How could David have a romantic, sexual partnership with Jonathan when it is written that he had wives/children and even committed adultery with Bathseba?

by Cyril
(Switzerland)

The answer is in this book, <i>Gay Christian 101</i>

The answer is in this book, Gay Christian 101

Rick Brentlinger Answers



Great question Cyril. Many gay men and lesbian women have biological children. Entering a heterosexual marriage and having biological children does not mean someone is not gay or bisexual.

The answer to your specific question about David and Jonathan is found in the timeline of the Biblical story. When David first met Jonathan, he was around 15-17 years old, 1 Samuel 17.

Their partnership began a few months after that, 1 Samuel 18:1-3, and lasted for 15 years, until Jonathan's untimely death in battle, 1 Samuel 31:2.

The last time we see David and Jonathan with each other in the Biblical narrative, 1 Samuel 23:16-18, they are planning to rule Israel as a couple. There is nothing in scripture to indicate their love for each other had waned.

Four facts enlighten
our understanding of
the David and Jonathan story


  1. The story of David and Jonathan is the greatest human love story in the Bible. Have you ever paused to consider why the greatest human love story in the Bible is about a loving partnership between two men?

  2. The question we need to answer is: "Can God bless two people of the same sex in loving, romantic, intimate, committed, sexual partnership?"

  3. The words used in Hebrew scripture provide helpful insight into the kind of loving partnership David and Jonathan enjoyed.

  4. David's words are startlingly clear about his unfailing love for Jonathan. David publicly states that Jonathan's love was better to him than the love of his wives. To interpret that as nothing more than a statement of friendship is to seriously undervalue the shocking impact David's words must have had on his mighty warriors when he uttered them.


In my book, Gay Christian 101 - Spiritual Self-Defense For Gay Christians, I go into more detail than on the website.

The David and Jonathan chapter of the book pictured above, which is 54 pages long, has been praised by several readers as the best, most convincing argument they've ever seen for Jonathan and David having a long-term, romantic sexual partnership.

In the Jonathan and David story,
God has given the church
a principled basis on which to accept
committed gay partnerships,
within the Biblical moral framework,
if the church will listen to God.



We've answered the question about Jonathan and David. Click here to return to Gay Christian 101 Home Page.

Comments for How could David have a romantic, sexual partnership with Jonathan when it is written that he had wives/children and even committed adultery with Bathseba?

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Oct 23, 2010
 Twisted interpertation of Scripture.
by: Anonymous

you have got to be kidding me. 1. It is not a love story. 2. David was married to his sister at that time. 3. God states repeatedly that it is a sin, it is a vial act. A man after God's own heart would not be in a Gay relationship. You have preverted scripture.
Oct 23, 2010
 Opinion vs. Scripture
by: Rick Brentlinger

Obviously you prefer not to believe what the Bible says while believing what you assume the Bible says even though the Bible doesn't say what you think it says. Got it?

Reading comments from folks like you is funny and sad at the same time. When will you obey 2 Timothy 2:15? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Jul 15, 2011
 God loves the world
by: Anonymous

There are more verses I can present here, but just a few for you since you brought up the point about obeying the scripture. Read Romans 1:26-27.

All sins are to be condemned, not one. But sins can be forgiven when we confess and believe in Jesus. To justify sin is a deliberate act of disobedient against God, Romans 1:32.

I call for all of us to admit, confess, and repent. I can understand we continue to struggle with sin, but do not endorse it! I repent of my sins either in thoughts, words, or in action. And I refuse to justify them.
Oct 04, 2011
 David was a real man and real men love women
by: Ernest F. Rollins

There is nowhere in the Bible, in any translation of God's Word, that shows, or even suggests that David and Jonathan were ever in a homosexual relationship. You are reading into God's Word instead of letting His Word read into you.

Using your logic, homosexuals are born the way they are and they don't change their sexuality, then why did David have any feelings towards Bathsheba?

