Isaiah 56:3—Did Isaiah predict there would be homosexuals in the kingdom?

Problem: According to some pro-homosexual interpreters, Isaiah 56:3 prophesied homosexuals will be brought into the kingdom of God. The Lord said, “to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off” (niv). Should this be taken to mean that Isaiah predicted the day of acceptance for homosexuals into God’s kingdom?

Solution: The Bible makes no predictions about homosexuals being accepted into the kingdom of God. First of all, Isaiah’s prophecy is about “eunuchs,” not homosexuals. And enunuchs are asexual, not homosexual.

Second, the “eunuchs” spoken of are probably spiritual, not physical. Jesus spoke of spiritual “eunuchs” who had given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:11–12).

Third, this is a classic example of reading one’s beliefs into the text (isogesis), rather than reading the meaning out of the text (exegesis). This is the very thing homosexuals charge heterosexuals of doing with Scripture.

Finally, the Bible says emphatically that “neither fornicators ... nor homosexuals ... will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9). The Scriptures repeatedly and consistently condemn homosexual practices (see comments on Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26). God loves all persons, including homosexuals. But He hates homosexuality.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.