S. Donald Fortson
S. Donald Fortson III (Ph.D., Westminister Theological Seminary) is professor of Church History and Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.
View Author's PageThe church is going through a time of severe fracture over the issue of homosexuality. This book addresses the arguments from the gay Christian movement and revisionist theologians and exegetes on a single point: Can they withstand the evidence of the primary sources?
In Unchanging Witness, Donald Fortson and Rollin Grams articulate the consistent orthodox view on homosexuality by presenting primary sources throughout Christian history and by interpreting the biblical texts in their cultural contexts. The first part of the book examines church history from the patristic period to the present day, and the second part engages biblical texts in light of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Greek, and Roman primary sources.
Throughout, the authors survey the conflicting and changing arguments of revisionist readings and contend that, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the relevant texts, the real issue is not one of interpretation but of biblical authority and Christian orthodoxy.
Part I: Christian Tradition and Homosexual Practice
Introduction to Part I
Chapter 1: The Gay Christian Movement
Historic Christianity and Homosexual Practice
Chapter 2: Church Fathers and a Distinct Christian Life
Chapter 3: The Middle Ages and Confessing Sin
Chapter 4: Renaissance and Reformation Confront Immorality
The Modern Church and the Homosexual Crisis
Chapter 5: Roman Catholics and Orthodox on Historic Faith
Chapter 6: Evangelicals on Scripture and Conversion
Chapter 7: The Mainline Church and Revisionist Christianity
Excursus: Slavery and Women
Part II: The Bible and Homosexuality
Introduction to Part II
Chapter 8: Sexual Ethics in Scripture and the Early Church
Creation and Law: Old Testament Texts and Homosexual Practices
Chapter 9: The Old Testament Texts Addressing Homosexual Practice
Chapter 10: Sodom’s Sins
Chapter 11: Homosexuality in the Ancient Near East
Chapter 12: Jewish Views on Homosexuality after Old Testament Times
Creation, the Law, and the Gospel: New Testament Texts and Homosexual Practices
Chapter 13: The New Testament Texts Addressing Homosexual Practice
Chapter 14: La-w, Holiness, and Purity for God's People: 1 Corinthians 5–7
Chapter 15: “Soft Men” and “Homosexuals” in 1 Corinthians 6:9
Chapter 16: Homosexual Orientation in Antiquity and Paul
Chapter 17: Paul’s ‘Nature’/Creation and Nurture/‘Law’ Argument in Romans
Chapter 18: Revisionist Readings of Romans 1:24-28
Conclusion
The church is going through a time of severe fracture over the issue of homosexuality. This book addresses the arguments from the gay Christian movement and revisionist theologians and exegetes on a single point: Can they withstand the evidence of the primary sources?
In Unchanging Witness, Donald Fortson and Rollin Grams articulate the consistent orthodox view on homosexuality by presenting primary sources throughout Christian history and by interpreting the biblical texts in their cultural contexts. The first part of the book examines church history from the patristic period to the present day, and the second part engages biblical texts in light of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Greek, and Roman primary sources.
Throughout, the authors survey the conflicting and changing arguments of revisionist readings and contend that, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the relevant texts, the real issue is not one of interpretation but of biblical authority and Christian orthodoxy.
Part I: Christian Tradition and Homosexual Practice
Introduction to Part I
Chapter 1: The Gay Christian Movement
Historic Christianity and Homosexual Practice
Chapter 2: Church Fathers and a Distinct Christian Life
Chapter 3: The Middle Ages and Confessing Sin
Chapter 4: Renaissance and Reformation Confront Immorality
The Modern Church and the Homosexual Crisis
Chapter 5: Roman Catholics and Orthodox on Historic Faith
Chapter 6: Evangelicals on Scripture and Conversion
Chapter 7: The Mainline Church and Revisionist Christianity
Excursus: Slavery and Women
Part II: The Bible and Homosexuality
Introduction to Part II
Chapter 8: Sexual Ethics in Scripture and the Early Church
Creation and Law: Old Testament Texts and Homosexual Practices
Chapter 9: The Old Testament Texts Addressing Homosexual Practice
Chapter 10: Sodom’s Sins
Chapter 11: Homosexuality in the Ancient Near East
Chapter 12: Jewish Views on Homosexuality after Old Testament Times
Creation, the Law, and the Gospel: New Testament Texts and Homosexual Practices
Chapter 13: The New Testament Texts Addressing Homosexual Practice
Chapter 14: La-w, Holiness, and Purity for God's People: 1 Corinthians 5–7
Chapter 15: “Soft Men” and “Homosexuals” in 1 Corinthians 6:9
Chapter 16: Homosexual Orientation in Antiquity and Paul
Chapter 17: Paul’s ‘Nature’/Creation and Nurture/‘Law’ Argument in Romans
Chapter 18: Revisionist Readings of Romans 1:24-28
Conclusion