In today’s culture, homosexuality in the Bible is a hot topic for some. How is homosexuality in the Bible presented? Let’s briefly explore homosexuality in the Bible to discover more about this important topic.
Homosexuality in the Bible: Old Testament
Let’s start our look at homosexuality in the Bible by looking at the Old Testament. There are two main passages to examine: Genesis 19 and Leviticus 18.
Genesis 19
Genesis 19 is the story of Sodom, where the men of Sodom came to Lot’s door asking about the men who were visiting him, wanting to have sex with them. (Genesis 19:4-5) In the context of the passage, this is viewed as a wicked thing. This is the first mention of homosexuality in the Bible.
Leviticus 18
Next, in Leviticus 18:22, we find, “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” This is one of the clearest places that homosexuality in the Bible is addressed in the Old Testament.
Homosexuality in the Bible: New Testament
Now let’s turn our search regarding homosexuality in the Bible to the New Testament. There are two passages that mention homosexuality very directly: 1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Timothy 1. Both of these mentions come as a part of lists of all kinds of behavior that is outside the bounds of what God considers to be good and right.
1 Corinthians 6
In 1 Corinthians 6, homosexuality in the Bible is mentioned as something that would disqualify someone from inheriting the kingdom of God. It’s a part of a list of things that would disqualify someone,including other types of wrong behavior. The writer goes on to say that these are behaviors that were a part of people’s lives before they came to know and follow Jesus, that they have been purified from them.
1 Timothy 1
Similarly, in 1 Timothy 1, homosexuality in the Bible is mentioned as a part of a list of actions of those who are rebelling against God. The list includes other things that are considered to be unlawful or unholy.
Homosexuality in the Bible: Broader Context
There are a few passages where homosexuality in the Bible is discussed indirectly, but these passage give helpful broader context to the topic. Jesus talks about marriage in Mark 10 and Paul talks about people who are far from God in Romans 1.
Mark 10
In Mark 10, Jesus is discussing the purpose of marriage. He references passages from both Genesis 1 and Genesis 3, specifically mentioning that marriage is to be between male and female. By making this connection, Jesus is not speaking directly about homosexuality in the Bible, but He is defining what marriage is and what it isn’t.
The fact that Jesus makes reference to creation and God’s original intent for human beings is what causes us to believe that this is not meant for a certain period of time in history, but homosexuality in the Bible should be understood as something that God has been against from the beginning and is still out of bounds today.
Romans 1
As far as homosexuality in the Bible, another key passage is Romans 1:18-32. In this passage, Paul talks about people who are far from God—the kinds of things they do and the reasons for it. Homosexuality in the Bible is included as one of the things people do when they are rebelling against God.
Nothing Special about Homosexuality in the Bible
One important thing to note about homosexuality in the Bible is that it is not treated as something especially wrong. As a matter of fact, it is included in lists of things that apply to many of us. Homosexuality in the Bible is treated as something that is outside of God’s plan … and so are many other things. To single out homosexuality in the Bible as something that is somehow more wrong than other things is to misunderstand the Biblical writers.
For more information about homosexuality in the Bible, visit the free resources section of our website.
Who is Summit Ministries?
Summit Ministries exists to cultivate rising generations to resolutely champion a biblical worldview. We accomplish this in several ways.
Developing Free Worldview Resources
Hosting Student Conferences
Providing Curriculum for both Christian Schools and Homeschoolers
Developing Free Worldview Resources
We have a huge archive of worldview resources in the form of videos and articles. These are all developed from the standpoint of apologetics—providing a defense for the Christian faith and a biblical worldview.
Hosting Student Conferences
Every summer, hundreds of students attend one of our Student Conferences in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. During these conferences, students hear from some of the foremost minds in Christianity, as they learn to defend their faith and prepare for college. The result is hundreds of students who have taken ownership of their faith and know why they believe what they believe.
Providing Christian School and Homeschool Curriculum
Another way we encourage rising generations to stand strong in a biblical worldview is through providing bible curriculum for Christian Schools and Homeschools. Thousands of kids are using these tools to understand their faith (at an age-appropriate level) and then be ready with a defense of why they believe what they believe. The study of apologetics can begin at a young age, even though it will look differently than it does later on in life.
The Focus of Summit Ministries
We are focused on helping people approach and understand life from a Christian, biblical worldview. In our culture today, there are many competing worldviews that offer an explanation for the big questions in life. Through the study and application of apologetics, we provide a solid foundation for people to feel confident in a biblical worldview.
What Areas Does Summit Ministries study?
Answers for the biggest questions in life are being offered all around us. How do we sort through this barrage of assumptions and assertions? We have identified ten areas where the biblical worldview can guide our thinking and our behavior. These areas are woven into our homeschool curriculum right from the start, in ways that are age-appropriate.
- Theology
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- Biology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Law
- Politics
- Economics
- History
These 10 areas provide a comprehensive worldview that is based on biblical principles. Through the consistent application of apologetics to these 10 topics, we teach people how to defend their faith with confidence.
The History of Summit Ministries
An alarming number of Christians stumble while in college and around half will renounce their faith because they simply do not have a defense for what they believe. David Noebel, our founder and former president, almost joined those statistics while he was a philosophy student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Noebel founded Summit Ministries in 1962 to help ground Christians in their faith, thereby enabling them to face the barrage of challenges on college campuses.
Our home is a turn-of- the-century hotel (formerly known as The Grandview), luxurious by early 20th century standards. Around this hotel, we have built our home in a complex of buildings dubbed the Summit Village. This, our home base, is located in Manitou Springs, CO at the foot of Pike’s Peak.
From 1962 until 1988, we were a small series of camp-style conferences, hosting an average of 350 students each year. After sending his own son Ryan through our program, Dr. James Dobson featured Summit Ministries on the Focus on the Family radio program in 1989, which quickly grew our attendance exponentially.
Today, with our world-renowned faculty and under the direction of President Dr. Jeff Myers, we are viewed as one of the foremost leaders in training Christians in apologetics, worldview analysis, and social engagement.