Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships

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Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Feb 3, 2013 - Religion - 300 pages
Grapples conscientiously with biblical texts at the heart of the church's debate over same-sex relationships

This thought-provoking book by James Brownson develops a broad, cross-cultural sexual ethic from Scripture, locates current debates over homosexuality in that wider context, and explores why the Bible speaks the way it does about same-sex relationships.

Fairly presenting both sides in this polarized debate -- "traditional" and "revisionist" -- Brownson conscientiously analyzes all of the pertinent biblical texts and helpfully identifies "stuck points" in the ongoing debate. In the process, he explores key concepts that inform our understanding of the biblical texts, including patriarchy, complementarity, purity and impurity, honor and shame. Central to his argument is the need to uncover the moral logic behind the text.

Written in order to serve and inform the ongoing debate in many denominations over the questions of homosexuality, Brownson's in-depth study will prove a useful resource for Christians who want to form a considered opinion on this important issue.
 

Contents

Introduction and Overview
3
The Traditionalist Case and Its Problems
16
Revisionist Readings
39
Patriarchy
57
One Flesh
85
Procreation
110
Celibacy
127
Lust and Desire
149
Purity and Impurity
179
Honor and Shame
204
Nature
223
Conclusions
259
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About the author (2013)

James V. Brownson is the James and Jean Cook Professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan. An ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America, he is also the author of The Promise of Baptism: An Introduction to Baptism in Scripture and the Reformed Tradition.

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