Early Christian Views on Homosexuality
Early Christians taught that same-sex sex was sinful and against God’s design for human life. Clement, Athenagoras, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all speak clearly against it. Key Bible passages in this set include Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, and Jude 1:7. The view is broad and repeated across several centuries.
145 early-church witnesses · 218 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about homosexuality?
Early Christians taught that same-sex sex was sinful and outside God’s design. Clement of Alexandria, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all speak against male same-sex acts, often linking them to Sodom, lust, or what is contrary to nature. The clearest Bible passages in this set are Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, and Jude 1:7.
The witness is broad across the 1st to 3rd centuries, and it is not limited to one author or one region. Some extra cards are indirect, repetitive, or about wider sexual sin, but the main teaching is consistent. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers repeatedly treated same-sex sex as sinful.
- Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, Leviticus 18, Leviticus 20, and Jude 1 are the main Bible passages in this set.
- The early witness is broad across the 1st to 3rd centuries.
Questions Answered by the Sources
What did early Christians teach about same-sex acts?
These sources repeatedly describe same-sex acts as sinful, unnatural, or contrary to God’s order. Several writers mention male-male sex directly, while others condemn pederasty or sexual immorality in general terms.
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
... Israel, called them “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah,” indicating their similarity to the Sodomites in wickedness and widespread sin, calling them by the same name because of their similar behavior. Since they were not created by God to be this way and had the ability to act righteously, he advised them, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove evil from your souls before my eyes; cease from your sins.” Thus, having transgressed and sinned similarly, they received the same reproach as the Sodomites. Yet, when they convert, repent, and stop doing evil, they have the power to become the children of God and receive the inheritance of immortality given by Him. For this reason, He called those who follow the devil and do his works “angels of the devil” and “children of the wicked one.” Yet all are created by the same God. When they believe, submit to God, and follow His teachings, they are the children of God; but when they fall away and transgress, they are attributed to the devil—the leader who first caused apostasy to himself and then to others.
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Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians Supporting witness
For those who have set up a market for fornication and established infamous resorts for the young for every kind of vile pleasure — who do not abstain even from males, males with males committing shocking abominations, outraging all the noblest and comeliest bodies in all sorts of ways, so dishonouring the fair workmanship of God (for beauty on earth is not self-made, but sent hither by the hand and will of God) — these men, I say, revile us for the very things which they are conscious of themselves, and ascribe to their own gods, boasting of them as noble deeds, and worthy of the gods.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
You shall not corrupt boys: Leviticus 18:22 for this wickedness is contrary to nature, and arose from Sodom, which was therefore entirely consumed with fire sent from God.
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
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Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness
...f her love for Sodom. And those who are godless, devoted to impiety, hard-hearted, and foolish, are Sodomites. Believe that these words are spoken to you from God. Do not think that stones, and pieces of wood, and birds, and serpents are sacred things, while men are not. On the contrary, regard men as truly sacred, and take beasts and stones for what they are. For there are miserable people who think that God utters His voice by the raven and the jackdaw, but says nothing by man. They honor the raven as a messenger of God. But the man of God, who does not croak or chatter, but speaks rationally and teaches with love, they persecute. And while he invites them to cultivate righteousness, they try inhumanly to kill him. They neither welcome the grace that comes from above nor fear the penalty. For they do not believe God or understand His power, whose love for mankind is beyond words, and whose hatred of evil is inconceivable. His anger increases punishment against sin. His love bestows blessings on repentance. It is the greatest misery to be deprived of the help that comes from God. So this blindness of eyes and dullness of hearing are more grievous than other blows from the evil
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness
...ys, “Do not be deceived: neither adulterers, nor effeminate persons, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor fornicators, nor revilers, nor drunkards, nor thieves can inherit the kingdom of God.” And again, “If the dead do not rise, then Christ is not raised; our preaching therefore is in vain, and your faith is also in vain: you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most miserable. If the dead do not rise, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” But if such be our condition and feelings, how shall we differ from donkeys and dogs, who have no care about the future, but think only of eating, and indulging such appetites as follow eating? For they are unacquainted with any intelligence moving within them.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor those who abuse themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor deceivers, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such indeed were you; but you are washed; but you are justified; but you are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9. He says that we are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. We pray that this sanctification may remain in us. And because our Lord and Judge warns the man who was healed and given life by Him to sin no more, lest something worse happen to him, we make this request in our constant prayers. We ask this day and night, that the sanctification and life-giving power received from the grace of God may be kept safe by His protection.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
... who even prostitute their own children and wives, and some are openly mutilated for the purpose of sodomy; these acts are attributed to the mother of the gods, and with each deity you honor, there is depicted a serpent, symbolizing a great secret and mystery. Indeed, the things you do openly and celebrate, as if divine light were overturned and extinguished, you accuse us of; but in truth, this does not harm us, who refuse to do such things, but only those who commit them and bear false witness against us.
