Sexuality in the New Testament: Understanding the Key Texts
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Overview
William Loader considers the key questions on what the New Testament says about issues of human sexuality. This accessible guide covers a variety of interpretations of the main texts treating this contentious issue.
In the Logos edition of Sexuality in the New Testament, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with passage guides, word studies, and a wealth of other tools from Logos, you can delve into God’s Word like never before!
- Illustrates the risks of misinterpreting Scripture
- Includes bibliographical references and indexes
Top Highlights
“Via’s statement that ‘Professor Gagnon and I are in substantial agreement that the biblical texts that deal specifically with homosexual practice condemn it unconditionally’,4 which Gagnon does not dispute. They differ not over what the key biblical texts meant—exegesis—but over how they should be applied in the Church today—hermeneutics.” (Page 7)
“Sex just for pleasure and not procreation, even with one’s own wife, was frowned upon.” (Page 18)
“The emphasis here on ‘desires’ is important, not because Paul sees all desire, and especially sexual desire, as evil, but because he is connecting immoral action with sexual desire that is not properly controlled. Paul is not suggesting that they cannot help themselves, which might alleviate blame, but doing the opposite. One of the best commentaries on desires and their control is to be found in 4 Maccabees, whose theme is control of one’s desires, which are depicted as plants in a garden which have their place but should not be allowed to run wild (1:28–30; similarly Pseudo-Phocylides 59, 76; Pseudo-Aristeas 177, 227, 237, 256, 277–8).” (Page 16)
“There is a certain internal logic to Paul’s argument which suggests that he sees a close link between denying God’s true nature in idolatry and then going on to deny the true nature of human sexual relations: both are marks of sinfulness and alienation. This is all the more likely if the allusion to those deserving death in 1:32 derives directly from the prohibition of same-sex relations in Leviticus 20:13.” (Page 14)
“Brooten has shown through her extensive survey of Greco-Roman and Jewish literature, as well as magical, astrological and medical texts, that the phenomenon of female–female sexual relations was known and almost universally condemned as abhorrent.” (Page 18)
Loader has brought together sources from the ancient world and opinions from a wide range of scholarship in many contentious areas concerning sexuality. He avoids leading the witness, letting the texts speak for themselves. He states the opinion of other scholars and occasionally of himself, but his aim is to educate and not preach.
—Dr. David Instone-Brewer, senior research fellow in Rabbinics and the New Testament, Tyndale House
- Title: Sexuality in the New Testament: Understanding the Key Texts
- Author: William Loader
- Publisher: SPCK
- Publication Date: 2010
- Pages: 176
Reviews
1 rating
Ben Clapton
4/9/2016
This is a great little book, and a useful exploration of the subject matter. Bill sets out stating from the very beginning that these topics are surrounded with people on both sides of the issue, who often focus more on the hermeneutics (applying the teaching to the church) rather than the Exegesis (what the text says). As such, he explores in detail what the authors were trying to say, what they may have been assuming the target audiences would know, and what points they were trying to get across. He sets it in its historical context and is a very useful book. He makes a note that people will look at these scriptures and apply the hermeneutics differently depending on their own beliefs - whether that is to try and apply as close to when it was written; or whether that is to look at each teaching in light of modern knowledge and society. He doesn't attempt to make judgement or suggest a path in this aspect - the scope of this book is purely exegetical, and in this Bill does a great job. That he looks beyond the hot issue of the moment (homosexual relations) and looks at other related topics, such as the role of women, marriage and divorce and celibacy, make this book all the more useful. These topics, while separate, are all quite closely related, and having the exegesis contained all within the one book make this a useful addition to the collection. A note to be made about the Logos edition - there are a number of mistakes contained in here, which I must assume are a result of the conversion. For example, the words "and" and "find" are often mixed up, having "and" where it should read "find" or "find" where it should read "and". This needs a careful reading and editing. But overall it is a good edition, and with lots of links to the various biblical and extra-biblical texts that are used.Robert Gange Jr
4/5/2014
While Mr. William Loader is lacking in regard to actual Bible scholarship qualifications, he is quite free to very selectively, present his own hand picked "attitudes", toward sexuality, in Judaism and Christianity, in the Hellenistic Greco-Roman Era. These will undoubtedly, agree with, and support, his own personal opinions, and agenda. This therefore, does not seem to be, an unbiased, or even a relevant, book, to me. This is my observation, and I believe it is obvious to all discerning readers, to see, and from that to understand. This being entirely based upon, what is written here, regarding the author, and his book. (Thank you for your time, God bless you.).
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