What does the bible say about homosexuals

There are very few references to homosexuality—that is, being sexually oriented to people of the same sex—in the New Testament. References are to be found only in writings associated with Paul. Matt ? Was the disciple whom Jesus loved an erotic lover so John and elsewhere? No such indication.

Actually, a whole lot less than you might imagine! That may be hard to believe given the fierce rhetoric Christians often employ when talking about homosexuality, but there are really only seven passages in the Bible that refer directly to homosexual behavior, and none of them are associated with Jesus. Compare that to the more than verses on the proper use of wealth or more than on our responsibility to care for the poor and work for justice, and you appreciate quickly that homosexuality was not exactly a major theme of the Bible. Nevertheless, these seven passages have been poured over by conservative and liberal scholars alike and have occasioned considerable conversation and controversy. In order to review what the Bible actually says about homosexuality, as well as what others are saying about it, I'll group similar verses below and give a brief summary of the major differences in interpretation. Then, I'll outline the four most common stances Christians take regarding these biblical passages in general, as these positions greatly influence how one interprets individual verses.

Outline of Bible-related topics. Several passages in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament have been interpreted as involving same-sex sexual acts and desires. Chapters 18 and 20 of Leviticus form part of the Holiness code and list prohibited forms of intercourse , including the following verses:. These two verses have historically been interpreted by Jews and Christians as clear overall prohibitions against homosexual acts in general. More recent interpretations focus more on its context as part of the Holiness Code , a code of purity meant to distinguish the behavior of Israelites from the polytheistic Canaanites.

If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act. What does the Bible say about homosexuality? The book of Leviticus also prohibits what you can eat and prescribes animal sacrifices. Why do you disregard those rules but adhere to these rules? The only rules of the Old Testament that apply to us today are the rules that are repeated in the New Testament.