Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. The Bible and homosexuality In biblical times, same-gender sexual interactions could take many forms. For example: Kings of conquered tribes were sometimes raped by the invading army as the ultimate symbol of defeat and
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19 describes how two angels visited Sodom and were welcomed into Lot’s house. The men of the city gathered around the house and demanded that Lot send
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. The holiness code Leviticus 18:22 states: Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination. The term abomination (to’ebah) is a religious term, usually reserved for use against idolatry; it does
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. Temple prostitution in Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 23:17 (KJV) states: There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. This is an “error” by the authors of
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. The story of the Levite Judges 19 describes an event much like that at Sodom. This time, an unnamed Levite visited the town of Gibeah with his slaves and concubine. He met an old
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. Temple prostitution in 1 Kings 1 Kings 14:24 and 1 Kings 15:12 again refer to temple prostitution. The original word qadesh is mistranslated as “sodomite” (homosexual) in the King James Version, but as male
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | The original Greek Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, men who engage
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. Malakoi and arsenokoitai in 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1:9 again refers to malakoi arsenokoitai which has been variously translated as homosexuals, sexual perverts etc. Again, the original meaning of the text as been lost.
Part of a series of essays on the Bible and homosexuality. Condemnation of the Sodomites Jude 7 refers to the people of Sodom as “giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh.” Strange flesh has been variously translated as perverted sensuality, unnatural lust,
Back to Index In summary: Homosexual activity in the temple by male prostitutes is clearly prohibited by the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Homosexual activity in general may have been prohibited at the time by the Holiness Code, but that code is no longer binding on