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Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness
For it is well that they should be cut off from the lusts that are in the world, since “every lust warreth against the spirit;” and “neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God,” nor those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
...one and the other proved wicked. The former hanged himself. The latter, as he flew in the air in an unnatural manner, was dashed against the earth. Moreover, Noah and his sons were with him in the ark. But Ham, who alone was found wicked, received punishment in his son. But if fathers are not punished for their children, nor children for their fathers, then it is clear that neither will wives be punished for their husbands, nor servants for their masters, nor one relation for another, nor one friend for another, nor the righteous for the wicked. But everyone will be required to give an account of his own doing. For neither was punishment inflicted on Noah for the world, nor was Lot destroyed by fire for the Sodomites, nor was Rahab slain for the inhabitants of Jericho, nor Israel for the Egyptians. For not living together, but agreement in their mindset, alone could condemn the righteous with the wicked. We ought not, therefore, to listen to such persons who call for death, and hate mankind, and love accusations, and under fair pretenses bring men to death. For one man shall not die for another, but everyone is held with the chains of his own sins. Proverbs 5:22. And, behold, th
How did early Christians use Sodom when talking about homosexuality?
The supplied witnesses use Sodom as an example of judgment and as a moral warning against sexual wrongdoing and wicked desire. Some sources explicitly connect the Sodom story with same-sex behavior or unnatural lust.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
...ges of divine wisdom. But I will mention one example and explain it in a few words. The fate of the Sodomites was judgment for those who had done wrong, and instruction for those who hear. The Sodomites, through much luxury, had fallen into uncleanness. They practiced adultery shamelessly, and burned with insane love for boys. The all-seeing Word, from whose notice those who commit impieties cannot escape, cast His eye on them. Nor did the sleepless guardian of humanity observe their licentiousness in silence. Instead, He warned us away from imitating them, trained us in His own temperance, and fell on some sinners, lest lust, if left unavenged, should break loose from all the restraints of fear. So He ordered Sodom to be burned, pouring out a little of His wise fire on licentiousness, lest lust, through lack of punishment, should throw wide the gates to those rushing into voluptuousness. Accordingly, the just punishment of the Sodomites became for men an image of the salvation that is well suited for men. For those who have not committed sins like those who are punished will never receive a like punishment. By guarding against sinning, we guard against affliction. For I want yo
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
...he Romans and Greeks also forbid these things. Why then do Epicurus and the Stoics teach incest and sodomy, filling libraries with these teachings, so that this lawless intercourse is learned from boyhood? And why should I spend more time on them, since they tell similar stories even about those whom they call gods?
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Jude 1:7 Direct teaching
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
More related quotations from this section 2 shown
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
...hile, those who call themselves wise have despised these virtues, and have wallowed in the filth of sodomy, in lawless lust, men with men working what is unseemly.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
...God and Father, both in Your various creation and Your fitting providence, and has not ignored lost mankind. But after the law of nature, after the exhortations in the written law, after the prophetic rebukes and the government of the angels, when men had perverted both the written law and the law of nature, and had cast out of their minds the memory of the flood, the burning of Sodom, the plagues of the Egyptians, and the slaughter of the inhabitants of Palestine, and were just ready to perish altogether in an unparalleled way, He was pleased, by Your good will, to become man, though He was man's Creator; to be under the laws, though He was the Lawgiver; to be a sacrifice, though He was a High Priest; to be a sheep, though He was the Shepherd. And He appeased You, His God and Father, reconciled You to the world, freed all men from the wrath to come, and was made from a virgin, and was in flesh, being God the Word, the beloved Son, the firstborn of the whole creation, and was, according to the prophecies foretold concerning Him by Himself, of the seed of David and Abraham, of the tribe of Judah. And He was formed in the womb of a virgin, He who formed all mankind who are born in
Which Bible verses did early Christians cite against homosexual behavior?
The strongest Bible passages in the supplied evidence are Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Jude 1:7, and Leviticus 18:22. Early Christian writers cite or echo these passages when arguing against sexual immorality and same-sex acts.
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Romans 1:27 Direct teaching
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
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1 Corinthians 6:9 Direct teaching
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
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Romans 1:26 Supporting witness
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
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1 Timothy 1:10 Supporting witness
for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
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Leviticus 18:22 Supporting witness
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
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Leviticus 20:13 Supporting witness
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
More related quotations from this section 2 shown
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
...saved completely because of the communion of the Spirit; likewise, he who has persisted in the aforementioned works of the flesh, being truly regarded as carnal, because he did not receive the Spirit of God, shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. The same apostle also testifies, saying to the Corinthians, "Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be mistaken," he says: "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor revilers, nor rapacious persons, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And this you indeed were; but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." He clearly shows how a person goes to destruction if they continue to live according to the flesh; and conversely, he points out how they are saved. Now he states that the things which save are the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
neither adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, and whatever else he adds to these, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Common Questions
Did early Christians condemn homosexuality?
Yes. Several early Christian writers speak against same-sex sex, and the Bible passages in this set also reject it.
Which Bible verses did early Christians use?
Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, and Jude 1:7 are the main passages in this set.
Did all early Christian writers agree?
The writers in this set are largely in agreement, though some passages are more direct than others.
Source Index for Homosexuality
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 153 ranked source links from 218 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 153 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 145
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Unknown, Unknown Work
Bible Passages 73 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:14