What the Bible Says about Gender and Transgenderism


What once was taken for granted based on objective data and our own eyes has now been called into question by modern Western culture. I am of course speaking about sex/gender. Historically there have been two genders: male and female. Now, modern society says there are upwards of about 30+ different genders and a person may choose whichever gender he/she desires. But what does the Bible say about gender and choosing one’s gender and what are the implications of this for Christians? 

God created all humans to be either male or female (Gen 1:26–27). There are no other genders. God considers acting like or pretending to be the opposite gender from one’s birth gender through one’s speech, acts, or clothing to be an abomination that will bar a person from the Kingdom of God.

This article will first discern what the Bible says about gender before moving on to whether or not a person may choose their gender. 

The Two Genders of the Bible: Male and Female

The Bible is clear that there are two and only two genders: male and female. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament confirm this truth.

The Foundational Text on Gender: Genesis 1:26–27

The climax of God’s creation is mankind as seen in Genesis 1:26–27:

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’ . . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

GENESIS 1:26–27, emphasis added

A few things need to be noted about Genesis 1:26–27. First, the term “man” in “Let us make man in our image” is the Hebrew אָדָם (ʾadam), which can refer to a male or mankind/humankind. It is clear in that in Genesis 1:26, the term אָדָםrefers to humankind and should be understood as such. Later אָדָם becomes the name for the first man. 

Second, because “man” in “Let us make man in our image” refers to humankind, when Genesis 1:27 says “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” we know that “man” (אָדָם;ʾadam) refers to humankind and the antecedent of “him” is humankind and could be translated “them” as some translations do, such as the NET. 

Third, and most pertinent to our discussion on gender, God created humankind (אָדָם;ʾadam) “male and female” (Gen 1:27). From the very beginning, God created humans to have two distinct genders: male and female. God did not create humankind androgynous and then separate them into male and female. Rather, he created humankind with two distinct genders from the very beginning. We see this clearly in Genesis 2:5–7, 21–25, and it is confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6

Fourth, the command that follows the creation of humankind as male and female can only be accomplished if there are two genders. Note what God commands in the very next verse: 

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

GENESIS 1:28, emphasis added

The first of the fourfold command is to be fruitful and multiply. Humankind would not be able to fulfil this command if there were only one gender. Rather, humankind needs to have both males and females in order to procreate and multiply. This confirms the interpretation that God created the human race to have two genders (male and female) from the very beginning. If humankind cannot procreate, then they cannot fulfil the rest of the commands in Genesis 1:28. For more information about the fourfold command, see my article here

The Gendered Commands of the New Testament

The New Testament confirms our interpretation of Genesis 1:26–27 in that there are only two genders: male and female. Not only does Jesus, the Son of God and our Lord and Saviour, believe that there are only two genders (Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6), but the apostle Paul only ever speaks about two genders (male and female) as seen in some of his commands to Christians. Note the following:

“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

1 TIMOTHY 2:8–14, emphasis added

Regardless of whether you agree with what Paul is saying in 1 Timothy 2:8–14 or not, the point I am making here is that Paul makes a clear distinction between men and women, males and females. Further in the letter of 1 Timothy and in the letter to Titus Paul continues to give distinct commands to both men and women, males and females:

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.”

1 TIMOTHY 5:1–2; TITUS2:1–6, emphasis added

Again, Paul and the New Testament understand God to have created only two genders: male and female, men and women. There is no other option or choice. A person is born either male or female.

Galatians 3:28 Does NOT Do Away with Genders

A passage that is frequently raised in the gender discussion is Galatians 3:28, which says:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

GALATIANS 3:28, emphasis added

Quite often I hear or read someone who says that because of Galatians 3:28 all gender differences have been done away with and either (a) Christians should not speak about gender anymore or (b) the door is now left open for Christians to choose any number of the 30+ available genders that modern Western culture offers us. As you might expect, this understanding of Galatians 3:28 is completely wrong. So, let’s take a brief look at the text.

The Context of Galatians 3:28

From Galatians 2:15 all the way through 3:29, Paul has been making the argument that a person is justified through faith in Jesus Christ:

“yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

GALATIANS 2:16; 3:24, emphasis added

Thus, whatever interpretation one gives of Galatians 3:28 it must take the topic and main point of the passage into consideration, which is that a person is only justified through faith in Jesus. 

