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Romans

  1. Lesson One
    Romans as a Theological Treatise (Romans 1–6)
    22 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Romans as an Occasional Letter (Romans 9–11)
    19 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    The Real Difference (Romans 7–8)
    19 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Living out the Gospel in "Rome" (Romans 12–14)
    21 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience (Romans 15–16)
    22 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Romans Living out the Gospel in “Rome” (Romans 12–14) Behind | Unnatural Acts and Degrading Passions, Part 2
Lesson 4, Activity 12

Behind | Unnatural Acts and Degrading Passions, Part 2

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Here are more verses about the subject of homosexuality: 

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 ESV

 

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 ESV

 

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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV

 

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. 1 Timothy 1:9-10 ESV

Interpreters have understood these passages in a variety of ways, including the following:

  1. Scripture speaks against homosexuality, but these scriptures do not apply today.
  2. Scripture does not really speak against homosexuality. 
  3. These Scriptures speak about forced relations, not consensual ones.
  4. These passages only address homosexuality in the temples.
  5. These passages speak about acting against nature, so heterosexuals should not act against their nature any more than homosexuals should.
  6. These Scriptures show how homosexual acts are sinful and the foremost example of sin.
  7. These Scriptures show how homosexual acts are sinful like any other sin and God can forgive them.
  8. These Scriptures show how homosexuals will be condemned by God through transmitted diseases.
  9. These Scriptures show how depraved homosexuals are, and Christians must actively protest any slide into such depravity.
  10. These Scriptures show how God’s view of marriage is undermined by those who accept lies.

It is important to note that homosexual behavior (not orientation) is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Both male and female homosexual acts are described. Homosexuality is included with other actions that are cast negatively, like idolatry. Romans proceeds in chapter 2 to declare that those who judge against the actions in Romans 1 are without excuse if they do them as well. Romans 3:23-24 ESV declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”.

Sources and References:

Robin Scroggs, The New Testament and Homosexuality: Contextual Background for Contemporary Debate, 1983; Justin Lee, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gay-vs.-Christians Debate, 2012; Michael Long, Martin Luther King, Jr., Homosexuality, and the Early Gay Rights Movement, 2012.