Homosexuality in the Bible
There are only a few passages in the Bible that explicitly address homosexuality. Individual verses are often interpreted as hostile to homosexuals—including seven passages: Genesis 19:5; Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in the Old Testament; and Romans 1:26, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:10 in the New Testament.
Many of these passages, however, refer to entirely different topics—such as child abuse or (mass) rape. The verses from Leviticus 20:13, in particular, are often understood as a direct rejection of homosexuality. But according to Helsinki theologian Joanna Töyräänvuori, they are mistranslated: read more
The original meaning refers to two men lying in a woman's bed—that is, to a situation in which two men sleep with one woman. Only later was this text interpreted as a condemnation of homosexual relationships.
Leviticus 20:13 reads in the Luther Bible 2017:
"If a man lies with a man as he lies with a woman, they have committed an abomination; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them." (Leviticus 20:13)
But Töyräänvuori shows that the Hebrew phrase "miškebe išah" actually means "in a woman's bed" or shared a woman's bed—a metaphor for sexual intercourse with a woman. The original meaning therefore refers not to homosexual relationships, but to a "ménage à trois."
Full article by theologian Joanna Töyräänvuori from 2021 in katholisch.de
What does it actually mean when something is an abomination to God?
read more
In the Old Testament, there are many things that are described as abominations that no one pays attention to today and are seen as obsolete today
- Whoever hits or curses his parents shall die.
- Women are not allowed to wear “men’s clothing” – that is, no trousers.
- The Sabbath commandment, one of the Ten Commandments, is often not consciously kept.
- Many dietary laws are ignored – pork, rabbit, and lobster are considered “unclean,” but are eaten anyway.
- Meat is eaten with cream sauce – forbidden in the Bible.
- Polygamy was common back then, as was slavery – but today no one would seriously demand the right to keep slaves or to marry multiple wives.
For some people, homosexuality feels "unnatural"—but that has nothing to do with God or spirituality. It's a personal feeling, comparable to a devout Jew being asked to eat pork for the first time.
So, the idea that homosexuality is against the Bible is does not hold up to honest scrutiny. God himself does not condemn homosexual people.
Homosexuality and Christian faith are not contradictory.
English (UK) 
Deutsch