Romans 1:26–27

Context

Romans 1:18–32 declares that the wrath of God is revealed against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Although people could have known God through the created world, they did not glorify him and instead exchanged his glory for images made like corruptible man and beasts (v. 23). Paul then states three times that God consequently "gave them up" to the lusts of their hearts (vv. 24, 26, 28). Verses 26–27 form the second of these stages, and they are followed by a list of various sins, including covetousness, envy, murder, and slander. Then, in 2:1, Paul declares that whoever judges such people does the same things, thereby placing every reader before God.

Interpretation

• Traditional interpretation: The Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and most major Protestant denominations in Korea read this passage as teaching that same-sex sexual activity in itself departs from God's created order. They connect "natural" (physis, nature) with the created order of male and female in Genesis 1–2 and cite the passage alongside Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9–11. Proponents of this position also often affirm that all people, including those with same-sex attraction, are objects of God's love.
• Revisionist interpretation: Some theologians and denominations in North America and Europe argue that what Paul had in mind was sexual activity bound up with idolatry, exploitative relationships with slaves or boys, or acts committed out of lust by people naturally oriented toward the opposite sex, and that these differ from today's consensual same-sex relationships. Some also read "nature" as referring to the social conventions or gender roles of the time, pointing out that the same word is used in 1 Corinthians 11:14 in reference to customs concerning hair length.

Debates and Issues

Those who support the traditional interpretation respond that the passage also mentions relations between women, which makes it difficult to limit its scope to exploitative relationships, and that Paul's argument is grounded in creation rather than in cultural custom. Those who hold the revisionist interpretation maintain that the ancient world had no concept of sexual orientation comparable to today's.

These interpretive differences have shaped the official positions of denominations. Some mainline denominations in the United States have permitted same-sex marriage or the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, and some denominations have divided over the issue. Major Korean denominations generally define homosexuality as contrary to Scripture. For further details, see the article Homosexuality and the Church. Observers on both sides of the debate have noted that using this passage solely to condemn a particular group misses the movement of Paul's argument in 2:1 and 3:23.

Related Passages

• Romans 1:18–25
• Romans 2:1
• Leviticus 18:22
• 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
• Genesis 1:27