Homosexuality And Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9 (Part 2)

 

Homosexuality And Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9 (Part 2).

Brett A. Todd

Romans 1:26-27 is the New Testament passage it seems most anti-gay individuals like to quote in their attempt to prove that homosexuality is sexual deviation and morally wrong.  This is how these two verses read:

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.

Since the Bible is a guidebook for most Christians, it is understandable why some Christians would view homosexuality (LGBTQ+) as unethical and sinful.  And yes, it is clear from Paul’s words that more than likely he was aware of and did condemn what he knew and understood of same-sex relationships (See Jewett). However, it is doubtful he was aware and understood what our modern society would call a committed relationship between two adult men or two adult women or the idea of sexual identity and orientation.

So what was Paul writing about in these two verses? In all likelihood, Paul was condemning slave prostitution, orgies, sex between an older man and an adolescent boy (pederasty), and men who prostituted themselves by becoming passive recipients of sexual intercourse.  In short, Paul was condemning the domination, exploitation, abusive and oppressive pagan practice of sex and prostitution.  One has to wonder if Paul was aware and was thinking about the stories of Tiberius Caesar Augustus’ sexual shenanigans and the likes.

This brings us to a difficult question: how do we properly make comparisons and contrasts between what Paul said nearly 2000 years ago and our present understanding and knowledge of homosexuality today? 

First, we must be honest and admit there is a lot we do not know and probably will never know.  Secondly, and this is important if we ever hope to have some clarity on what Paul was addressing: we must look at it from a historical perspective, from what we do know and not what we think.  And what we do know is this: Paul was not talking about a committed relationship between two adult men or two adult women or one’s sexual identity or orientation.

In our next study, we will continue exploring Romans 1:26-27.