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The Bible and Homosexuality
Only Church Tradition Condemns Homosexuality Not The Bible
The word homosexuality didn't even exist until 1869? The word first appeared in Germany
to describe the theory that from birth some people are predisposed toward persons of the
same sex. Since the biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) had no words for heterosexual
or homosexual, it is anachronistic and misleading when homosexual is used to translate a
biblical text. It is wrong to proclaim the biblical view of homosexuality since there is none.
This violates the integrity of the individual texts and the biblical witness as a whole. Each
reference to what is today homosexuality must be read in the light of the particular literary,
cultural, and historic contexts of any particular passage.
If Jesus ever said anything about homosexuality, it is not recorded in the Bible, even
mistranslated. He did, however, speak extensively on God's unconditional love. Yet instead
of dwelling on biblical love, Christians have historically been more concerned with obscure
passages of Leviticus codes and Paul's misunderstood comments in Romans. Instead of
focusing on the incredible injustice and hatred demonstrated by Christians and others, tying
to deny homosexuals even basic civil rights, people appear more concerned with the specific
homosexual acts between consenting adults who naturally have a God given homosexual
orientation. As James B. Nelson notes, the Bible clearly advocates a "love ethic" rather
than a "sex ethic."
Detailed Biblical Study of Homosexuality
Traditional Church teaching falsely misuses the Bible to judge the homosexual lifestyle.
True Biblical theology begins not with Church tradition and dogma but with the biblical
texts themselves. Biblical theology seeks to understand how the biblical authors expressed
themselves in the Koine Greek of the time (not as expanded by later modern greek
meanings), in terms of their culture. Only with this understanding is it legitimate to define
biblical sexual ethics of the New Testament and find implications for today.
There is little said in the bible about homosexuality because it was no big deal! It occupied a
prominent and respected position in most Greek and Roman cities at all levels of society
and among a substantial part of the population. There are only 4 scriptures that are taken
to say anything about homosexuality; the Leviticus laws, I Cor 6:9, Romans 1:26-27, and
the story of Sodom and Gomorrah - and none address loving, consenting homosexual acts
as we know them today.
There are over 600 individual "laws" in the Levitical code, the breaking of anyone of which
would make the sinner unclean and unacceptable to God. According to Leviticus it is an
abomination to eat pork, or shell fish or to eat without first cleansing your hands. The law
is no longer in effect except by some ultra orthodox Jewish denominations and its purpose
was to show that man could never follow it. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah likewise have
nothing to do with homosexuality but with breaking the rule of hospitality to strangers and
it also is addressing the practice of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah of using orgiastic
sex as religious worship to false Gods.
I Cor 6:9, no way refers to homosexuality. The original Greek word often quoted as sexual
immorality, Paul used was "porneia" which means "a harlot for hire". In Corinth in the
temples of Venus, the principal deity of Corinth, where Christians went to worship, a
thousand public prostitutes were kept at public expense to glorify and act as surrogates for
the fertility Gods. This sex with the pagan Gods is what Paul was talking about - fornication
is an admitted mistranslation and has nothing to do with gays or singles sex. This rendering
reflected the bias of the translators rather than an accurate translation of Paul's words to a
culture of 2000 years ago worshipping pagan sex gods.
Romans 1:26-27 mentions homosexual acts performed by people who are clearly described
as heterosexual. The men in the New Testament patriarchal culture exerted dominance not
only over women, but over younger males as well. The nature of homosexual acts in the
Bible are so very different from what we know as homosexuality today that the passages
have no application to today's homosexuality. Alleged references to homosexuality in I
Corinthians and I Timothy are the inventions of anti-gay translators. They are not in the
original Greek texts.
For Serious Biblical Research - Resources
"Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality"
John Boswell is professor of history at Yale and the winner of the 1981 American Book
Award For History among other things. Boswell's 400 page book is renowned as being the
most comprehensive study and is the result of ten years of research. Boswell's extensive
study cites from over 100 other scholars works. Paul Robinson of The New York Times
Book Review, says of the book "John Boswell restores one's faith in scholarship...His
knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature is remarkable, and his book displays the
sweep and control that one finds only in the work of a major historian. Newsweek in its
review said "An astonishing work of scholarship that ranges with ease over fourteen
centuries, almost as many languages..." Boswell goes on for 60 pages just on lexicography,
texts and translations. He takes the biblical language very seriously. Boswell is a prize
winning, respected historian.
