Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships

This thought-provoking book by James Brownson develops a broad, cross-cultural sexual ethic from Scripture, locates current debates over homosexuality in that wider context, and explores why the Bible speaks the way it does about same-sex relationships. Fairly presenting both sides in this polarized debate—“traditional” and “revisionist”—Brownson conscientiously analyzes pertinent biblical texts and helpfully identifies “stuck points” in the ongoing debate. In the process, he explores key concepts that inform our understanding of the biblical texts, including patriarchy, complementarianism, purity and impurity, and honor and shame. Central to his argument is the need to uncover the moral logic behind the text.