This section contains a lot of information for those who want to know more.

Firstly, the importance of the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is discussed. Then the author’s personal thoughts and opinions on the sodomy verses in the Bible are offered, as well as some further thoughts regarding other sexual activity.

The reader is encouraged to study the scripture passages in this section, and in the entire website, for yourself, and pray for understanding from the Lord and his Holy Spirit.

---

In addition to the sodomy verses, there are other Bible verses that some religious authors say are guiding principles denying that people can be gay, for example ‘God created us male and female’, therefore everyone should be heterosexual. But that is an interpretation made by people who have no understanding that being gay is not a choice.

Should gay people be excluded from God’s love and salvation because of the way he made us? Would God create a group of people that could never be part of his kingdom? Of course not! That is an offensive and irrational concept with no basis in scripture at all.

Prejudiced, anti-gay religious commentators are similar to the religious rulers described in the Gospels, whose self-serving views were refuted by Jesus since they were not based on love or a true understanding of God’s Word, but are based on human tradition and heterosexism.

The apostle Paul writes: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” ^{Colossians 2:8}

All people, including gay people, are created by God through Jesus Christ. Nothing coming from or through Jesus can be inherently sinful or evil.

---

God the Father is totally and utterly holy. It is his will that all people be holy too, “since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” ^{1 Peter 1:16}

He gave us his Word, the Bible, in part to explain how we are to live and what it means to be holy.

We all fall short of God’s high standard (except for Jesus), but Christians are called to try to be holy, not as a requirement of law or adherence to rules, but because our love for God inclines our hearts to please him.

Hide info

The contents of the Holy Bible, also known as the “Word of God” or “Scripture”, are expressed through divine revelation to specifically chosen writers (eye witnesses, apostles, disciples, prophets, chroniclers, etc) inspired by the Holy Spirit. That is why it’s called the Word of God, and as such carries with it the absolute authority and infallibility of God.

“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” ^{2 Peter 1:21}

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” ^{2 Timothy 3:16}

The Word of God is not just a collection of books written long ago in ancient languages – the Old Testament was written mostly in ancient Hebrew, with some Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in ancient Greek; both have been translated into hundreds of modern languages – it is the eternal, infallible and immutable blueprint of all creation (the physical universe, past, present and future) containing divinely inspired words for our benefit.

For “[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” ^{Hebrews 1:3a}

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” ^{Isaiah 40:8}

Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” ^{Mark 13:31}

Jesus also said: “Scripture cannot be broken.” ^{John 10:35b}

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” ^{Isaiah 55:10-11}

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” ^{Psalms 19:7-11}

These words are as true and effective today as when they were written, and are applicable to every part of our lives in this world. Reading the Bible everyday is essential in every way for a Christian; it is nourishment for your soul.

---

Theology is a deep and detailed area of study, and not the purpose of this website. For those who are interested in learning more, there are a great many books, archaic and modern, dedicated to this fascinating and enlightening subject. For example, personally I found ‘In Understanding Be Men’ by T.C. Hammond, to be a good place to start.

Regarding context:
Some say using individual verses or parts of verses from the Bible to prove a point is taking those words out of the context in which they are written, and therefore is not valid.

If this argument is to be accepted, then all of the apostle Paul’s letters, which are written to specific audiences, would be out of context for us today, since we are not those to whom they are addressed. Also most of the Old Testament would be out of context for those who are not Jewish, since the Old Testament is mainly concerned with God’s interaction with the Israelites. On the contrary, it is very clear that the whole of the Bible is beneficial to everyone.

Context is important sometimes, but the objection regarding using individual sentences or phrases from the Bible out of context is clearly a mundane argument, which wrongly places a human limitation on the divine Word of God.

Jesus and his apostles quote the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) out of context numerous times to support what they are saying or to confirm a prophetic outcome, because they know the power, truth and infallibility of the Word of God. Following their example is completely justified.

Hide info

Click on the references above to read the verses for yourself.

The Genesis and Judges passages are strikingly similar in the actions they describe, carried out by men of two different Gentile (non-Israelite) towns, at two different times in history. One of those towns was named Sodom, from which the word ‘sodomy’ is derived.