I submit to you that David and Jonathan loved each other with a brotherly love. If you use the original Hebrew text, the word love, Hebrew = ahab, is also used in relation to Michal, Jonathan's sister and David's future wife and the people of Judah.
Oct 08, 2011
 Not Convinced
by: Anonymous

So by David being Jewish, he broke God's law that is clearly stated in Leviticus 20:13, yet you are approving his behaviour? No doubt he broke other laws as he was not perfect, but it seems to me that you are saying that its okay to be gay, even though in Leviticus it clearly says not to.

Now you are going to say that we do not need to follow Leviticus because it is for Jewish people fine, but you must agree that the LORD does not like homosexuality if he said it in Leviticus? And if you are going to say it is misinterpreted, then how do you know the rest of the Bible is reliable also?
Oct 08, 2011
 Did you bother to click the Links and educate yourself?
by: Rick Brentlinger

Kiddo, you need to get over yourself. The Bible does not become unreliable just because someone views it differently than you view it. All of us ought to be honest enough to view scripture in context instead of ripping it out of its context and then insisting it means what it did not mean in context.

You are assuming that Leviticus 20:13 deals with homosexuality when nothing in the Biblical text, culture, history, linguistics or religion supports your assumption. You know what happens when we assume things.

I encourage you to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who searched the scriptures daily whether these things are so.

I encourage you to obey 2 Timothy 2:15 and study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Here is your first assignment, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
Jan 24, 2012
 Not convinced, not convinced
by: Anonymous

If you care to pick out of Leviticus, care to not pick and choose and instead, follow all that it says. Leviticus was merely rabbinic, man-made law established to keep the Jewish people pure; 'purity' being something they got obsessively proud of. Yet you have the nerve to say that it is God's literal word, when in reality, many of the things it teaches would make your very God a hypocrite and sinner.

On that note, people like to make excuses. Traditional Christianity has always been that way. When you look at it, it is supremely obvious what is going on in the scenario between Jonathan and David, there is no 'twisting' of scripture. No, it's just brotherly love, let us all reject our common sense and logic and assume that it's simple brotherly love.

Simple mindless followers believe only in the trend and what they're taught. To question it otherwise would result in their being tortured eternally in blazing hell fire by their loving, merciful God.

On that note, your God apparently even fails to see what it really is that unites a couple, but rather -- the genitalia, that is somehow of utmost importance. But if their love is genuine and heartfelt, real and true, God would reward them with eternal torture because he himself is just so loving. Would it be better for them to marry against their wills, procreate against their wills, lie to their partners [opposite sex] -- or to live a life of complete loneliness and mental anguish because of one groups prejudice? This is not the voice of a loving God. This is the voice of the fallible understandings of human beings -- the voice of prejudice and fear.
Aug 15, 2012
 utter nonsense
by: Anonymous

I will never believe this crap...God created a woman for a man. If he supported gay society, there would be no need for a woman to be created. Pls read 1 Cor7:2 and Gen 2:24 to clear ur misconceptions & stop spreading false doctrine.

Rick's comment: Well aren't you the loving christian. Have you any plans to obey 2 Tim 2:15? I didn't think so. Oh well. At the judgment seat of Christ, your works will be tried. You might want to consider that and do some study before condemning your gay brothers and lesbian sisters.
Jan 17, 2013
 Shame On You
by: Believer

You are certainly taking God's Word and interpreting it to fit your own sinful lifestyle. You seem to forget what is clearly said in the Old Testament about a man having a sexual relationship with another man. You clearly are ignoring the account of Adam and Eve and the institution of the family. You are spreading a false gospel and will be held responsible for leading others astray.

Rick's comment: If you can get your self-righteous indignation under control, may I suggest you look on the NavBar under, What The Bible Says? There you will discover that I address the topics you mentioned. And the false gospel thing? What a silly statement for YOU to make. I encourage people to get saved the Biblical way. Have you ever done that?
Feb 11, 2013
 Praying
by: Anonymous

Hey Rick, I read your story and your explanations on the verses most people use against homosexuality. Your study of Romans 1 I feel is completely inaccurate.

