Fr. James Martin SJ Revisionist Take on Sodom & Gomorrah

An Exegetical and Theological Defense of the Traditional Interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah: Homosexuality as a Central Sin

Introduction

The narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah, found in Genesis 18–19, has been a subject of intense theological and scholarly debate, particularly regarding the nature of the sins that precipitated their divine destruction. In a recent post on X dated July 21, 2025 (James Martin: Sodom & Gomorrah), Fr. James Martin, SJ, a prominent Jesuit priest and author, referenced an Old Testament scholar to suggest that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were not primarily related to homosexuality but rather to other moral failings, implicitly challenging the traditional interpretation upheld by the Catholic Church and much of Christian tradition (Martin, 2025). This paper seeks to defend the Church’s teaching, drawing on biblical exegesis, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the original Hebrew and Greek texts, to argue that homosexuality—specifically in the form of attempted sexual violence against the angelic visitors—was a central element of the sin that provoked God’s judgment. Furthermore, it will address the mischaracterization of the narrative as solely a matter of "lack of hospitality," engaging with the text, tradition, and magisterial documents such as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986).

Biblical Exegesis of Genesis 19: The Hebrew Text and Context

The account in Genesis 19 provides the critical details of the destruction of Sodom. After Abraham’s intercession with God in Genesis 18, where the patriarch bargains for the city’s salvation based on the presence of righteous individuals, the narrative shifts to Lot, Abraham’s nephew, residing in Sodom. Two angels, disguised as men, arrive at Sodom, and Lot extends hospitality by inviting them into his home (Genesis 19:1–3). However, the men of the city surround the house and demand, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know (יָדַע, yada‘) them” (Genesis 19:5, RSV). The Hebrew verb yada‘, meaning "to know," is pivotal here. While yada‘ can denote general knowledge or acquaintance in other contexts (e.g., Genesis 4:1, where it refers to sexual intercourse between Adam and Eve), the narrative context of Genesis 19 strongly suggests a sexual intent.

Lot’s response is telling: he goes outside and pleads, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly (רָעַע, ra‘a‘). Behold, I have two daughters who have not known man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof” (Genesis 19:7–8). The use of ra‘a‘ ("wickedly") indicates a grave moral transgression, and Lot’s offer of his daughters as a substitute underscores that the men’s desire was sexual in nature, directed toward the male visitors. This act of offering his daughters, while perceived as morally problematic by modern standards, reflects an ancient Near Eastern cultural priority of protecting guests under one’s roof, even at great personal cost.  That is mentioned in the story as a comparison to the evil being done in Sodom and Gomorrah. They were so evil and wicked that Lot offering his daughters was the "greater good," if you will.  Lot may have been facetious when stating that. The men’s rejection of this offer and their attempt to break down the door (Genesis 19:9) further confirm their lustful intent.

The question arises: in what way were the men of Sodom lacking in hospitality? Hospitality in the ancient Near East involved welcoming strangers and providing for their safety, as Lot initially did. However, the men of Sodom’s demand to "know" the visitors was not a failure of hospitality but a perverse inversion of it—seeking to violate the guests rather than protect them. Was Lot supposed to permit their rape of the handsome men, who were angels in disguise? Clearly not; his desperate offer of his daughters was intended as a lesser evil to avert the greater wickedness of homosexual rape. Lot’s declaration that their intent was "wicked" (Genesis 19:7) aligns with the biblical portrayal of homosexual acts as an abomination, a theme elaborated in later texts.

The New Testament Witness: Jude and "Unnatural Flesh"

The New Testament provides further clarity on the nature of Sodom’s sin. In Jude 1:7, the author writes, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust (σαρκὸς ἑτέρας, sarkos heteras), serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire” (RSV). The Greek phrase sarkos heteras, often translated as "strange flesh" or "unnatural flesh," is significant. The term heteras (from heteros, meaning "other" or "different") suggests a deviation from the natural order, specifically heterosexual relations as ordained by God in Genesis 1:27–28 and 2:24. This interpretation is reinforced by the context of "immorality" (ekporneuō, a compound of porneuō, meaning sexual immorality), indicating that the sin involved perverse sexual behavior.

The reference to "eternal fire" echoes the destruction described in Genesis 19:24–25, where “the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Jude’s linkage of this event to "unnatural lust" aligns with the traditional understanding that the attempted homosexual rape of the angels was a key factor in God’s judgment. This New Testament perspective complements the Genesis narrative, reinforcing that the sin was not merely inhospitality but a profound moral corruption, including sexual perversion.

The Church Fathers and Tradition

The early Church Fathers consistently interpreted Sodom’s destruction as a judgment on homosexuality. St. Augustine, in The City of God (Book 16, Chapter 30), describes the men of Sodom as driven by “unnatural lust” and cites their attempt to assault the angels as evidence of their depravity. Similarly, St. John Chrysostom, in his Homilies on Genesis (Homily 43), condemns the Sodomites for their “lawless passion” and contrasts their behavior with Lot’s attempt to uphold righteousness. Tertullian, in Against Marcion (Book 3, Chapter 12), explicitly connects Sodom’s fate to its indulgence in “vices against nature,” a phrase traditionally understood to include homosexual acts.

This patristic consensus shaped the Church’s theological tradition, which views Sodom and Gomorrah as exemplars of divine retribution for sexual sins, particularly homosexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) reflects this heritage, stating in paragraph 2357 that “basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’” The footnote cites Genesis 19 among other texts, affirming the narrative’s relevance to this teaching.

