The Bible and Homosexuality by Rev. Mona West, Ph.D. (MCC[Eric, 3/2013])

The Bible and Homosexuality


By Rev. Mona West, Ph.D. (MCC[Eric 3/2013])

Lesbians and gay men face discrimination because of societal attitudes. Unfortunately, these

attitudes are often taught by churches and, sadly, the Bible is frequently used as a weapon to

“bash” lesbians and gays. It is important to remember that such hurtful things are not a reflection of

Christ, or the way God wants the church to be, or even what the Bible really says.

Only a small number of passages in the entire Bible reference same-sex sexual activity (six out of

sixty-six books of the entire Bible). Obviously this topic was not of great concern to the biblical

writers. Yet these verses have been used to justify hatred, condemnation and exclusion of God’s

lesbian and gay children.

The word ‘homosexuality’ is a modern term and did not exist during biblical times. Biblical writers

had no concept of sexual orientation or sexual development as we understand those today.

Therefore, passages that reference same-sex sexual activity should not been seen as

comprehensive statements concerning homosexuality, but instead should be viewed in the context

of what the ancient world that produced the Bible understood about sexual activity.

Sexuality in the Mediterranean World

Biblical scholars have employed the social sciences to study the relational and gender patterns of

the ancient Mediterranean world—the world that produced the Bible. Professor Mary Tolbert

summarizes that research with the following words:

The single most important concept that defines sexuality in the ancient Mediterranean

world, whether we are talking about the kingdoms of Egypt or of Assyria or whether we are

talking about the later kingdoms of Greece and Rome, is that approved sexual acts never

occurred between social equals. Sexuality, by definition, in ancient Mediterranean

societies required the combination of dominance and submission. This crucial social and

political root metaphor of dominance and submission as the definition of sexuality rested

upon a physical basis that assumed every sex act required a penetrator and someone who

was penetrated. Needless to say, this definition of sexuality was entirely male—not

surprising in the heavily patriarchal societies of the Mediterranean.

In these societies sexual acts between men did happen, but they happened in order to show

dominance of one group of men or a man over another, especially during times of war. It was not

uncommon for men who had conquered a foreign army to rape them in order to show they were

dominant and of a higher status.

The Story of Sodom in Genesis 19

This understanding is helpful when we read the story of the city of Sodom, Lot, and the visitors (or

angels). The men of Sodom want to ‘know’ (yadah - a Hebrew word that can mean sexual

intercourse) the foreigners who have come to Lot’s house. In essence they want to rape them in

order to show their social and cultural dominance over them.

This story is not a condemnation of homosexuality, but is a story about rape and inhospitality. In

other biblical texts (Ezekiel 16:49, Luke 17:28-29) Sodom’s ‘sin’ is not identified as homosexuality,

rather, their sins were pride, failure to help the poor, and lack of hospitality to foreigners.

Leviticus

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (18:22)

“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they

shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (20:13)

These verses are part of the Holiness Code in the Old Testament book of Leviticus (chapters 17-

26) that attempted to spell out ways the people of Israel would act differently than their

Mediterranean neighbors. In light of the previously mentioned sexual practices of Israel’s

neighbors, it becomes clear that this prohibition in Leviticus was an attempt to preserve the internal

harmony of Jewish male society by not allowing them to participate in anal intercourse as a form of

expressing or gaining social and political dominance. These verses in no way prohibit, nor do they

even speak, to loving, caring sexual relationships between people of the same gender.

The Writings of the Apostle Paul

“So do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived!

Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards,

revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

“The law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and

sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,

fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound

teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:9-11).

There are two major issues to consider when one approaches these passages: translation and

sexual practices of Greek culture. A comparison of these verses in several translations of the Bible

indicates that there is some confusion about how to translate two Greek words in these lists of

vices Paul has enumerated. The two words are arsenokoitai which is rendered in various

translations as “homosexuals,” “sodomites,” “child molesters,” or “perverts” and malakoi which is

rendered in various translations as “catamites,” “the effeminate,” or “boy prostitutes.”

