What does the Bible say about monogamous same-sex relationships?

Origin and Design of Marriage

Scripture depicts the foundational blueprint of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, highlighting God’s design in creation. After forming humanity “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), God specifically established the marital bond:

• “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

Throughout the biblical narrative, marriage is consistently portrayed as a covenantal partnership between male and female. This pattern underscores the relational design rooted in God’s creative purpose.

Key Old Testament Passages

The Old Testament includes direct prohibitions against same-sex sexual activity. While these passages do not distinguish between monogamous or non-monogamous same-sex relationships, they clearly address the male-male sexual relationship in moral instructions for Israel:

• “You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

• “If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination.” (Leviticus 20:13)

Although the immediate context concerns the holiness code for ancient Israel, these verses reinforce the pattern established in Genesis for male-female marriage.

The account of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) is sometimes cited in discussions of same-sex behavior. In that narrative, the city’s sexual immorality contributes to its judgment. While some debate the exact nature of the sin, many interpreters note that the story aligns with broader prohibitions on same-sex relations in the Pentateuch.

New Testament Teaching

In the New Testament, marital imagery between a husband and wife emerges as a metaphor for Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:31–32). This imagery, drawn from Genesis 2:24, reaffirms the foundational pattern of male and female union. Several passages address same-sex sexual activity:

1. Romans 1:26–27

• “Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another…”

Paul frames same-sex relations in contrast to the “natural” design of male-female relations that God created.

2. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10

• “…Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral…nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts…will inherit the kingdom of God.”

While the letter addresses multiple moral behaviors, the inclusion of homosexual acts (without specifying monogamous vs. non-monogamous) indicates that such behavior contradicts the holiness lived out by the redeemed community.

3. 1 Timothy 1:9–10

• “…the law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless…for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals…”

These verses list a variety of behaviors outside the bounds of God’s moral framework. Although admonitions often cover a broad range of actions, any same-sex context is grouped with practices seen as inconsistent with the biblical moral pattern.

Absence of Affirmation for Same-Sex Marriage in Scripture

Throughout the biblical record, there is no positive example or affirmation of a same-sex marriage or covenantal relationship. This silence is important in biblical studies: when it comes to major relational themes—such as marriage or family—the Scriptures are explicit in endorsing male-female commitments. Monogamous same-sex relationships do not appear within the text as an approved covenantal structure.

Consistency Across Biblical Witness

From Genesis to Revelation, the testimony of Scripture remains consistent: sexual intimacy is presented within the boundaries of a heterosexual marriage covenant. The language, motifs, and instructions related to marriage and sexual expression in the Bible revolve around the male-female union. The overarching vision is one where marriage reflects God’s creative plan and the profound imagery of Christ’s loving commitment to the church.

Implications for Christian Ethics and Pastoral Care

Because Scripture’s directives view same-sex activity as incompatible with God’s design, traditional Christian ethics have consistently upheld heterosexual marriage as the only biblically sanctioned context for sexual relations. In practical ministry, believers are called to uphold biblical truth with compassion (Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:15), offering grace and support while maintaining fidelity to scriptural teaching.

Common Objections and Responses

1. “The Bible’s Prohibitions Were Cultural or Only About Exploitative Relationships.”

– Response: The biblical texts themselves rarely make a distinction between exploitative and consensual same-sex relationships. Romans 1, for instance, situates the rejection of “natural relations” in a broader theological explanation of turning from God’s revealed essential design, rather than merely condemning abusive situations.

2. “Jesus Did Not Specifically Mention Homosexuality.”

– Response: Jesus affirmed the Old Testament’s view of marriage and sexual ethics by upholding the Genesis 2:24 model (Matthew 19:4–5). His silence on certain topics does not negate the established Scriptures He endorsed.

3. “We Should Emphasize Love Above All.”

– Response: Biblical love involves seeking the fullness of God’s revealed will for human relationships. New Testament love aims to align with holiness (Romans 13:8–10; 1 Corinthians 13:6), not merely desire or cultural preference.

Conclusion

In the biblical account, marriage is consistently portrayed as a covenant between one man and one woman, rooted in God’s creative design and upheld throughout Scriptural teaching. References to same-sex sexual activity are set in the context of boundaries that define appropriate sexual expression. Whether examined through Old Testament law or New Testament letters, Scripture does not differentiate between monogamous and non-monogamous same-sex relationships but speaks critically of same-sex behavior as a whole.

The Bible thus presents a singular standard for marriage and sexuality, calling believers to honor that design in both belief and practice. While recognizing the complexities of pastoral care, the central biblical teaching on marriage remains focused on the male-female union, guiding ethical stances, personal devotion, and church teaching.