There are moments in life when the world around us changes faster than our hearts know how to keep up. Questions about identity, language, and relationships rise into everyday conversations, and many believers find themselves wondering how Scripture fits into all of it. Pronouns, gender identity, and the way we speak to one another may feel like modern issues, but the desire for clarity isn’t new. God’s people have always asked how to walk in truth while still treating every person with the dignity they deserve.
Here’s what matters. The Bible doesn’t mention modern pronouns or the language debates that fill today’s headlines. But it does speak clearly about human creation, the value of every person, and the kind of love that honors Christ. When we draw from these truths, we find a path that’s steady, compassionate, and grounded in God’s Word.
Let’s take this slowly, with the kind of calm and care that Scripture invites.
How the Bible Describes Human Creation and Identity
When people ask what the Bible says about pronouns, they’re usually not just asking about grammar. They’re asking what the Bible says about who we are. And Scripture begins that story right at the very start.
In Genesis 1:27, we read:
“God created mankind in His own image… male and female He created them.”
This verse has been a foundation for discussions about identity for thousands of years. It reminds us that every person, regardless of what they’re walking through, carries God’s image. That truth alone calls for gentleness and respect in every conversation.
Some Christians read Genesis 1:27 and say it teaches that God made only two genders and that this pattern reflects His intended creation order. This is a long-held view among many evangelical teachers and is reflected on sites like GotQuestions, which emphasize the male-female pair as God’s design.
But Scripture is rich, and scholars have noticed something else worth mentioning. Some point out that the phrase “male and female” might be a merism a literary form where two ends of a spectrum are named to express a larger whole. The phrase “day and night,” for example, means “all the time,” not just two segments of it. Publications like The Christian Century have discussed this observation as a way some Christians broaden the conversation.
A merism does not deny male and female. It simply suggests that biblical language can sometimes function symbolically or poetically. Not every reader accepts this interpretation, but it shows the range of faithful Christian thought.
Identity and Relationship Together
In Genesis 2:24, Scripture goes a step further:
“A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife…”
Here gender is connected to marriage, family, and the shaping of human community. Jesus Himself quoted this passage in the Gospels when teaching about marriage. Commentaries from places like Ligonier Ministries often highlight how Jesus reinforced the male-female relationship within marriage.
Taken together, Genesis 1 and 2 form the Bible’s earliest and clearest statements about humanity. They teach:
- God intentionally created humanity
- Men and women both bear His image
- Relationship is part of our design
- Creation carries order and purpose
These truths still speak today, even as the world’s questions take on new forms.
What Jesus Said and Showed About Gender
When discussions about pronouns arise, people often ask, “What did Jesus say about genders?” Jesus didn’t speak into modern categories like “he/him” or “they/them,” but He did show us how to see one another.
Jesus Treated Men and Women With Honor
Jesus consistently lifted the dignity of women in ways uncommon in His culture. Scholars like Marg Mowczko and publications like Sojourners point to moments where Jesus broke social expectations to affirm women as disciples, thinkers, and people of value.
Think of Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet in Luke 10:38–42.
In the first century, that was a posture usually reserved for male disciples. Yet Jesus affirmed Mary. He defended her choice to sit, listen, and learn. That moment tells us something important: Jesus saw the person before He saw a category.
Jesus Held to the Creation Story
When asked about marriage, Jesus quoted Genesis 2:24, showing that He affirmed the creation pattern of male and female. He didn’t erase those distinctions. But He also didn’t use them to diminish anyone.
Jesus Opened the Door to a New Kind of Equality
In Galatians 3:28, the apostle Paul would say:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek… male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This does not mean men and women are the same, nor that human differences disappear. Instead, it means the divisions that once separated people no longer have the final say. Every believer stands on the same ground at the foot of the cross.
Affirming Christians sometimes use this verse to suggest that traditional gender categories are softened in Christ. Others see the verse as speaking strictly about salvation not identity. But whatever one’s view, the heartbeat of the verse is unity rooted in Jesus.
Does the Bible Say How Many Genders There Are?
This question takes us to the center of the modern discussion.
What the Bible States Directly
The Bible does not explicitly answer questions such as:
- How many genders exist today?
- What counts as gender vs. biological sex?
- How should Christians handle pronoun requests?
These are modern categories shaped by language, psychology, and culture categories ancient people didn’t use.