Further, Galatians 3:28 is bookended by the claim that those who believe in Jesus are sons of God and, thus, the offspring of Abraham, meaning Christians become heirs of the promise: 

“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

GALATIANS 3:26–27, 29

Paul’s point in Galatians 3:26–27, 29 is that when a person believes in Jesus that person becomes a son of God and an heir of all things (see Romans 4:13–25 and 8:12–17 for an elaboration on this point). Any interpretation of Galatians 3:28 must also take into consideration the status as God’s son that Christians have. Note that all Christians become “sons” of God. The reference to “sons” refers to the status of a son, not that all will become males. Sons were the ones who inherited their father’s estate, not daughters. Paul is saying that in Christ, all Christians gain the status of a son and will inherit all things along with Jesus.

The Meaning of Galatians 3:28

Based on (a) Galatians 2:15–3:29 being about justification through faith in Jesus and (b) Galatians 3:26–27, 29 being about those who are justified through faith in Jesus obtaining the status of “son of God” and inheriting everything with Jesus, what does Paul mean when he says that when a person is “in Christ Jesus” there is no more Jew or Greek/Gentile; no more slave person or free person; and no more male or female? 

The answer should hopefully be clear now that we understand the context. Paul is referring to one’s status in Galatians 3:28. Now that a person has been justified through faith in Jesus Christ, that person (regardless of whether they are a Jew, Gentile, slave, free person, male, or female) now has the status of son of God and will inherit the world along with Jesus and all the other sons of God. In Jesus Christ, everyone has the same status in God’s Family and God’s Kingdom. This is good news! 

If there were truly no more Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free people, males, and females, then all of the places in the New Testament that address Christian Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free people, males, and females would make no sense. The authors of the New Testament, including Paul who wrote Galatians 3:28, clearly believe that gender still exists after Christ, that Christians can still be enslaved or not enslaved, and that Christians can be Jewish or Gentile. Paul’s point in Galatians 3:28 is that the status that comes with these identities does not affect one’s status in God’s family and Kingdom because in Christ all are sons of God. 

Now that we know there are only two genders (male and female), let’s move onto the question about whether or not a person can choose his/her own gender. 

Pretending to Be or Acting Like the Opposite Gender is Sin

Scripture has a few things to say about living as the opposite gender from one’s birth gender. Let’s take a look.

Crossdressing is an Abomination to God

In Moses’ second sermon in the book of Deuteronomy (Deut 4:44–26:19), he gives the Israelites instructions for living successfully in the promised land. The more immediate context (14:1–26:19) is about how behave as sons of God. In the midst of these instructions, Moses says the following: 

“A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.”

DEUTERONOMY 22:5, emphasis added

Christians must be careful about applying the instructions from Exodus–Deuteronomy to themselves because these instructions and laws are for those under the Sinai Covenant of which Christians are not. Rather, Christians are under the New Covenant. However, in Deuteronomy 22:5 Moses tells us that crossdressing is “an abomination to Yahweh your God.” Because God is immutable, meaning He does not change, what He considers abominable is always abominable. Thus, men wearing women’s clothing today and women wearing men’s clothing today is abominable in the eyes of God today and is a sin

When a person in the modern Western world identifies as their non-birth gender (i.e., chooses to pretend they are the opposite gender from their real gender), they frequently dress like their ‘new’ gender. Simply dressing like the opposite gender from one’s real birth gender is an abomination according to God. As such, Christians should not engage in this abominable behaviour. 

Acting Like Someone from the Opposite Sex is Sin

The New Testament actually has something direct to say on the issue of acting like someone from the opposite sex/gender. The NASB version of 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 puts it best:

“Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9–10, emphasis added

The term translated “effeminate” in the NASB is the Greek term μαλακός.[1] The term μαλακός refers to any effeminate act by a male, such as acting like a woman, speaking like a woman, dressing like a woman, even being penetrated in a homosexual act. In short, μαλακός refers to a male acting like or pretending to be a woman, which includes, but is not limited to, taking on the female role in sexual relations. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, the apostle Paul calls those men (males) who act like women (females) “unrighteous” and declares twice that they “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Being effeminate is a sin that makes a person unrighteous. To use the Old Testament phrase, it is an abomination. Any male pretending to be a woman will not enter the kingdom of God.

Although 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 mentions μαλακός, which when applied to people refers only to males, the New Testament is clear that women should not act like men either, as seen in Romans 1:26–27 (click here to see my article covering that passage). 