These Greek words are difficult to translate in the context of these passages. Malakoi is a

common term and means “soft.” It can refer to clothing (Matthew 11:8) or moral matters, meaning

“undisciplined.” Arsenokoitai is a rare word and is made up of arseno meaning “man,” and koitai

meaning “bed, lying, or having sex with.” When put together the word may mean “male

prostitutes.”

When these words are placed in the context of Greek culture in which Paul was writing, the

passages have very specific meanings. As we have seen earlier, the Mediterranean world had a

definition of sexuality that was based on dominance/submission and unequal status. Greek culture

fine tuned that definition with regard to status. Proper sexual relations occurred between people

whose status was unequal. In addition there was a practice in ancient Greek culture known as

pederasty in which younger men were socialized and educated through a close relationship with an

older man. These older men were the boys’ (age 12 or 13) patrons and, often, their lovers. These

relationships were seen as the key to raising up the next generation of city leaders and there were

strict rules about how long the relationship should last and the roles of families within these

relationships. Evidently there was some abuse happening in these relationships and young boys

were being exploited and kept by the patron well after the boy had grown into adulthood (which

would have made him an equal, hence violating the code of sex only among unequals).

These abusive relationships are what the apostle Paul is referencing, not mutually loving and

caring relationships between people of the same sex.

Romans 1:26-27

“For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural

intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with

women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men

and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”

By now it should be clear that these verses must be read in the cultural context of the

Mediterranean world that understood socially acceptable sexual behavior to happen only one way:

among unequals with the dominant partner always an adult male.

It is also important to read these verses in Romans within their larger context. At the beginning of

his letter to the church in Rome (where he had not yet visited) Paul was attempting to lay out for

the Roman church his theology of grace (all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; but are

justified by the gift of grace in Christ Jesus, 3:23). He is writing to a Jewish and Gentile audience.

In chapter one he tries to demonstrate the Gentiles’ need for God by pointing out behaviors that

keep them alienated from God. In chapter two he does the same thing for his Jewish audience.

Paul’s reference to natural and unnatural sexual acts must be taken in light of Mediterranean

sexuality. He is not attempting to give an ethical teaching concerning homosexuality. He is trying

to meet his Gentile audience on their own terms; using the example of some people who are not

upholding the dominant/submissive model as an opportunity to talk about all persons’ need for the

saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Issues of Biblical Authority

When dealing with matters of biblical interpretation one always needs to keep in mind the role of

the authority of the Bible in matters of faith and practice. While the Bible is an important witness to

the relationship between God and humanity, it is not the ultimate revelation of God—Jesus Christ,

the Word made flesh, is. We must guard against what some scholars have called bibliolatry—

making an idol out of scripture.

One way to guard against bibliolatry is to realize that while the Bible may be at the center of

matters of faith, it must also be in ‘conversation’ with tradition, experience and reason. These four

sources of faith have become known as the Wesleyan quadrilateral, so named after their originator

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist heritage.

We must read and interpret scripture with the aid of the history and tradition of the Christian

church. We must also bring reason—philosophical and rational thought--to bear on applications of

scripture to real life situations. And last and most importantly, scripture must be weighed alongside

human experience—especially the experience of God’s grace.

It is time we stopped making an idol out of the Bible. It is time we bring philosophical and rational

thought—especially what the sciences have told us about sexual orientation and identity

development—into conversation with the Bible. It is time we listen to the experiences of God’s gay

and lesbian children who know with all their hearts that God has created them just as they are.

Resources

Brooten, Bernadette (1996). Love Between Women: Early Christian Responses to Female

Homoeroticism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Helminiak, Daniel (1994). What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality. San Francisco: Alamo

Square Press.

Scroggs, Robin (1983). The New Testament and Homosexuality. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Tolbert, Mary (2002). “Homoeroticism in the Biblical World: Biblical Texts in Historical Contexts.”

Paper delivered at Lancaster School of Theology, published on the web at www.clgs.org.

Wink, Walter (1999). Homosexuality and the Christian Faith: Questions of Conscience for the

Churches. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.