Bible Verses About Homosexuality
God created sex and the union between a man and a woman to be both a physical and spiritual blessing. The Bible condemns any sinful behavior, out of God’s perfect will for humans, including that of homosexuality.
God specifically desires our marriages to be between one man and one woman as shown in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. This special relationship is ordained by God, as shown in reproduction, the continuation of life on earth.
After the creation in Genesis, there are many verses that point to homosexuality being sinful and something men and women should refrain from.
God condemns sin because He loves us and wants the best for our lives. So we don’t have to live in sin in, He gives us instruction with Bible Verses About Homosexuality and on all aspects of life to bless us.
As born again Christians we are given grace as we fall short of holiness, but it is in our best interest to strive to obey God’s word whenever we can.
Bible Quotes on Homosexuality
Homosexuality in the Bible
Genesis 2:24-25
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
God’s design for marriage is beautifully captured in Genesis 2:24.
God declared that a man should leave his family and cleave to his wife. He wanted marriage between a man and woman to be a committed and loving relationship through which each could support one another and reveal God’s faithfulness to the world around them.
It’s clear that when God created the world and everything in it, He intended that human life continues on (reproduces) when a man and a woman come together.
God created this intentional plan for human love and joy, which He put into action with His perfect creation in Eden.
Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
In Leviticus 18, God is giving Moses instruction on how the Israelites should live. Verse 22 prohibits homosexual intercourse as a way to obey God.
God continues in verse 24, “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.”
Here, God is giving His people guidance in the ways He wants them to live. This would bless them and help them flourish as a society.
Leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
“‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
“If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Leviticus 20:13 is one law of many that is given to God’s people in the Old Testament as a way to be different from the pagans they escaped slavery from.
This instruction, along with a large list of instructions before and after it, is meant to help the Israelites honor God as they express their thankfulness in their obedience.
In verse 26, God says, “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”
Refraining from homosexuality is one, in a list of many, of God’s instructions to teach his people how He wants them to live.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 reveals an important truth about our lives – that engaging in behaviors contrary to God’s will inevitably brings harm.
This passage is a warning to us that immoral behavior can have serious consequences, and suggests that we should instead seek fulfillment through a life of righteousness and holiness.
We are called to “flee from sexual immorality” and, if we do so, we will be blessed; this is a reward far greater than the satisfaction obtained by engaging in temporal sin.
Let us take this wise counsel to heart and live our lives according to God’s commands.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Here, Paul continues to teach Christians as he writes, “flee from sexual immorality” and advises the believers at Corinth to honor God with their bodies.
A fundamental principle in what is contained in this passage is the importance of understanding that our bodies are a sacred temple for the Holy Spirit. This implies that we should use them for holy purposes and not indulge in activities which are contrary to His will.
The moral reminder provided by these verses inspires deep spiritual contemplation – as it reveals to us what really matters in our spiritual journey with God. It encourages us to distance ourselves from sin and embrace holiness instead.
1 Corinthians 7:2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
This verse reiterates God’s plan for His creation: for a husband and a wife joining together in marriage.
Paul is telling the Christian church in Corinth that sex in marriage is good, and is important because of the temptation to engage in sexual immorality if a married couple is abstaining.
The Corinthians were confused about some of God’s guidance, and Paul was helping them settle some of their misunderstandings.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
The Bible encourages us to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Through this verse, we come to understand that we must strive for obedience in not only our actions, but also our thoughts, even if they don’t necessarily result in physical action. This mentality is empowering as it encourages us to take full ownership of our mental and emotional state.
Our mental life can often be tumultuous with so many voices and ideas influencing what we think and how we feel. Striving to bring those thoughts captive to Christ’s obedience helps us recognize that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.
As we live life according to His instructions, we will experience growth and peace that transcends understanding.
1 Timothy 1:8-11
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
We know that the law is good when used correctly. For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
According to 1 Timothy, homosexuality, among other things, is “contrary to sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel.”
Here is another example of Bible verses about homosexuality in the New Testament that instruct Christians to avoid sin.
This passage provides a powerful reminder for us to strive for integrity and refrain from immorality.
Romans 1:26-27
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Here, Paul is encouraging the new Christians in Rome to stay away from “shameful desires.” Right before this passage he says, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
God is asking Christians to follow his perfect design for mankind in all of these Bible verses about homosexuality and other sins. It states that out of our free will we can go against what is naturally designed and instead make choices out of vanity and lust.
We must take time to look into ourselves and focus on the opportunities God provides to discern His will and use our lives to give glory to Him, out of God’s natural design.
1 Peter 1:13-15
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
God’s design for this world is perfect. He created everything and gave life to us all. Our Creator knows what is the very best for his creation.
Because He loves us, he gives us guidelines on how to live well, both to honor Him and also to give us the most fulfilling life possible.
These verses in 1 Peter are another encouragement to be obedient to God’s will. We will never be perfect, as we all fall short of God’s holiness, but because of our thankfulness of grace, we can strive to follow the Bible’s guidance to the best of our ability.
When Christians sin by not being perfectly holy, God extends His grace and love anyway. He knows we are a work in progress, but it would serve us best to strive for holiness as much as we can. That’s why we find clarity in Bible verses about homosexuality.
He is a just God and we will always have consequences– earthly and eternally– for choosing to live sinfully. Reading the Word and walking closely with Him is the only path towards the holy life to which God has called us.
