Sander Chan, a gay Christian, has a useful series on homosexuality and the Bible on his blog The Joyful Anticipation.
Part 1: Sodom and Gomorra
Part 2: Leviticus I
Part 3: Leviticus II
Part 4: Leviticus III
Part 5: Romans I
Part 6: Romans II
Part 7: Romans III
Part 8: Corinthians and Timothy
Part 9: Creation Order
Part 10: Wrapping up the series
Homosexuality and the Bible – a for and against presentation.
We have here two presentations by Biblical scholars who can help us think about the question question of homosexuality in relation to the Bible. Many people think of Bible scholars as obsessed with small sections of scripture and uninterested in contemporary social issues. Ulrich Mauser and Dr Wink do not fit this stereotype.
Ulrich Mauser, educated in Germany and Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary, has taught at three theological schools during his career, serving as academic dean at one of them. All along he has focused on the meaning of the scriptures for what we actually believe and do as a people of faith. His books and articles focus not on texts by themselves but on their theological meaning, often in relation to real world issues. His most recent book, for instance, is The Gospel of Peace: A Scriptural Message For Today’s World. During the last two years, Professor Mauser has joined some of his colleagues at Princeton to issue public statements on burning issues in the church: one of these focused on the ordination of homosexuals. He is not the sort of Bible scholar who hides in the library.
Read Dr. Ulrich Mauser on The Bible and Homosexuality
Dr. Wink is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Seminary, an assignment that takes him to several dozen different cities each year to teach. Formerly he taught at Union Seminary and before that was pastor of a Methodist Church in Texas. He is well known for pioneering a method of Bible study for use in churches and for a three volume series of books on the principalities and powers. He not only writes about principalities and powers but mixes it up with them as well. He has been involved in movements for non-violent social change in this country, South Africa and other parts of the world, and written and spoken widely about non-violence, disabilities, homosexuality and other contemporary topics.
I’ve just come across this book by Dan O. Via and Robert A. J. Gagnon: Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views (Fortress, 2003).
It’s a great read. Via presents the case for an open and accepting position that homosexual acts are not in themselves immoral or sinful.
Gagnon takes the traditional position that homosexual acts are sinful and that the scripture only permits monogamous heterosexual marriage or celibacy.
Each author presents their case in about 15,000 words and then each respond to each other.
Gagnon is the author of the monumental The Bible and Homosexual Practice and this essay can be seen as a revised synthesis of that book.
Key chapters that both authors examine include the usual suspects: Gen 19, Leviticus 18,20, Judges 19 Romans 1 and 1 Cor 6.
Gagnon has provided extra material on his website here.
