Homosexuality and the Bible: Two ViewsFew recent issues have sparked such debate in the churches as homosexuality, same-sex unions, and ordination of gays and lesbians. A key point of contention is the meaning and authority of the biblical witness. In this brief book, two New Testament scholars discuss the relevant biblical texts on the subject of homosexual behavior and orientation. Discussing both Old Testament and New Testament texts, each author also raises important interpretive and moral questions and then offers a response to the other's main assertions. Chief questions examined by each include what the Bible has to say about homosexuality and homosexual behavior, the meaning of those texts in their cultural contexts, and the larger hermeneutical dilemma of what kind of authority the Bible's teaching, if recoverable, has for Christians today. A thoughtful and irenic dialogue, this volume can facilitate reflection and discussion among church members on a vital and contentious issue in American church life. |
Contents
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Transition to the New Testament | 7 |
The New Testament | 9 |
Homosexual Orientation | 13 |
Defense of the Traditional Position | 16 |
Love and Grace from the Perspective of Jesus and Paul | 48 |
The Pervasive Stance against Homosexual Practice in the Old Testament | 54 |
The Levitical Proscriptions and the Issue of Purity | 60 |
The Witness of Jesus | 66 |
The Witness of Paul | 72 |
Concluding Thoughts | 86 |
Response to Robert AJ Gagnon | 91 |
Response to Dan O Via | 97 |
Wandering in the Wilderness | 26 |
A Way Forward | 27 |
On Determining What Matters in Scripture | 39 |
The Proper Use of Analogies | 41 |
Select Bibliography | 104 |
Index of Scripture | 110 |
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abomination absolute adult adultery analogy ancient argument believe Bible and Homosexual Bible's biblical texts Christ Christian church commandment complementarity condemnation context contrary to nature Corinthians creation stories cult prostitutes defile desire destiny Deuteronomistic divorce early Judaism ethical flesh gender Gibeah Gospel Gospel of John Gudorf Hays heart hermeneutical heterosexual Holiness Code homo homoerotic homoerotic unions homosexual acts homosexual behavior homosexual orientation homosexual practice human sexuality impurity incest interpretation issues Jesus Jones and Yarhouse Levitical proscriptions Leviticus 18 Luke male and female male-female male-male intercourse marriage Matt meaning misogyny moral norm offense Old Testament one's override Paul Paul's person porneia position pro-homosex Professor Gagnon purity refer regard relationship ROBERT A. J. GAGNON rule same-sex inter same-sex intercourse scholars Scripture Scripture's sex intercourse sexual behavior sexual immorality sexual intercourse sexual orientation sinful slavery Sodom Spirit stance theological tion traditional uncleanness woman
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Page ii - Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, USA.
Page 4 - Foundation) in 1974, the American Psychiatric Association dropped homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, and several states have decriminalized homosexual activity between consenting adults. Homosexuality has also been decriminalized in many European countries, and there has been a movement by activist homosexual groups in the United States to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual preference.