Addressing the "Lack of Hospitality" Argument

Some modern scholars, including those referenced by Fr. Martin, argue that the sins of Sodom were primarily social injustices, such as pride, gluttony, and neglect of the poor, as listed in Ezekiel 16:49: “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” However, verse 50 continues, “They were haughty and did abominable things (tō‘ēbāh) before me; therefore I removed them, when I saw it” (RSV). The Hebrew term tō‘ēbāh ("abomination") is used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe acts God finds detestable, including homosexual behavior (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13). The conjunction of social sins with tō‘ēbāh suggests that the sexual immorality of Genesis 19 was the culminating offense.

The "lack of hospitality" interpretation often hinges on the cultural expectation of protecting strangers, which the men of Sodom violated. Yet, this reading fails to account for the sexual nature of their demand. If the sin were merely inhospitality, Lot’s offer of his daughters would be irrelevant; the issue was not their refusal to host but their intent to rape. The narrative’s focus on the men’s lust for the angels—described as “very handsome” (Genesis 19:1, Hebrew tōb mĕ’ōd, "very good" or "beautiful")—underscores that their desire was homosexual in orientation and lustful. The Bible does not describe lack of hospitality as a sin warranting such catastrophic vengeance; rather, it reserves this level of judgment for sins that “cry out to heaven,” a category that includes homosexual acts alongside murder and oppression of the poor (CCC 1867, Genesis 18:20-21, Genesis 4:10, Jas 5:4).

Magisterial Teaching: Cardinal Ratzinger’s On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s (Pope Benedict XVI) 1986 letter, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, provides authoritative guidance on this issue. Ratzinger acknowledges the dignity of persons with homosexual inclinations, condemning violence against them as deplorable (Ratzinger, 1986, para. 10). However, he firmly states that “the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin… [but] it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder” (para. 3). Regarding acts, he reiterates the Church’s teaching that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and can never be approved” (para. 7), citing Genesis 19 and other scriptures.

Thus, in Genesis 19:1-11, the deterioration due to sin continues in the story of the men of Sodom. There can be no doubt of the moral judgement made there against homosexual relations. In Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, in the course of describing the conditions necessary for belonging to the Chosen People, the author excludes from the People of God those who behave in a homosexual fashion. (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons)

This document aligns with the traditional exegesis of Sodom and Gomorrah, viewing the attempted assault as a manifestation of the “intrinsic moral evil” of homosexual acts. Ratzinger’s emphasis on the objective disorder of such acts reinforces the biblical portrayal of Sodom’s sin as a rejection of the natural order established by God, a theme echoed in Jude’s reference to “unnatural flesh.”

The Sin That Cries Out for Vengeance

The Catholic tradition identifies certain sins as so grave that they “cry out to God for vengeance” (CCC 1867), including the blood of Abel (Genesis 4:10), the sin of the Sodomites (Genesis 18:20), and the cry of the oppressed (Exodus 3:7–10). The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is explicitly linked to this category, with Genesis 18:20 noting, “Then the Lord said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave.’” The sexual violence intended by the men of Sodom, directed at the angels, fits this framework, as does the broader context of homosexual behavior condemned in Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination (tō‘ēbāh).” The annihilation of the cities was indeed an act of divine vengeance, proportionate to the gravity of their sins, with homosexuality as a central component.

Conclusion

The narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah, when examined through the lens of biblical exegesis, Church Fathers, and magisterial teaching, reveals that homosexuality—particularly in the form of the attempted rape of the angelic visitors—was a key sin leading to their destruction. The Hebrew yada‘ and the Greek sarkos heteras in Jude 1:7 point to sexual perversion, while the context of Lot’s response and the men’s lustful intent discredit the "lack of hospitality" thesis as the sole or primary cause. The Church’s tradition, from Augustine to Ratzinger, upholds this interpretation, viewing homosexual acts as abominable and contrary to natural law. While social injustices contributed to Sodom’s guilt, the sexual immorality (homosexuality) of Genesis 19, culminating in the demand to “know” the angels, was the sin that cried out for vengeance, justifying God’s judgment. Fr. Martin’s suggestion of an alternative focus requires reconsideration in light of this robust scriptural and theological evidence. It is revisionist nonsense meant to give a political spin to the Scriptures.  

Anyone preparing homilies for this weekend will notice that the First Reading is Abraham's bargaining with God to prevent God's wrath against Sodom and Gomorrah. Here is a distinguished Old Testament scholar on what the sins of those cities really were. https://t.co/3Xyk7I2yZW

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) July 21, 2025

 References

- Augustine of Hippo. The City of God. Translated by Marcus Dods. New York: Modern Library, 1993.

- Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.

- Chrysostom, John. Homilies on Genesis. Translated by Robert C. Hill. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1986.

- Ratzinger, Joseph Cardinal. On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1986. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html.

- Tertullian. Against Marcion. Translated by Peter Holmes. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1869.

- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version. New York: National Council of Churches, 1971.

-"What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them is an example for us of the punishment of eternal fire. The people of these cities suffered the same fate that God's people and the angels did, because they committed sexual sins and engaged in homosexual activities." - Jude 1:7

- http://www.robgagnon.net/homosex7thDayAdvArticleSodom.htm