where in the bible does it talk about homosexu... ~~
The most commonly cited places in the Bible that people say “talk about homosexuality” are a small cluster of passages in the Old and New Testaments. Here are the main ones and what they are about, so you can actually look them up yourself.
Key Old Testament passages
- Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” This is in a section of Leviticus listing various sexual practices Israel was forbidden to imitate from surrounding nations.
- Leviticus 20:13 – Repeats the prohibition and attaches a civil/penal penalty for ancient Israel (“they shall surely be put to death”), as part of the nation’s holiness and legal code.
- Genesis 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah) – The men of Sodom demand to sexually violate Lot’s visitors; some traditions connect this with homosexuality, others emphasize attempted gang rape, violence, and inhospitality rather than a consensual same‑sex relationship.
Key New Testament passages
- Romans 1:26–27 – Paul describes women and men “exchanging natural relations” and “men committing shameful acts with other men” in a larger argument about humanity turning away from God.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 – Lists various behaviors that “will not inherit the kingdom of God,” including terms often translated to include men who have sex with men; the exact Greek words and their meaning are heavily debated in modern scholarship.
- 1 Timothy 1:10 – Another vice list that includes a term some translations render as “those who practice homosexuality,” again with discussion about what specific behaviors the word covers.
- Jude 1:7 – Refers back to Sodom and Gomorrah going after “sexual immorality and perversion,” which many Christian interpreters link to same‑sex behavior, while others stress the attempted violence.
How different Christians read these
Among Christians today, you’ll find several broad approaches:
- Traditional/“non‑affirming” view
- Holds that these texts clearly prohibit all same‑sex sexual relationships, whether in casual or committed contexts.
* Emphasizes that the Bible consistently presents sexual intimacy as designed for male–female marriage.
- Contextual/“affirming” view
- Argues that these passages address specific practices (idolatrous sex, exploitative relationships, pederasty, rape), not loving, mutual same‑sex relationships as we understand them today.
* Stresses historical context, original languages, and the Bible’s overarching themes of love, justice, and mercy.
- Mixed or “in‑process” view
- Some believers accept the texts as difficult and are still working out how to apply them in light of modern psychology, lived experience of LGBTQ+ Christians, and the broader message of Scripture.
If you’re asking this for yourself
If this question is personal for you (about your own orientation or someone you care about), it may help to:
- Read the passages in a modern translation, slowly and in context of the whole chapter.
- Look at explanations from more than one perspective (both traditional and affirming) so you see how and why people disagree.
- Talk with someone you trust who takes both Scripture and human dignity seriously, not someone who will shame you.
At the end of the day, these are a small number of texts that people interpret in very different ways, within a much bigger Bible that speaks constantly about love, justice, mercy, humility, and faithfulness.
If you tell me a bit more about why you’re asking (pure curiosity, a debate, your church background, something personal), I can tailor a follow‑up that fits where you’re coming from.