The New Testament and Homosexuality: Contextual Background for Contemporary Debate

By: Robin Scroggs

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Synopsis: In most recent debates about the social and ecclesiastical rights of homosexuals, the Bible has been misused. Biblical commentaries offer little help on the crucial passages concerning homosexuality. In light of this confusion, Robin Scroggs, Professor of New Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary, attempts to define the use--as well as abuse--of the Bible in debates about homosexuality. The author's primary aim is to describe the model of homosexuality and the attitudes toward it in the Judeo-Greco-Roman world. Scroggs contends that "until we know what the biblical authors were against, we cannot begin to reflect upon the relevance of those writings for contemporary issues." Only after examining the literature does Scroggs address the biblical pronouncements, focusing on the relevant New Testament texts in particular. His clear and careful analysis of biblical texts yields some surprising and helpful conclusions on matters often ignored by the commentators. This study of the social-historical realities of the New Testament environment corrects long held assumptions and attitudes about the so-called biblical pronouncements on homosexuality.