These are descriptions of evil, godless people, and are examples provided in the Bible for our sake, to contrast the difference between people who go their own way and people who conform to behaviour that is acceptable to the God who created us all.

In the language of the times to ‘know’ someone in this way was to have penetrative sex with them; in this case anal sex.

It is demographically impossible that the entire male populations of the towns in these passages were gay. The percentage would be the same as for all populations, typically a relatively small number, around 10%.

So these passages are not about being gay; they are not even about sex. The threatened sodomy of the male visitors was to humiliate and dominate them (similar to rape carried out by heterosexual men in prisons). These passages are about godless, evil people intending sodomy as a means of injury, abuse, domination and control.

It boggles our modern minds as to why in both cases women would be offered to the wicked men; perhaps to prevent sodomy occurring, or perhaps because there was such little regard for women in those ancient days, but more likely due to the tremendous fear of being overrun by the aggressive mob of godless men intent on doing great evil.

When referring to Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude ^{Jude 7} mentions sexual immorality and pursuing ‘unnatural desire’ (ESV) with a footnote offering the alternate translation ‘different’. The Greek word translated ‘unnatural’ is ἕτερος heteros; [meaning] of uncertain affinity; (an-, the) other or different. Other translations render it ‘unnatural lust’ (RSV) or ‘perversion’ (NIV) or ‘strange flesh’ (KJV) or ‘other flesh’ (YLT).

So there is some ambiguity, however it seems likely that Jude is referring to the desire to participate in sodomy, but could be referring to a desire to do other than good, in this case to abuse, dominate and humiliate; basically the opposite of the love that Jesus said we all should practice toward one another.

Hide info

Click on the references above to read the verses for yourself.

In both of these verses God is speaking with Moses, specifically communicating his views regarding sodomy.

In the language of the times, the expression to ‘lie with’ someone is to have sex with them, specifically penetrative sex, here referring to the act of sodomy, i.e. a man engaging in anal sexual intercourse with another man.

The most important point to note regarding these two verses is that they are not about being gay, they are concerned with a sexual act between men no matter who they are, gay or otherwise.

The second point to note about these two verses is that God says sodomy is an “abomination”. This is a word translated from the Hebrew תּוֹעֵבָה tô‘êḇâ; (used in Leviticus) or תֹּעֵבָה tonebah; (used elsewhere in the Old Testament) meaning something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence. The Hebrew primitive is תָּעַב ṯâ‘aḇ; meaning to loathe, i.e. (morally) detest.

In the book of Leviticus this word “abomination” only appears in these two verses, however it is also used in many other places throughout the Old Testament but not in reference to sodomy.

Being gay is neither moral nor immoral, it’s a state of being, so neither of these verses refer to being gay. But they are straight forward and clear, that God regards the act of sodomy as sexually immoral and therefore sinful; there are no caveats, loopholes nor any scope for variation.

The death penalty in verse 20:13 seems harsh, but is consistent with the New Testament word written by the apostle Paul, who goes on to point out all humans have a saviour from that same penalty: “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ^{Romans 6:23} However, “if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” ^{Hebrews 10:26}

These Leviticus verses are written for our benefit. How else are we to know the thoughts of God? Many people dismiss the Old Testament Law as not relevant today, however Jesus said “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.” ^{Luke 16:17}

Hide info

Click on the reference above to read the verses for yourself.

These verses at the end of the first chapter of Romans contain powerful words. However, they are not about sexual orientation, but rather are about all humans wanting something in this world more than God; desiring earthly things more than heavenly things, about everyone pleasing themselves rather than wanting, having a longing, to love and please God.

In verse 26 and 27 specifically, it is clear Paul is writing about sexual acts: i.e. having ‘relations’, ‘committing shameless acts’ and being ‘consumed with passion’, also rendered ‘inflamed with lust’ in other translations.

Verse 26 refers to women who “exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature”, but that can’t be referring to lesbians, because lesbians are born gay therefore are not exchanging anything.

Similarly, in verse 27 Paul refers to men who “gave up natural relations with women” which also can’t be referring to gay men, because we are born gay so are not giving anything up by not having relations with women, since we were never inclined to that in the first place. For both gay men and gay women, being gay is natural, since we were born this way.