The good news is that there is salvation for men acting like women and women acting like men. If a person repents by acting like their birth gender and believes in Jesus, that person will be forgiven and enter the kingdom of God. Read these encouraging words to the Corinthians in the very next verse: 

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 CORINTHIANS 6:11

In conclusion, both the Old and New Testament testify that when a person pretends to be the opposite gender from their real birth gender, they are sinning and are engaging in behaviour that God considers abominable. This means, no, a person is not allowed to choose one’s gender.

What about Eunuchs?

It has been argued that eunuchs have crossed the line between male and female, that eunuchs are men transitioning into women. For those unfamiliar with the term, a eunuch is a male who has been castrated. 

Eunuchs typically served the king with many of them taking care of the women in his harem. This is seen clearly throughout the book of Esther (also see Acts 8:26–40). The danger of having males working all day with beautiful women is the possibility that they may engage in sexual relations with them. To stop this from happening, the king would castrate those males he chose to be in charge of the harem. Thus, no one would defile the king’s women. 

Jesus recognizes two other types of eunuchs: those born castrated and those who willingly castrate themselves. 

“For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

MATTHEW 19:12

Some men are simply born castrated. We see this in today’s world, though not that frequently. Sadly, this is a result of Sin (the entity, not the rebellious act, see John 8:34). Because of Sin, people are born deformed and not ‘whole.’ 

Further, Jesus says that some men castrate themselves for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Their sexual desires drive them to commit sinful acts, so, some men remove the drive in order to fully live for the kingdom. For more information on this unique passage, see my article here

In sum, there is nothing in Scripture that leads to the conclusion that eunuchs were ‘transitioning,’ were part women, or were blending the lines between genders. Most eunuchs were made so by a king to enter into his service. The eunuch was still a full male, but with less libido and less fight in him (less likely to rebel). Some were born that way and some chose it to live for the kingdom of heaven, but all eunuchs were still male. 

Summary and Concluding Thoughts

God created all humans to be either male or female (Gen 1:26–27). There are no other genders and no other options. Everyone is either male or female. The New Testament corroborates that there are only two genders by commenting on the creation account and by only ever mentioning and addressing two genders: male and female. Galatians 3:28, which on a cursory reading seems to suggest that in Christ there are no more genders, is about one’s status. When a person believes in Jesus and becomes justified, that person obtains the status of a son of God regardless of their heritage, level of freedom, or gender. 

God considers acting like or pretending to be the opposite gender from one’s birth gender through one’s speech, acts, or clothing to be an abomination that will bar a person from the Kingdom of God unless that person repents and believes in Jesus. 

Scripture acknowledges that some people are born with deformed or abnormal genitalia and addresses why. It is because of Sin, the corrupting entity that Adam and Eve brought into the world. Even the extremely rare cases of someone being born intersex is due to sin (the corrupting entity, not the rebellious act). Sin distorts God’s good creation and makes a mockery of it. The hope for those born with these conditions or abnormalities is that Jesus will make them whole in the resurrection with the resurrection body. 

Christians should have no problem discerning God’s will regarding gender. As a Christian, we live the life that God has set before us. If you were born a male, then live as a male. If you were born a female, then live as a female. It is sinful for Christians to live opposite one’s birth gender, which is their God-given real gender. Crossdressing is sinful. Talking like someone of the opposite sex is sinful. Acting like someone of the opposite sex is sinful. Engaging in sexual relations like someone from the opposite sex (i.e., homosexual sex) is sinful. ‘Transitioning’ is sinful. 

I am grateful for many churches, like my own, that stand up for and boldly proclaim the truth that there are only two genders and that Christians must live the gender the Lord assigned to them at birth. But I grieve that so many churches have been deceived into denying this fundamental and obvious truth, and are leading many people away from the kingdom of God rather than into it. I pray that this article will help some who have been deceived into recognizing and submitting to the truth. 


[1] Some translations, such as the ESV, take the noun ἀρσενοκοίτης and the adjective μαλακός in 1 Cor 6:9 as a word pair, translating it as the hendiadys “homosexuality.” However, Simon Hedlund has convincingly argued that the two terms should not be taken as a word pair. Simon Hedlund, “Who are the ἀρσενοκοῖται, and Why Does Paul Condemn Them (1 Cor 6:9)?” Svensk exegetisk årsbok 82 (2017): 116–53. 

Adam Robinson

I am the pastor of a non-denominational church in rural Queensland, Australia. Prior to pastoring, I was a Lecturer in Biblical Studies at two Bible Colleges in Queensland, Australia. I received my PhD in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Recent Posts