What Many Christians Believe From Scripture
Many believers look at Genesis 1:27 and conclude that God created two genders male and female and that this pattern reflects His intended design. Writers at GotQuestions, along with many evangelical pastors, emphasize this traditional interpretation.
They often add that biologically intersex conditions represent a very small percentage of the population and do not redefine creation itself.
What Other Christians Point Out
Some scholars say Genesis may describe categories, not exhaustive possibilities. Their argument:
- Language in Genesis can use symbolic pairs
- Ancient Hebrew didn’t describe modern concepts of gender
- Scripture’s main focus is creation, not categorization
Articles from The Christian Century explore these ideas. Affirming Christian groups, including HRC, likewise argue that biblical categories may not map directly onto today’s terminology.
Where This Leaves Believers
It leaves us with two clear truths:
- Scripture teaches that God created humanity with intention and purpose.
- The Bible does not use modern gender categories or speak about pronouns directly.
This means Christians must walk with both conviction and humility, holding firmly to Scripture while recognizing the complexity of modern experiences.
What About Pronouns? Why Scripture Doesn’t Address Them Directly
Pronouns themselves he, she, they are simply tools of language. The questions arise when pronouns become symbols of identity.
The Bible and Truthfulness
Some Christians believe using pronouns that differ from a person’s biological sex feels untrue. Teachers in conservative communities (including some writing at GotQuestions) describe this as “speaking something that does not match reality.”
The Bible and Love
Other Christians highlight the call to love one’s neighbor and to treat every person with honor. Pastors writing for places like The Shepherd’s Church encourage compassion, patience, and respect, even when one disagrees.
The Bible and Conscience
Since Scripture doesn’t instruct Christians on how to respond to modern pronoun requests, believers often rely on conscience and pastoral wisdom:
- Some use the person’s chosen pronouns as a gesture of kindness.
- Others avoid pronouns altogether by using names.
- Some decline pronoun use based on conviction while still showing respect.
The key is this: Christian ethics holds together truth and love.
The Bible does not allow us to sacrifice either.
When Someone Refuses or Uses Pronouns: How Christians Can Respond
This is where the question becomes personal. People aren’t just ideas. They’re sons and daughters. Friends. Classmates. Co-workers. People seeking identity, belonging, and sometimes just kindness.
If You Are Unsure What to Do
Start with what Scripture repeats often:
- Walk humbly
- Speak gently
- Love your neighbor
- Do not bear false witness
- Honor conscience
- Live at peace when possible
Christians can disagree on how to balance these in the pronoun conversation, but the tone must always reflect the heart of Jesus.
If You Believe You Cannot Use Certain Pronouns
If your conviction says you cannot use pronouns that differ from biological sex, then hold to that conviction without harshness. You can still show kindness through your words, tone, and presence. Many pastors encourage the simple use of a person’s name.
If You Choose to Use Someone’s Preferred Pronouns
Some Christians choose to use preferred pronouns as a way of building trust, creating space for relationship, or showing compassion. They do so with the understanding that kindness is not the same as agreement.
Remember the Larger Picture
In every case, the goal is not to “win” a debate. The goal is to reflect Christ His truth, His compassion, His calm, His steady love.
What This Means for Faith and Daily Life Today
Scripture may not address pronouns directly, but it gives us more than enough wisdom to walk faithfully.
1. Every person bears God’s image
Genesis 1:27 tells us this clearly. That alone shapes how we treat anyone, no matter their identity or beliefs.
2. God designed humanity with intention
Creation shows order, purpose, and care. It teaches us that our bodies and identities matter to God.
3. Jesus honored both men and women fully
His ministry demonstrated dignity for all. No one stood outside His compassion.
4. The Bible calls believers to truth and love
These are not opposites. They belong together. Truth without love becomes harsh. Love without truth becomes hollow. Christ wove both into every conversation.
5. Modern questions require patient hearts
Because Scripture does not speak directly about pronouns, Christians must respond with humility, thoughtful conscience, and grace toward one another.
6. Unity in Christ matters more than winning arguments
Galatians 3:28 reminds us that our identity in Christ stands above every label the world creates.
A Final Pastoral Word
If you’re wrestling with these questions, take a deep breath. God is not surprised by the challenges of this generation. His Word is still steady. His wisdom still holds. And His love hasn’t changed.
The way we speak to one another pronouns or otherwise should reflect the One who speaks life, dignity, and truth over all of us.
Walk gently. Stand faithfully. And let your words carry the calm and clarity of Christ.