"The New Testament and Homosexuality"
Robin Scroggs, Prof of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary is a serious
theologian and is favorable reviewed by many theologians. He is a married heterosexual. He
also cites other theological professors that read his manuscripts and the final book is a
combination of much insight from many Christian theologians. Scroggs, includes cites from
Boswell and expands even further.
"Body Theology"
James B. Nelson, Professor of Christian Ethics, United Theological Seminary, New
Brighton, MN. Deals with both heterosexual and homosexual issues. William Coffin, Pastor
Emeritus, Riverside Church of New York, says "For all pastors, counselors, and especially
Church members who are silent, timid, or negative about sexuality "Body Theology" is a
godsend." Nelson calls Christian Homophobia a sin from Jewish through Christian times
due to the false understandings. What the Bible forbids is acts of lust, rape, idolatry,
violation of religious purity obligations, or pederasty, but no condemnation of
homosexuality in relationships of mutual respect and love. "On the other hand, the Bible
pointedly celebrates instances of same-sex emotional intimacy, a fact often overlooked by
fearful homophobic readers.
"What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality"
Daniel Helminiask, PH.D., was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1967 and is incardinated in
the Diocese of Pittsburgh. From 1981-1985 was Assoc. Prof for Systematic Theology at
Oblate School of Theology and earlier completed his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Boston
College and Andover Newton Theological School. He currently is a pastoral counselor and
a Fellow of the Amer Assn of Pastoral Counselors and has authored many books and
articles. He concludes the Bible says absolutely nothing about homosexuality being sinful
when you examine the actual Hebrew/Greek texts.
Sources Used:"In God's Image - Christian Witness to the Need For Gay/Lesbian Equality in
the Eyes of the Church" By Robert Warren Cromey, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church; "In
The Courts Of The Lord" by James Ferry (Crossroad $22.95); "Stranger At The Gate" by
Mel White (Simon & Schuster $23.00); "Is The Homosexual My Neighbor?" by Latha
Dawson Scanzoni (Harper $12.00)
The word homosexuality didn't even exist until 1869? The word first appeared in Germany
to describe the theory that from birth some people are predisposed toward persons of the
same sex. Since the biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) had no words for heterosexual
or homosexual, it is anachronistic and misleading when homosexual is used to translate a
biblical text. It is wrong to proclaim the biblical view of homosexuality since there is none.
This violates the integrity of the individual texts and the biblical witness as a whole. Each
reference to what is today homosexuality must be read in the light of the particular literary,
cultural, and historic contexts of any particular passage.
If Jesus ever said anything about homosexuality, it is not recorded in the Bible, even
mistranslated. He did, however, speak extensively on God's unconditional love. Yet instead
of dwelling on biblical love, Christians have historically been more concerned with obscure
passages of Leviticus codes and Paul's misunderstood comments in Romans. Instead of
focusing on the incredible injustice and hatred demonstrated by Christians and others, tying
to deny homosexuals even basic civil rights, people appear more concerned with the specific
homosexual acts between consenting adults who naturally have a God given homosexual
orientation. As James B. Nelson notes, the Bible clearly advocates a "love ethic" rather
than a "sex ethic."
Detailed Biblical Study of Homosexuality
Traditional Church teaching falsely misuses the Bible to judge the homosexual lifestyle.
True Biblical theology begins not with Church tradition and dogma but with the biblical
texts themselves. Biblical theology seeks to understand how the biblical authors expressed
themselves in the Koine Greek of the time (not as expanded by later modern greek
meanings), in terms of their culture. Only with this understanding is it legitimate to define
biblical sexual ethics of the New Testament and find implications for today.
There is little said in the bible about homosexuality because it was no big deal! It occupied a
prominent and respected position in most Greek and Roman cities at all levels of society
and among a substantial part of the population. There are only 4 scriptures that are taken
to say anything about homosexuality; the Leviticus laws, I Cor 6:9, Romans 1:26-27, and
the story of Sodom and Gomorrah - and none address loving, consenting homosexual acts
as we know them today.
