Product Description

In this 127-page book, two New Testament scholars offer different perspectives on the issue of the Bible and homosexuality. Robert A. J. Gagnon, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (Abingdon, 2001; 520 pages), provides a 52-page updated synthesis of some of the key arguments of his earlier book for a pro-complementarity position against homoerotic unions. Gagnon tackles such issues as: what constitutes a core value in Scripture, the proper use of analogies, love and grace from the perspective of Jesus and Paul, the pervasive stance of the Old Testament witness, the Levitical proscriptions and the issue of purity, the witness of Jesus, the witness of Paul against three hermeneutical counterarguments (the exploitation, orientation, and misogyny arguments), and concluding thoughts about the structural incongruity of homosexual unions. Dan O. Via, professor emeritus of New Testament at Duke University writes a 39-page essay that presents a case for supporting committed homosexual unions, including a discussion of: the authority of the Bible, the problem of interpretation, Old and New Testaments, the issue of homosexual orientation, a rebuttal of the traditional position, and a proposal for recovering a biblical witness for homosexual behavior. Each author has a six-page response to the other's essay. A special feature of this book is that Professor Gagnon's essay is keyed to extensive online notes and a rejoinder to Professor Via's response at robgagnon.net. This book provides a thoughtful and spirited dialogue on a vital and contentious issue in American church life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #436371 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 125 pages

Graham Stanton, Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge (endorsement inside book)
I know of no finer presentation of all the main issues.

Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke Divinity School (endorsement inside book)
I know of no other work that so clearly illumines the biblical issues at the heart of the controversy.

Joel B. Green, Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Asbury Theological Seminary (endorsement inside book)
Christians challenged by questions surrounding Scripture on same-sex relations will find an invaluable chart for navigating these confusing waters.

Customer Reviews

Two Views On Homosexuality & The Biblical Narrative
Homosexuality and the Bible - Two Views - presents the views of two scholars - Dan O. Via presents a defence of loving consenting adults engaging in a same sex relationship as not sinful and attempts to demonstrate that the biblical narrative has a meaning that is open to differing interpretation and that were the biblical narrative is clear in its condemnation of the same sex union this can be amended by new light from science etc. Dan labels the opposing views of Robert Gagnon as being those views influenced by presupposition brought to the biblical text.

Having read this book I found the arguments of Dan O Via to be clearly influenced by his presupposition that the homosexual state is a given state rather than a chosen state, in fact its not your fault you turned out that way its just the way the cards are dealt. This affects his main thrust of argument and comes across in a clearly illogical manner. He fails to respond to the valid question, if it's a given state then what about those who engage in incest and maintain a loving and consensual relationship is this state therefore unsinful.

Robert Gagnon's treatment of the biblical narrative is clear, concise and logical. Dan O Via regards the biblical narrative in such a manner that it becomes devoid of any authority and his attempt to justify sexual acts by the term "abundant life" seems ridiculous. For many people multiple sexual partners and perhaps sexual contact with children would also be considered as "abundant life". I can confess to having once believed and attempted to gain as many sexual partners as possible for my own gratification as being the way to an "abundant life" - I was very very wrong!