Homosexuality and the Bible

Being an account of the most famous (supposedly) homosexual relationship in the Bible: David and Jonathan, in the books of Samuel, of the Old Testament, courtesy of the Everything King James Bible.

1 Samuel

18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
...
19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
...
20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
...
20:41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

2 Samuel

1:4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
1:5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
1:6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
...
1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Amen.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about the Bible is that it claims being gay is a sin. This is due to ignorance, misinterpretation, misunderstanding, bad translations, or prejudice.

Actually, there are very few references to homosexual behavior in the Bible. Although it varies from translation to translation, homosexual acts are mentioned six to ten times, and in only four settings. These are:

• The story of Sodom
• The laws of Leviticus
• New Testament lists of sins
• Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome

Many of these things that could be mistaken for homosexuality, as per the 21st century attitude towards any males that might love eachother in friendship. Things like "removing eachother's tunic and cloak" were actually customs of the time, just as we would take someone's coat when they came in the door today. And many of the older styles of writing and translations that the Bible has gone through might make a close friendship without the complications of modern-day homophobic society look homosexual. But it would be out of context with the rest of the Bible, and the only place I've ever heard this idea is from other students and people who think it's funny to find gay-sounding verses in the Bible. So I doubt it..

Also, David was, according the bible, a "Man after God's own heart." Since homosexuality is expressly forbidden in the Old Testament (and I believe the New as well) David would be sinning in any kind of physical relationship he would have had with Jonathan, and he only once sinned (as in the case of Bathsheba). I agree with the above rebuttal, as well. The customs then were very different, as well as how King James' scholars would have translated the orginal manuscripts.