There are over 600 individual "laws" in the Levitical code, the breaking of anyone of which
would make the sinner unclean and unacceptable to God. According to Leviticus it is an
abomination to eat pork, or shell fish or to eat without first cleansing your hands. The law
is no longer in effect except by some ultra orthodox Jewish denominations and its purpose
was to show that man could never follow it. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah likewise have
nothing to do with homosexuality but with breaking the rule of hospitality to strangers and
it also is addressing the practice of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah of using orgiastic
sex as religious worship to false Gods.
I Cor 6:9, no way refers to homosexuality. The original Greek word often quoted as sexual
immorality, Paul used was "porneia" which means "a harlot for hire". In Corinth in the
temples of Venus, the principal deity of Corinth, where Christians went to worship, a
thousand public prostitutes were kept at public expense to glorify and act as surrogates for
the fertility Gods. This sex with the pagan Gods is what Paul was talking about - fornication
is an admitted mistranslation and has nothing to do with gays or singles sex. This rendering
reflected the bias of the translators rather than an accurate translation of Paul's words to a
culture of 2000 years ago worshipping pagan sex gods.
Romans 1:26-27 mentions homosexual acts performed by people who are clearly described
as heterosexual. The men in the New Testament patriarchal culture exerted dominance not
only over women, but over younger males as well. The nature of homosexual acts in the
Bible are so very different from what we know as homosexuality today that the passages
have no application to today's homosexuality. Alleged references to homosexuality in I
Corinthians and I Timothy are the inventions of anti-gay translators. They are not in the
original Greek texts.
For Serious Biblical Research - Resources
"Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality"
John Boswell is professor of history at Yale and the winner of the 1981 American Book
Award For History among other things. Boswell's 400 page book is renowned as being the
most comprehensive study and is the result of ten years of research. Boswell's extensive
study cites from over 100 other scholars works. Paul Robinson of The New York Times
Book Review, says of the book "John Boswell restores one's faith in scholarship...His
knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature is remarkable, and his book displays the
sweep and control that one finds only in the work of a major historian. Newsweek in its
review said "An astonishing work of scholarship that ranges with ease over fourteen
centuries, almost as many languages..." Boswell goes on for 60 pages just on lexicography,
texts and translations. He takes the biblical language very seriously. Boswell is a prize
winning, respected historian.
"The New Testament and Homosexuality"
Robin Scroggs, Prof of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary is a serious
theologian and is favorable reviewed by many theologians. He is a married heterosexual. He
also cites other theological professors that read his manuscripts and the final book is a
combination of much insight from many Christian theologians. Scroggs, includes cites from
Boswell and expands even further.
"Body Theology"
James B. Nelson, Professor of Christian Ethics, United Theological Seminary, New
Brighton, MN. Deals with both heterosexual and homosexual issues. William Coffin, Pastor
Emeritus, Riverside Church of New York, says "For all pastors, counselors, and especially
Church members who are silent, timid, or negative about sexuality "Body Theology" is a
godsend." Nelson calls Christian Homophobia a sin from Jewish through Christian times
due to the false understandings. What the Bible forbids is acts of lust, rape, idolatry,
violation of religious purity obligations, or pederasty, but no condemnation of
homosexuality in relationships of mutual respect and love. "On the other hand, the Bible
pointedly celebrates instances of same-sex emotional intimacy, a fact often overlooked by
fearful homophobic readers.
"What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality"
Daniel Helminiask, PH.D., was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1967 and is incardinated in
the Diocese of Pittsburgh. From 1981-1985 was Assoc. Prof for Systematic Theology at
Oblate School of Theology and earlier completed his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Boston
College and Andover Newton Theological School. He currently is a pastoral counselor and
a Fellow of the Amer Assn of Pastoral Counselors and has authored many books and
articles. He concludes the Bible says absolutely nothing about homosexuality being sinful
when you examine the actual Hebrew/Greek texts.
Sources Used:"In God's Image - Christian Witness to the Need For Gay/Lesbian Equality in
the Eyes of the Church" By Robert Warren Cromey, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church; "In
The Courts Of The Lord" by James Ferry (Crossroad $22.95); "Stranger At The Gate" by
Mel White (Simon & Schuster $23.00); "Is The Homosexual My Neighbor?" by Latha
Dawson Scanzoni (Harper $12.00)