Does the Bible address transgenderism?

Transgenderism and gender identity issues have become controversial social topics in recent years. Does the Bible address this sensitive subject?

While there are no direct transgender verses in Scripture, the Bible does address the issue. Several important principles can be noted. First, God created people as one of two genders, male or female. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” There was not a third gender, and certainly not fifty or more genders as some groups claim today.

Second, the transgender movement often blurs the distinction of two main areas. First, there are people born with abnormalities regarding their male or female body parts. Second, there are many other people who identify as transgender who are biologically male or female yet choose to live as a different gender.

In the case of those born with physical differences, we are called to offer much compassion with these medical issues. With the many others who seek to live as a person of another gender or even medically alter their bodies to appear as another gender, biblical teachings instruct them to think and live differently.

The Bible does not call us to attempt to change our physical gender or identity, but calls us to find our identity in Jesus Christ. When we receive him and believe in him, we become his children, his sons and daughters (John 1:12). We become a new creation in Christ: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God himself serves as our heavenly Father. Instead of seeking our identity through a different gender, we can accept ourselves as children of God, adopted by him for all eternity (1 John 3:1). Even as believers in Jesus, we may deal with thoughts and desires that are not from God, but this does not change our biological gender nor our identity in Christ.

Even the apostle Paul spoke of being tempted toward things he knew he was not intended to do. When this happened, he wrote of disciplining his body to do what was right: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). We may have feelings toward certain areas outside of God’s plan for our lives, but we do not have to be controlled by these desires.

A person who struggles with his or her gender identity should not be mocked or ridiculed by Christians, which has sadly often been the case. Every person is a unique creation of God and is loved by him. We are called to show love to all people, helping others embrace God’s message of hope found in a new life with Jesus Christ. See our podcast episode on this topic here.