Same-Sex Desire and Theological Anthropology in the New Testament: The Case of Romans 1:18–32

The focus of the article is to show how the hegemony of heteronormativity compromises attempts at gay-friendly pastoral care and counselling with sexual minorities. Ecclesial resolutions with regard to same-sex relationships are based on Biblical propositions, theologies of heterosexual marriage, and often also on social stereotypes. This article investigates the textual evidence on same-sex intimacy in antiquity in order to demonstrate that views on sexuality and marriage are not fixed, but change over time. It also traces the formation of the theology of heterosexual marriage in the institutionalized Christian religion. Same-sex intimacy during the period from the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Imperial period is discussed, as well as during early Christianity up to and until marriage was sacramentalized. As a consequence of this historical legacy, churches have largely condemned same-sex relationships and have alienated sexual minorities from the faith community. The article contends that the hegemony of heteronormativity is based on an essentialist view on sexuality, as well as a positivist ethical reading of the texts of the New Testament and the contemporary world. It illustrates that the ecclesia itself has not yet been transformed by the gospel message of inclusive love.

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Same-Sex Relations

The Oxford Handbook of New Testament, Gender, and Sexuality ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190213398.013.39 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 572-591

Author(s):

Benjamin H. Dunning

Keyword(s):

New Testament ◽

History Of Sexuality ◽

Same Sex ◽

Roman World ◽

Critical Engagement ◽

The New Testament ◽

History Of

This chapter explores the issue of same-sex relations and the New Testament. It begins by surveying sexual protocols in the Roman world and situating the topic in broader biblical context. It then analyzes Romans 1:18–32, focusing especially on different scholarly approaches to this vexed and difficult text. Through a critical engagement with the work of Kyle Harper, the chapter attempts to surface and consolidate a set of interrelated interpretive issues that, so it argues, must necessarily attend any exegesis of Romans 1:18–32 that seeks to interpret the text within the larger history of sexuality. These include (1) the negotiation of continuity and difference; (2) the question of Paul’s silences; (3) the role of Judaism; and 4) the problem of the active partner.

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Die imago Dei in protologiese, Christologiese en eskatologiese perspektief

In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi ◽

10.4102/ids.v45i2/3.30 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (2/3) ◽

Author(s):

N. Vorster

Keyword(s):

New Testament ◽

Theological Anthropology ◽

Imago Dei ◽

Theological Reflection ◽

The New Testament ◽

Genesis 1 ◽

Correct Understanding

The Imago Dei in protological, Christological and eschatological perspectiveThis article discusses the significance of the concept of the “imago Dei” for theological anthropology. Genesis 1 deliberately gives the concept an “open” meaning to make further theological reflection on the nature thereof possible. A purely protological understanding of the concept is therefore insufficient. The New Testament provides the “imago Dei” with a Christological and eschatological understanding that is essential for a correct understanding of the concept as well as for the development of a theological anthropology.

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Same-Sex Relations in the Biblical World

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199664153.013.004 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Theodore W. Jennings

Keyword(s):

New Testament ◽

Hebrew Bible ◽

Saint Paul ◽

Multiple Forms ◽

Divine Love ◽

Same Sex ◽

Biblical Literature ◽

The Bible ◽

The New Testament ◽

Biblical Texts

While the Bible is often understood to forbid same-sex love, a closer examination reveals a wide variety of forms of same-sex love that are presupposed and even celebrated in these texts. After demonstrating that biblical texts taken to prohibit same-sex love have been misunderstood, the chapter explores multiple forms of same-sex love in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Love between women in the story of Ruth, the expressions of warrior love in the stories of David and the centurion who came to Jesus, the transgendering of Israel in the prophets and the transgendering of Jesus and Saint Paul in the New Testament, even tales of sexual awakening and violence, provide a rich tapestry of same-sex love exhibited in biblical literature giving deeper meaning to the message of divine love which for Christians is exemplified by Jesus.

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The Image and Likeness of God

The Oxford Handbook of Mystical Theology ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198722380.013.14 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 265-286

Author(s):

John Arblaster

Keyword(s):

New Testament ◽

Theological Anthropology ◽

Human Person ◽

Imago Dei ◽

Central Theme ◽

Mystical Tradition ◽

The New Testament ◽

The Subject ◽

East And West ◽

The Rich

This chapter examines the subject of humanity as created in the image and likeness of God, a central theme in the Christian mystical tradition. Indeed, the imago Dei forms the foundation of much if not all Christian theological anthropology, and questions of the ‘nature’ and ‘structure’ of the human person are evidently central to questions of the mystical encounter between human persons and God. This chapter first surveys the scriptural background of the imago Dei in both Genesis and the New Testament and then provides a brief survey of current systematic-theological and historical-theological approaches. After providing some background to patristic imago Dei theologies in both the East and West, the chapter focuses in-depth on three lesser-known medieval authors: John of Fécamp, William of St Thierry, and John of Ruusbroec, in an attempt to highlight the rich variation and theological sophistication of their mystical anthropologies.

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