Therefore the actions described in these two particular verses, are not referring to being gay, but rather suggest the choice of pursuing a hedonistic form of behaviour (the practice of seeking maximum pleasure).

Being gay is not a decision or a choice, so the use of the words ‘exchanged’ and ‘gave up’ indicate a decision on the subjects’ part to act contrary to the nature they were born with; to make a choice to desire this behaviour for pure pleasure for themselves, instead of a having a desire to love and please God.

Paul writes of this mindset later in Romans: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” ^{Romans 8:5-6}

Hide info

Click on the references above to read the verses for yourself.

These two verses are similar in nature, listing groups of people who are considered unrighteous, sinners or lawbreakers. These lists are describing things that people do, i.e. sinful activities in which they participate.

The ESV translators of the Bible use the phrase “men who practice homosexuality”, but other English versions vary considerably in their translations.

The Greek word used in both of these verses is ἀρσενοκοίτης arsenokoitēs; meaning a sodomite: — abuser of (that defile) self with mankind.

So it is reasonable to conclude this phrase in both of these verses is referring to men who participate in sodomy, since this would be consistent with the other Bible references examined here.

So it is a reference to men undertaking an action rather than simply having a romantic or sexual attraction, and therefore has nothing to do with being gay, which is neither an action nor an activity.

Hide info

This website is mainly about providing information, it is not about telling people what to do or not do.

But it is important to remember that sexual activity is a thing of this world. So it’s wise to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” ^{Colossians 3:2} “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ^{Matthew 6:21}

What a person thinks, says or does is between that person and God, however one of the many reasons he gave us his Word, the Bible, is to communicate how he wants people to live. Read it for yourself and may the Holy Spirit guide your understanding.

---

The prohibition against sodomy in the Bible does not mean gay Christians must be celibate or abstain from all forms of sexual activity.

Oral sex:
The Bible doesn’t mention oral sex at all. Some definitions in the world today suggest oral sex is penetrative in nature, so is the same as sexual intercourse. This doesn’t really make sense: is putting an eating utensil, or a finger or thumb, in your mouth regarded as penetration? No, it isn’t.

Using the mouth or tongue for sexual stimulation is clearly not the same as a penis entering a vagina or anus. The mouth is exposed to the world and used for many purposes, but those other orifices are treated with modesty and privacy, therefore their nature is entirely different.

However, as with any uncertainty, this has to be a matter for a person’s own conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Masturbation:
There is no prohibition against masturbation in the Bible. Masturbation is acceptable, healthy and normal. However, guarding one’s thoughts during this activity is always wise.

There is only one direct reference in the entire Bible to masturbation:
Leviticus 15:16 makes it plain that God acknowledges that a male has emissions of semen not associated with sexual intercourse with a woman (since that is mentioned separately two verses later, in verse 18). So verse 16 can only refer to the results of male masturbation, and nocturnal emissions (wet dreams). Both are completely acceptable and not considered sinful.

Under the Old Testament Law, after an emission of semen a male would be regarded as ritually or ceremonially ‘unclean’ but that does not mean sinful or a result of sin.

Some misguided authors refer to the actions of Onan in Genesis 38:8-10 as prohibiting masturbation. But those verses have nothing to do with masturbation. Firstly Onan wasn’t masturbating and secondly, the issue wasn’t that his semen was spilled on the ground, it was what his particular semen contained, i.e. his DNA, that mattered.

So this is a completely different issue regarding Onan’s refusal to obey the Old Testament law requiring him to perpetuate his family line.

---

Finally, for completeness, it should be mentioned that some people are of the opinion that Jonathan, the son of King Saul, mentioned numerous times in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, may be gay.

This is based on verses like 1 Samuel 18:1-3, 1 Samuel 19:1, 1 Samuel 20:30 and especially 2 Samuel 1:26. This conclusion is difficult to justify based on the scripture alone. It seems more likely these verses are simply describing a very close and loving friendship, perhaps with some hero worship of David on Jonathan’s part. But as always, read the scriptures for yourselves and draw your own conclusions.

Hide info