Romans 1:26-27 clearly (as well as the other passages) show homosexuality to be wrong. You're putting a stumbling block in front of so many people but you will probably reply that I am doing the same with my belief that homosexuality is wrong in the sight of the Lord. Since we are both set on our view, what we see is truth, we can both just pray for continued revelation from God and one day we will be judged for our sins. I just pray for you, as well as myself and others, that we are truly seeking to understand God, to be people after His heart and to do His will. Take care!

Rick's comment: Christians who have never studied Romans 1 often tell me I am wrong. They do that without reading commentaries, without studying the Greek words used, without studying the biblical cultural doctrinal historical and religious context.

Based on reading Romans 1 several times in an English translation, they decide they know exactly what it means. From a position of no study and almost total ignorance of the context and the passage, they insist that those of us who have studied it are wrong.

I hope you will accept your obligation to memorize and obey 2 Timothy 2:15 this week. Do not put it off for another day. God bless as you believe and live the New Testament every day of your life.
Mar 15, 2013
 David & Jonathan
by: Anonymous

The Bible Mentioned David & Jonathan close, committed , brotherly love for each other looking out for the safety of one another. They both sworn for the Lord's peace for their offspringsin 1samuel 20:42. So please do not imagine that both were gays. Thank you.

Rick's comment: Friend, you've expressed your opinion without one word of scripture to support it. I encourage you to read the article again and click on the text links and read that information too. It is dangerous to think you know what the Bible says when you haven't even bothered to read it from cover to cover.
Aug 14, 2013
 Do you really know what it means to be GAY?
by: Anonymous

Your explanation of how you have interpreted the bible version in 1 Samuel 18 is very naïve and anyone reading it will know that you will either be Gay or you champion the gay cause.

If they were 17-18 years then you will understand that this is the age youths always go out together and stick to each others more. They explore things together just like the youths you see in the street these days going out more with same sex as they are not naturally ready for opposite sex relationship but talk more of their futures and careers.

When they met, they started seeing more of each other when David started playing music for Saul.

You gay enthusiasts lack biblical facts and you should read Roman 1:25-29. If you understand the history of Rome, Corinth in those days you will understand the type life people who want to test any type of life for sake of money.

YOU ACQUIRE OR LEARN BY ASSOCIATION THE URGE TO BE GAY. IT IS NOT NATURAL. THE FACT THAT YOU WALK WITH YOUR HAND INSTEAD OF YOUR LEG IS ABNORMAL. SO YOU CAN BE HELPED BY PRAYERS TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THAT OR BE MEDICALLY OR SURGICALLY TREATED SO YOU CAN START WALKING WITH YOUR LEGS IF YOU HAVE ONE. Those who say they are Gay I guess marginalise others or are being marginalised.

Rick's comment: I must apologize because I am completely unable to follow the logic of your argument.
Apr 21, 2014
 ridiculous
by: lashawn

Jonathan in the sciptures only showed where he strenghtned David in the Lord. It wd hav been against and still is for two men to b sexual. There is an intamcy we hav we God but that is spiritual. Som hav perverted the gospel to excuse their own perverted lust. God created a man to b the head then a woman out of that same man to b his help meet. And they were married , God approves nothing else. Man and man woman and woman is an abomination in the eyes of God...!!

Rick's comment: Hi Lashawn - did it ever occur to you that what the Bible says in context is important? I hope you will read and study instead of assuming that your opinion is enough.
May 10, 2014
 Stop the madness
by: Dante

David and Jonathan's love was a brotherly and spiritually love.. They were knitted together in the spirit not in the flesh like this devil suggests. Sinful people will see things based upon there sin until the day of judgement then it will all be clear and hot!

Rick's comment: Hi Dante - as usual, no biblical argument using scripture which, IN CONTEXT, says what you think it means. Don't you ever tire of your self-righteous indignation?

And why is it that guys like you always think people who disagree with them are not saved? Really, that is SO 12th century!
Apr 06, 2015
 The article helped
by: Justin O

The comments seem to be filled with non-affirming comments so I'll submit an affirming one. The article answered my question. I was confused as to why David had so many wives and had an affair with Bathsheba if he was just gay. It makes more sense to say he was bisexual.

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