Sex and the single Savior : gender and sexuality in biblical interpretation / Dale B. Martin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Martin, Dale B., 1954-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sex--Biblical teaching.

Sex.

Bible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Physical Description:

xii, 268 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Louisville, Ky. : Westminster John Knox Press, [2006]

Summary:

Probing into numerous questions about gender and sexuality, Dale Martin delves into the biblical texts anew and unearths surprising findings. Avoiding preconceptions about ancient sexuality, he explores the ethics of desire and marriage and pays careful attention to the original meanings of words, especially those used as evidence of Paul's opposition to homosexuality. For example, after a remarkably faithful reading of the scriptural texts, Martin concludes that our contemporary obsession with marriage?and the whole search for the ?right? sexual relationships?is antithetical to the message of the gospel. In all of these essays, however, Martin argues for engaging Scripture in a way that goes beyond the standard historical-critical questions and the assumptions of textual agency in order to find a faith that has no foundations other than Jesus Christ.

Contents:

The myth of textual agency

The rhetoric of biblical scholarship: a primer for critical reading of historical criticism

Arsenokoitês and malakos: meanings and consequences

Heterosexism and the interpretation of Romans 1:18-32

Paul without passion: on Paul's rejection of desire in sex and marriage

The queer history of Galatians 3:28: "no male and female"

Sex and the single Savior

Familiar idolatry and the Christian case against marriage

The hermeneutics of divorce

Community-shaped Scripture

The space of Scripture, the risk of faith.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-257) and indexes.

ISBN:

0664230466

9780664230463

OCLC:

66393774

Publisher Number:

9780664230463