Gay women in the bible
What does the Bible tell about being a lesbian?
Answer
Some are under the assumption that, while the Bible condemns gay sex between men, it nowhere condemns being a lesbian/lesbianism. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 state men having sex with other men, but speak nothing of women having sex with other women. In the Sodom and Gomorrah account in Genesis 19, the men of the cities wanted to gang rape other men. First Corinthians 6:9 mentions effeminate men, very likely referring to homosexuals, but does not mention lesbians. So, does the Bible in fact condemn male homosexuality, but not lesbianism?
Romans 1:26-27 puts this invalid assumption to rest: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men dedicated indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” (emphasis added). Clearly, this route puts lesbianism on matching ground with male homosexuality. Lesbianism is described as women exchanging natural relations (with men) for unnatural relations (wi
Does the Bible speak about lesbianism? What does the Bible say about being a lesbian?
IMPORTANT:
New format with engaging questions and other great discipleship material coming soon! This page is in the old format but still contains compelling, relevant, and practical biblical content!
Lesbianism refers to sexual relationships between two women. While sexual relationships between men are clearly condemned in the Bible in both the Old and Fresh Testaments, some have argued that the Bible does not mention sexual relationships between women, therefore making it acceptable. Is this true?
It is exact to say that many of the Old Testament passages that speak against same sex activity specifically address men. For example, the same sex gang rape attempt in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 only mentions men. Leviticus 20:13 specifically condemned matching sex male relationships but not female.
Other passages, however, are clearer regarding this matter. The most specific passage that addresses lesbian relationships is create in Romans 1:26-27a: "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that
The Bible on Homosexual Behavior
One way to argue against these passages is to make what I phone the “shellfish objection.” Keith Sharpe puts it this way: “Until Christian fundamentalists boycott shellfish restaurants, end wearing poly-cotton T-shirts, and stone to death their wayward offspring, there is no obligation to hear to their diatribes about homosexuality being a sin” (The Gay Gospels, 21).
In other words, if we can disregard rules enjoy the ban on eating shellfish in Leviticus 11:12, then we should be allowed to disobey other prohibitions from the Mature Testament. But this argument confuses the Old Testament’s temporary ceremonial laws with its permanent moral laws.
Here’s an analogy to serve understand this distinction.
I recall two rules my mom gave me when I was young: hold her hand when I cross the street and don’t drink what’s under the sink. Today, I own to follow only the latter rule, since the former is no longer needed to protect me. In fact, it would now do me more harm than good.
Old Testament ritual/ceremonial laws were prefer mom’s handholding rule. The reason they forbade the Israelites from using certain fabrics or foods, or interacting with bodily
Lesbians and the Bible
What does the Bible speak about lesbians? Where did the term originate?
Origins
The word Lesbians did not originate in the Bible. It is believed the term lesbians came from the reference to residents living on the island of Lesbos. This island, the third largest one in the Aegean Sea, was home in the early 7th century B.C. to a female poet named Sappho.
Sappho, a lesbian, was known for writing about her warm relationships with other females. Her fame, according to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, rivalled that of Homer. Her sexual practices led to the island's label being used to construct the term lesbians.
"We may conclude that Sappho was not utterly vicious, though by no means a paragon of virtue. All ancient tradition and the character of her extant fragments show that her morality was what has ever since been recognizable as 'Lesbian'" (1911 Encyclopedia Britannica section on Sappho).
Unlawful Behavior
Only one Biblical channel clearly deals with lesbians and their sexual deed. It is found in the book of Romans, which states the tracking.
For this cause, God abandoned them to disgraceful passions; for even their women changed t
.
