The biblical roots of the gay marriage debate

Words and phrases vary from one version of the Bible to another.

Credit: Chris Hunt

Credit: Chris Hunt

Words and phrases vary from one version of the Bible to another.

In two days, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans in four states. Georgia is not one of the four states, but its gay marriage ban, enacted in 2004, will stand or fall based on the justices’ ruling.

In a special report today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will trace the evolution of attitudes toward gay marriage in the state and also will examine the politics surrounding this deeply divisive issue.

To kick off the discussion, here is a briefing on the religious roots of the controversy.

Opponents of same-sex marriage often cite the passages below from both the Old and New Testaments to support their views. They reject the notion that truth as expressed in the Bible can somehow change with the times. And they point to verses in Leviticus in particular that seem unambiguous.

Supporters of gay marriage, many of whom count themselves as believers, respond that the Old Testament carries a number of prohibitions and prescriptions that even devout Christians have long ignored. They also say that in the New Testament, Christ does not directly address homosexuality.

These passages, only a sampling of those cited in the debate, are from the Revised Standard Version. Different translations use different words, all of which have been parsed and interpreted in a host of ways, often to support one view or another.

Homosexuality is specifically proscribed in Leviticus, so we begin there.

“I believe in Leviticus,” U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., tells the AJC to explain his view of homosexuality. (His complete comments appear in Sunday’s report.)

Leviticus 18:22-23 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it; neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it. It is perversion.

Leviticus 18:30 So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and never defile yourselves with them:  I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:13  If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.

In the next two passages, from Genesis and Judges, householders offer their virgin daughters and, in Judges, a concubine to a mob to avert the gang-rape of male houseguests. (Gang rape is not averted, merely transferred to female victims.)

In the Judges narrative – known as the “Crime of Gibeah,” after the town in which it took place – the houseguest's concubine is pushed out the front door to satisfy the mob. He finds her dead on his host’s doorstep the next morning.

In outrage, he carves her into 12 pieces and sends one to each of the 12 tribes of Israel to let all know of the horrors that took place that night. Whereupon the tribes rise up and put Gibeah to the sword.

Opponents of same-sex marriage assert that these passages support a divine prohibition on homosexuality.

Genesis 19:4-8 The men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them." Lot went out of the door to the men, shut the door after him, and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men."

Judges 19:22-24  The men of the city, base fellows, beset the house round about, beating on the door; and they said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him." And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brethren, do not act so wickedly; seeing that this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine; let me bring them out now. Ravish them and do with them what seems good to you; but against this man do not do so vile a thing."

The New Testament

In the New Testament, gay-marriage proponents point out, Jesus doesn’t discuss homosexuality directly, although he clearly condemns some other activities and behaviors. In his letters to the Romans and Corinthians, however, Paul makes reference to homosexual acts and says “sexual perverts” – believed by some to refer to homosexuals – will be barred from heaven.

Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

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