What does Romans 1:27 mean?

Explanation

Romans 1:27 focuses on the issue of same-sex relations among men in the context of Paul the Apostle's argument about the consequences of idolatry and the abandonment of God's law.

It depicts a scene in which men have forsaken their sexual relationships with women (the "natural use" as the verse describes it) and instead engaged in same-sex activities driven by intense desire ("burned in their lust one toward another").

The verse specifies that such acts are considered by Paul as "unseemly," or inappropriate, and that those partaking in these actions receive in themselves a penalty ("recompence") that Paul sees as the natural consequence of their departure from the prescribed order.

Historical Context

The passage is set in the context of the Apostle Paul writing to the Christian community in Rome during the first century AD.

He addresses issues of sin, redemption, and the proper response to God's revelation.

At this time, the Roman Empire had widespread practices that were in conflict with Jewish Christian values, including various forms of sexual behavior that early Christians found problematic.

Paul's letter would have been an admonition to the Roman church against adopting local customs and practices inconsistent with their beliefs.

Theological Insights

The interpretation of this verse varies among different theological schools.

Many conservative theologians assert that the passage is a clear denouncement of all forms of homosexual behavior.

However, some liberal theologians argue that the text is specifically criticizing only the excessive lust and idolatrous behavior associated with it, rather than a loving, committed same-sex relationship.

They might suggest that the cultural understanding and expression of same-sex relations in the ancient world were very different from modern concepts of sexual orientation.

Practical Applications

For many believers, this verse reinforces the traditional notion that sexual relations are to be enjoyed within the boundaries of heterosexual marriage. As such, it is often cited in discussions of sexual ethics, celibacy, and discussions on the nature of marriage.

Some apply the broader message of the passage, beyond the specifics of sexual conduct, to consider the importance of living in accordance with one's core beliefs and values, and the potential consequences of straying from them.

Cross-References

• Leviticus 18:22 - "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
• Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,... shall inherit the kingdom of God."
• Jude 1:7 - "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words underscore the severity of what Paul describes.

"Ekklinantes" (ἐκκλίναντες) translates to "leaving" or "turning away," indicating a deliberate departure from established norm.

"Physiken" (φυσικήν) translates to "natural," referring to the conventional or typical function.

The term "kausasthentes" (ἐξεκαύθησαν) conveys the intensity, translating to "burned," as in a fervent lust.

"Aschēmosynēn" (ἀσχημοσύνην) means "unseemliness" or "indecency" pointing to the shameful nature of the acts.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparative to other ancient religions and cultural norms, the practice of same-sex relationships varied widely.

Ancient Greece, for instance, had traditions of pederasty that were part of mentoring relationships between older and younger men.

These behaviors were not always analogous to modern understandings of sexuality.

The Jewish faith from which Christianity emerged had strong prohibitions against same-sex sexual activity, evident in Levitical law, which contrasts with certain Roman norms of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science, particularly psychology, and biology, operates with an understanding of sexuality that differs considerably from the first-century context.

Science recognizes a spectrum of sexual orientation and understands homosexual behavior to be a natural occurrence in human and animal behaviors.

The concept of 'natural' as used by Paul may not align with the findings within the field of genetics, psychology, and other studies that explore sexual orientation as a complex interplay of biology and environment.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Romans 1:27 vary widely. Conservative scholars like John Stott and R.C. Sproul read the text as a clear and timeless prohibition against homosexual practices.

In contrast, more progressive commentators such as Matthew Vines and James Brownson suggest that the cultural and relational contexts of modern same-sex relationships are vastly different from those in the first-century world and that the passage should not be applied in the same way today.

Others propose a more nuanced approach, recognizing the text’s cultural specificity while still considering broader ethical principles that can be drawn from it.