The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics [Paperback]

Robert A. J. Gagnon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

Gagnon offers the most thorough analysis to date of the biblical texts relating to homosexuality. He demonstrates why attempts to classify the Bible’s rejection of same-sex intercourse as irrelevant for our contemporary context fail to do justice to the biblical texts and to current scientific data. Gagnon’s book powerfully challenges attempts to identify love and inclusivity with affirmation of homosexual practice. . . the most sophisticated and convincing examination of the biblical data for our time. —Jürgen Becker, Professor of New Testament, Christian-Albrechts University.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...In its learnedness, [Gagnon's] book will...be in the vanguard of its position and cannot be ignored...." -- Martti Nissinen, University of Helsinki, and author of Homoeroticism in the Biblical World (From the Jacket Flap)

"...the fullest and best presentation of the conservative position....expressing the case same-sex intercourse sympathetically and convincingly." -- I. Howard Marshall, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (Blurb Inside Book)

"...the most thorough examination of the scriptural and theological...perspectives on same-sex relations....a tour de force." -- Marion L. Soards, Professor of New Testament, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (From Jacket Flap)

"Gagnon has offered a learned, judicious, and comprehensive examination of the biblical testimony....fair and compassionate...a major resource...." -- Brevard S. Childs, Sterling Professor of Divinity (Hebrew Bible), Emeritus, Yale Divinity School (From Inside Book)

"Gagnon's book is an extremely valuable contribution to the current debate....I recommend this book wholeheartedly." -- C. E. B. Cranfield, Professor of Theology (New Testament), Emeritus, University of Durham (From Inside Book)

"Gagnon's incisive logic, prudent judgment, and exhaustive research should make this book a dominant voice in the contemporary debate." -- Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, O.P., Professor of New Testament, Ecole Biblique, Jerusalem (From the Back Cover)

"I believe that this volume will become a classic in the ongoing discussion of the church's...response to homosexuality." -- Duane F. Watson, Professor of New Testament, Malone College (From Inside Book)

"I know of no comparable study of the texts and interpretive debates that surround homosexual behavior." -- Max L. Stackhouse, Stephen Colwell Professor of Christian Ethics, Princeton Theological Seminary (From the Jacket Flap)

"No Christian concerned with homosexuality can afford to ignore this book." -- John Barton, Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford (From the Back Cover)

"This is a brilliant, original, and highly important work,...indispensable even for those who disagree with the author." -- James Barr, Distinguished Professor of Hebrew Bible, Emeritus, Vanderbilt University (From the Back Cover) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

"Gagnon offers the most thorough analysis to date of the biblical texts relating to homosexuality. His strong and clearly articulated argument establishes that the Bible contains a unanimous witness defining same-sex intercourse as sin. He does so while rigorously engaging biblical scholars and historians who have written both for and against this understanding of same-sex intercourse. In addition, he demonstrates systematically why attempts to classify as irrelevant for our contemporary context the Bible's rejection of same-sex intercourse fail to do justice to the biblical texts. His conclusions are clear and compassionate, as he cautions readers on all sides of the debate against a truncated gospel, and challenges all to strive for a holistic view of the command to love God and neighbor." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687022797
• ISBN-13: 978-0687022793
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Scholarship, March 4, 2011

By 

David Bibee "Dav." (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (Paperback)

Robert Gagnon provides a more than thorough look at texts referring to homosexuality. Indeed, he is so thorough that even his opponents in the academic community admit and endorse his text as extremely worthwhile and worthy of recognition. Those who are giving this book poor reviews simply because they don't agree with his conclusion are simply being led by their emotions. If Martti Nissinen says, "...In its learnedness, [Gagnon's] book will...be in the vanguard of its position and cannot be ignored...." then that cannot be ignored, as Nissinen is one of the most qualified scholars from the opposing perspective.

The reality is that this book is a systematic look at the issue of homosexuality, and is a significant challenge to the hermeneutical partiality of more liberal scholars. Indeed, Gagnon allows the text to interpret itself, rather than asserting assumptions (i.e. only the exploitative homosexual practices is condemned, the ancient world did not have loving homosexual partners, etc.) that aren't accurate. Gagnon provides specific examples of how the claims made by opposing scholars may be an incomplete or eisegetical understanding. If you want to know more about homosexuality, this book is a phenomenal resource.

73 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Scholarly Study of Homosexuality and the Bible, November 1, 2002

By 

Richard Mathisen (Ambler, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Bible and Homosexual Practice (Hardcover)

Many churches today are discussing the question of whether homosexual sexual behavior is sinful, which requires an understanding of what the Bible says about it. Prof Gagnon has produced the most comprehensive examination of the Biblical evidence regarding homosexual behavior. His treatment is definitely on the conservative side, but he attempts to be fair to all viewpoints. This is easily the best book on the subject, but it is not an easy read. The most interesting aspect of Gagnon's approach is his comprehensive approach. He starts with Genesis and shows that the Jewish viewpoint is anchored in Genesis and the marriage of two complementary human beings -- male and female. Then he interprets the rest of the Bible in the light of Genesis. He does not limit himself to the 5 or 6 well-known passages in the Bible which are often discussed when the topic is homosexual behavior. Those who are conservative will find this book very helpful. Those who are liberal (on this topic) will find it the strongest case that can be made for the "opposing side."

60 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, thorough study, March 7, 2002

By 

Joe Sprinkle (Toccoa, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bible and Homosexual Practice (Hardcover)

Gagnon appears to have left few stones unturned in his analysis of this issue. He presents the most detailed and thorough exegetical case for the traditional Christian view on homosexuality that I have seen.

Yet what is interesting to me is that Gagnon's methodology is certainly not "conservative," but reflects mainstream, "liberal" historical-critical assumptions in his exegesis of texts. This is why so thoroughly a liberal scholar as James Barr, who wrote the anti-conservative polemic FUNDAMENTALISM, can nonetheless commend the book despite the "conservative" conclusions that the author reaches. Thus this is probably the best book for a theological conservative (such as this reviewer) to recommend to any theological "moderate" who is not yet completely decided on this issue. Gagnon is likely to gain a hearing where conservatives will not.

Theological conservatives too may read this work with profit, though they will have to forgive Gagnon's adoption of critical positions on matters of authorship and the like that we would find unacceptable. Fortunately such matters rarely affect the force of his argumention.