The present study is an interview study with the aim of investigating how the interpretation of the interviewed pastors, from Pentecostal congregations, correlates to their biblical ideologyand biblical practice in relation to parts of the Bible which have to do with homosexuality. That is to say, how their expectations of the Bible, and the ways in which knowledge can be drawn from the texts therein, as well as the methods they use to reach their interpretation, impact their interpretation. The material consists of eight semi-structured interviews based on the method developed by Nyström (2021) which she has named bible-reading interviews and is analysed through the lens of James Bielo and Brian Malley’s theories of evangelical bible-readings. 

Previous research on the fields of biblical interpretations in a Swedish context, and of the interpretation process in relation to homosexuality in Sweden is lacking. This indicates a research gap that this study aims to fill. The result of this study shows that there is variety in how the pastors interpret the texts, as well as, what they focus on in their readings and that most differences can be traced back to a difference in biblical ideology. Their interpretations are shown to be heavily based on their understanding of how authority is attributed, both to the Bible as a whole, and between the different texts therein. Since the Bible contains contradicting statements, some texts are granted more authority by the pastors. How this authority is attributed has to do with the pastors understanding of the Bible and the ways in which they can draw knowledge from it.

The result of the study also goes to show that even within what, in a Swedish context, is a relatively conservative religious tradition, there are varying interpretations of what the Bible preaches on the subject of homosexuality. This highlights the importance of trying to stay clear of generalisations while teaching the subject Religion, as well as, focusing not only on what the different religious traditions preach but how they reach their interpretations