Quick Notes about Scripture and Homosexuality  By Margaret Evans

The condition of homosexuality:
Nowhere in Scripture is reference made to the condition of homosexuality, only to homosexual acts.

"Aren't you trying to wriggle out of what the Bible clearly says about homosexuality?":
What the Bible says about anything is selective, contradictory and liable to change in interpretation. People do not believe in " what the Bible says". People believe in traditions about what the Bible says. Judeo-Christian tradition certainly is homophobic but whether the words of Jesus are homophobic is another matter. The various Christian theological traditions are so different from one another that they cannot be identical with the words of Jesus. The believer must decide whether the words of Jesus are more important than Christian traditions. Arguing out of Christian traditions is circular.

The story of Sodom (Genesis 19):
The story about the destruction of Sodom is not about homosexuality. It is about the sin of breaching sacred hospitality.

The Old Testament prohibitions:
The Old Testament prohibitions against homosexuality in the Books of Leviticus (chapter 18, v.22; chapter 20 v.13) and Deuteronomy are essentially provisions of the Jewish Law. Those Christians who base their disapproval of homosexuality on them must be prepared to state whether or not they are prepared to keep the other provisions of the Jewish Law.

Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, Jesus and the "Beloved Disciple":
These friendships, as described in Scripture, are not gay relationships. The first two friendships are about the righteousness of choosing those who are elected by God, namely, the Hebrew nation in the case of Ruth, and David in the case of Jonathan. The friendship between Jesus and the "Beloved Disciple" is a symbol of true faith and discipleship.

The Centurion's Servant:
This is one story in which a gay relationship may be mentioned. This is because the word used in Greek in the account given by Luke can mean "boyfriend"', we know that centurions and their personal servants often had sexual relations and it is stated that the centurion was very fond of the servant. If this story does mention a gay relationship, then it confirms that Jesus was less interested in what people did rather than in their faith and love.

Paul's condemnations of Decadence of the Pagan World in his Letter to the Romans, (chapter 1 v. 26-27):
This is the one passage in Scripture that mentions lesbianism. The passage condemns the pagan world for failing to observe the will of God as revealed in creation. It depends, however, on whether you accept Paul's argument that this is what the pagans are doing in the behaviour he describes. If you do not, it adds nothing to Paul's remarks on homosexual behaviour.

Paul's other condemnations of Homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6 v 9):
No-one is sure what the words used in these passages refer to. They could refer to some types of homosexual behavior but it is not certain.

For an even more detailed analysis of the Bible and its references to homosexuality, click here

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