PAULS' VIEWS
ROMANS


    SUMMARY

Some people use Chapter 1 of the Biblical book of Romans to
say that homosexuality and homosexuals are bad.  However,
the facts are as follows:

In Romans Chapter 1, Paul shows what happened to people
who refused to glorify God.  Their thinking became foolish
(distorted) and they honored and served created things
(including idols) rather than God the Creator.  Therefore God
allowed them to follow their own lustful choices and dishonor
their bodies.  Women and men changed from having male-
female sex and had female-female sex and male-male sex
instead.

Paul criticizes the act of sex between women by calling it
unnatural.  He also criticizes an extreme form of sex
between men by saying that the men are utterly consumed
in their lust for one another and men act shamefully with
men.  Although Paul calls both these forms of sex degrading
passions (shameful lusts) and unclean, he is only using them
to illustrate his argument and does not say don’t do it.

Paul’s criticism of sex between women can be ignored
by women today.

His criticism of sex between men refers only to  
penetrative sex (anal intercourse), not to other forms of sex
between men.

Paul’s criticism of male-male penetration does not
apply to straight, bisexual or gay men today provided
that no one is harmed, directly or indirectly, by the
penetration.




    SEX BETWEEN FEMALES

  • What form of sexual activity is described in verse 26?

  • What points favor verse 26 referring to sex between
    females and what points favor a reference to male-
    female anal sex?

  • What does Paul mean by “nature” in verse 26 and what
    is the meaning of “natural relations” and “unnatural
    relations”?

  • What does the criticism of sex between females mean
    for women who are attracted to, or have sex with, other
    women?

    SEX BETWEEN MALES

  • What form of male sexual activity is described in verse
    27?

  • What did Paul think of same-sex behavior?

  • What was the Roman attitude to sexual relations
    between males?

  • Is Paul criticizing same-sex activity wherever it occurs
    or just same-sex activity when people worship idols?

  • What is meant by “receiving the due penalty for their
    error” in verse 27?

  • What does the criticism of male-male penetration mean
    for men who are attracted to, or have sex with, other
    men?

    GENERAL

  • False views about verses 26 and 27

  • Other interpretations and papers