The biblical texts on same-sex unions
My Grove booklet on the central biblical texts on aforementioned-sex unions is now out. You can order it from the Grove website, either every bit a printed booklet or as PDF.
I cover the debates effectually Gen 1 and two, Gen xix, Judges 19, Leviticus 18 and xx , Jesus and the gospels, Acts 15, Romans 1, i Cor 6 and 1 Tim ane. For each of these, I ready out what I encounter as the 'traditionalist' and 'revisionist' readings of these texts (though these and whatsoever other terms are always problematic) and and then evaluate them in the low-cal of interpretation of the texts in question.
I hope that the booklet will serve to clear the air a little on the contend, by clarifying what the Bible does and does non say on this outcome. Hither is part of my introduction.
Why another Grove booklet on same-sex unions? At that place are numerous reasons. For one thing, since the showtime Grove Biblical booklet was published addressing this question some fifteen years ago, the landscape of the fence has changed both significantly and remarkably quickly. Secondly, this question has dominated media coverage of the Christian churches and their appointment with society. (Some of united states have argued that there might be more important or fifty-fifty more urgent things to consider, simply the media, and in particular social media, does non announced to agree.) Thirdly, this upshot is often tied in together with the issue of women's leadership in the church, and as the Church of England is moving decisively to ordain women every bit bishops, many are proverb that the church's position on same-sex unions is the next thing that must modify.
Merely this leads to the quaternary, and possibly well-nigh of import reason for a short, accessible overview of the biblical texts. Something quite strange has been happening in the public debate nearly same-sex unions. Although there is extensive literature on the question, and specifically on the issue of how nosotros read the biblical texts, conclusions that once could be chosen well established now appear either to be ignored or forgotten.
For example, i leading advocate of a change to the church'south position, from what is described every bit an 'evangelical' perspective, argues that we should ignore the texts on sexual ethics in Leviticus 18 and 20 because we ignore the prohibition on eating shellfish and wearing clothes of mixed fibres. I had thought that this kind of 'naïve' (in the strict sense) reading of the Old Testament, which assumes that all commands have equal significance so must be accepted or rejected together, had been set aside in the debate. Just information technology is standing to brand its presence felt in pop word. Some other case occurs in recent scholarly piece of work; a text published only terminal twelvemonth (Brownson'due south Bible, Gender, Sexuality) questions the link betwixt Paul'south term arsenokoitai in 1 Cor half dozen.9 and the Greek version of Lev 18.22—a link which I recall well-nigh would regard as very well established (p 271). In that location is actually no other plausible explanation for this term, which Paul appears to have coined himself.
So the purpose of this booklet is not to cracking people, nor to make a minority in the churches or order feel marginalized, nor to defend the mistreatment of people who experience same-sex activity allure in previous generations or other cultures. It is, however, to set out the fundamental texts, to explore concisely the issues in the interpretation of these texts, including engaging with of import and recent commentators, and to see whether the biblical witness can offering whatever warrant for the affirmation of same-sex sexual marriage as a 'way of life, hallowed by God' on a par with the marriage of one human to one adult female. This is not an attempt at an academic treatise, simply aims to be relevant and accessible for church members and leaders who would similar some guidance through this discussion. I have engaged both with academic and popular arguments, and sought to connect the 2 areas of discussion.
Order at present from Grove Books
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