Greek words: malakoi and arsenokoitai. These are linguistic nightmares for translators. Malakoi literally means "soft," and in ancient times, it was used to describe anything from expensive fabric to men who were considered "effeminate" because they lacked self-control. It wasn't until the 1946 Revised Standard Version that these words were lumped together and translated as "homosexuals." This was a massive shift. Before that, the words were often translated as "abusers of themselves with mankind" or focused on male prostitutes.
Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Relationships?
While most of the focus is on the "thou shalt nots," some people look for the "thou shalts." They point to the intense, soul-knit bond between David and Jonathan in the book of Samuel. David says Jonathan’s love was "more wonderful than the love of women." Then there's the Centurion in Matthew 8 who asks Jesus to heal his pais—a word that usually means "servant" but could imply a younger companion in certain contexts.
Is it definitive? No. But it shows that the Bible's portrayal of human intimacy is more complex than a list of rules.
Why Interpretation Varies So Much
Why can two people read the same verse and see two different things? It comes down to your "hermeneutic"—the lens through which you read.
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- The Traditionalist Lens: This view holds that the Bible's prohibitions are universal and timeless. If Leviticus and Paul say it's wrong, it's wrong. Period.
- The Progressive Lens: This view argues that the biblical writers were addressing specific, exploitative practices of their time (like rape, pederasty, or cult prostitution) and had no concept of a loving, egalitarian same-sex marriage.
Essentially, we are trying to translate ancient concepts into a 21st-century reality. It's like trying to explain a smartphone to someone from the year 50. The vocabulary just isn't there.
What This Means for You
When you're digging into where is homosexuality mentioned in the Bible, you have to be okay with the tension. The "clobber passages" exist, but they carry a heavy load of historical and linguistic baggage.
If you're studying this for yourself or a loved one, don't just stop at a Google search. Look at the Hebrew and Greek. Read the historians. Understand the difference between a "moral law" and a "purity ritual."
Actionable Steps for Further Study:
- Compare translations: Open a site like BibleGateway and look at 1 Corinthians 6:9 in the KJV, the NRSV, and the Message. Notice how that one word changes over time.
- Read the surrounding verses: Don't just pluck a verse out of the air. Read the whole chapter. Who is the author talking to? What was the problem they were trying to solve?
- Look at the "Fruits": Many modern believers use the "Matthew 7" test. Does a particular interpretation lead to life, love, and spiritual growth, or does it lead to despair and harm?
- Check out the experts: Look up books like God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines for a progressive perspective, or The Bible and Homosexual Practice by Robert Gagnon for a traditionalist deep dive.
The text is what it is. It's ancient, it's complex, and it's often frustratingly silent on the things we want to know most. But knowing exactly where those verses are—and what they actually say—is the first step toward a more honest conversation.
To get the full picture, your next move should be looking at the 1946 Project, which documents how the word "homosexual" first entered the English Bible. It's a fascinating look at how a small group of translators can change the course of religious history with a single pen stroke. Researching the historical context of the Roman "vice lists" will also help clarify why Paul chose the specific words he did in his letters to the early churches.