Introduction

Many homosexual activists will try to claim that the Bible was mis-translated to claim that homosexuality is not really a sin.  This page will show some of the homosexuality verses in their original language (although I am using the Greek Septuagint instead of the Hebrew for the Old Testament verses in order to better demonstrate the relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament passages).  In the end, I will show that there is still hope for any readers of this page who are involved in homosexuality.

Bible Passages about Homosexuality

Old Testament Passages

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)[1]
 
Και  μετα  αρσενο       ον              κοιμεθηση             κοιτην                          γυναικειαν
And with a man you shall not  go to bed    in a marriage-bed    in the feminine way;
 
        βδελυα           γαρ εστι. (Leviticus 18:22, Septuagint)
an abomination for   it is.

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. (Leviticus 20:13)

και      ος     αν                κοιμηθη              μετα αρσενος          κοιτην                        γυναικος,
And who ever should have bedded with a male      as the marriage-bed of a woman,
 
     βδελυγμα         εποιησαν αμφότεροι θανατω         θανατουσθωσαν            ενοχοι       εισιν.
an abomination  did                   both;        to death let them be put to death! they are liable.
(Leviticus 20:13, Septuagint)
 

New Testament Passages

The Greek Septuagint translation shows the construction of the Greek word "αρσενοκοιται," which translates to "homosexuals" in the 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10 passages below.

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. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:26-32)

 

As some homosexual activists claim that 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10 were not properly translated into English, I am providing the Greek translation of these passages below, following with the passages in English. In this case, the New American Standard Bible (NASB) provides a better translation; therefore, I am using it here.

Greek 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
 
η   ουκ      οιδατε      ότι          αδικοι     θεου   βασιλειαν    ου κληρονομησονσιν;     μη     πλανασθε
Or not you know that unjust ones God the kingdom of      will not inherit?   Be not led astray;
 
ουτε    πορνοι     ουτε ειδωλολατραι ουτε    μοιχοι     ουτε μαλακοι ουτε αρσενοκοιται
not fornicators,  nor       idolaters,     nor adulterers, nor abusers, nor    homosexuals,
 
ουτε κλεπται ουτε     πλεονεκται,    ου     μεθνσοι,     ου  λοιδοροι, ουχ   αρπαγεζ      βασιλειαν
  nor thieves,  nor  covetous ones, nor drunkards, nor revilers,   nor plunderers the kingdom of
 
θεοω κληρονομησονσιν. και ταντα τινεζ          ητε;    αλλα    απελονσασθε, αλλα
  God       shall inherit.         And such some you were but you were washed but
 
           ηγιασθντε,        αλλα       εδικαιωθντε,     εν τω ονοματι     τον  κυριου (ημων) ιησου χριστου
you were sanctified but you were justified in the   name   of the Lord      of us    Jesus  Christ
 
και  εν   τω πνευματι του    θεου ημων.
and by the   Spirit    of the God of us. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Greek)
Greek 1 Timothy 1:9-10
 
     ειδως  τουτο, ότι            δικαιω                      νομος ου         κειται,             ανομοις      δε    και
knowing   this,  that for a righteous one the law       is not enacted for lawless but and
 
       ανυποτακτοις,             ασεβεσι            και αμαρτωλοις,     ανοσιοις         και   βεβηλοις,
insubordinate ones, for the ungodly and        sinful,       for the unholy and profane,
 
              πατρολωαις               και                μητρολωαις,              ανδροφονοις,             πορνοις,
for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for slayers of man, for the sexually immoral,
 
αρσενοκοιταις, ανδραποδισταις, ψευσταις, εττιορκοις, και ει          τι        ετερον, τη
   homosexuals,           enslavers,             liars,         perjurers, and if anything other in the
 
  υγιαινουση διδασκαλια,     αντικειται
being sound    teaching    is opposed to (1 Timothy 1:9-10, Greek)

English Translations (NASB)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB)

realizing the fact that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching (1 Timothy 1:9-10 NASB)

The word "homosexual" does not appear in either of these passages in the King James Version.  However, the word "homosexual" did not even exist in the English language until the mid to late 1800's, well after the 1611 publishing date of the King James Version.

Comments

The 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 passage also shows that some of the Christians at Corinth were homosexuals and became straight. I have also personally helped lead someone out of that lifestyle and have talked to several other ex-homosexuals. Therefore, homosexuals can change! This is not to say that such a change is easy, nor to say that once a homosexual accepts Christ, he will immediately become straight.

For any visitors to this page who happen to be involved in homosexuality or lesbianism, I want to offer you hope as well. Jesus died for your sins, including homosexuality. Yes, homosexuality is a sin; however, Jesus can save homosexuals the same way that He can save all other sinners (which is everybody). See how to go to heaven.

A final note:  Can a person be a Christian and struggle with same-sex attractions?  Absolutely!!  Christians may struggle with many things, this included.  Of course, what one Christian struggles with may be different from what another Christian struggles with.

footnotes

[1] All scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Please see my about page for why I chose this translation.↩