Sex in the Bible: A New Consideration

by J. Harold Ellens

What is the Bible's stance on such controversial issues as homosexuality and polygamy? What does it have to say about sexual behaviors that some would deem perverted or criminal? Is sex always wrong if it is not used to create life?
Ellens answers these and other questions in a book that argues that our understanding of what the Bible has to say about sex is frequently misguided. He corrects our impressions with a look at the Scriptures themselves, considers what they might have meant to people in the past, and reflects on how we understand, or misunderstand, them today. Focusing on early interpretations and contemporary misconceptions, Ellens guides readers through what the Bible actually says, showing how these messages have been interpreted in different contexts, and suggesting new ways of reading and translating them for use in our own lives. Readers hoping to reach a better understanding of the Bible's views on sexual practices and sexuality in general will find their questions answered here.

What does the story of Adam and Eve reveal about sex and sexuality? What does the Old Testament say about sex and how might we interpret that in our own lives today? How does the New Testament say we should behave in our sexuality and our lives? What lessons can we learn from a closer examination of the Bible and its teachings on human love, marriage, and sexuality? These are among the many questions Ellens answers in an effort to help us all come to a better understanding of the gift of sexuality and its attendant behaviors in our lives. In non-judgmental prose, he elucidates the Bible and our understanding of its teaching on these and related issues.

Genres: Religion, History, Sexuality, Ebooks

216 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is officially the most frustrating text I've read for a class (and we're only reading several of the chapters!) -- and outside for that matter. Ellens provides little to no textual evidence from the Bible to back up his claims, making him logically unsound. Furthermore, he makes many arguments that directly contradict the Bible while claiming that this is what the Bible really means to say.

I would recommend this if you're looking to explore different worldviews, but please do not read this without consulting the Bible yourself or reading up on other scholars. If you're looking for a more accurate reading of the Bible, however, I recommend looking elsewhere.

[Jessie Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Let me preface that I did read this book for class). This book osculates between really interesting insights into sex in the bible, and the author's own odd personal opinions. He goes on a tangent about why men past their midlife tend to cheat on their spouses and it was so unexpected and odd I was a little bit dumbfounded reading it. It felt like Ellens had some personal issues that he was trying to rationalize in his book, I feel like he could have just bought a diary instead. Other than that, it was pretty interesting and he wrote in a very clear and concise manner that I think most people would be able to follow.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sensible approach to sex by someone with psychological and biblical training. The biblical material is a bit off base, however. Some of the details show signs of not being up to standard. Still, a generous book, taking a more biblical view of sex than just about any evangelical study of the same. More thoughts may be found here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Riana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book written both from the heart and from a bounty of research. I found the connection between the fall story in Genesis 3 and Enkidu's obtainment of civilized knowledge from the Epic of Gilgamesh to be super interesting, and it makes a lot of sense. This book really highlights the context of the time these Biblical writers were working in, which is very valuable. It is both a celebration of sex and a series of arguments tearing down bad church teachings held for quite a long time.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really found this book to be helpful, in that the author was approachable. He was coming from a psychological and pastoral lens, which sometimes made his take a bit biased or romanticized. While I didn’t agree with everything he said, I did learn a great deal from this work! A good companion to Michael Cohan’s God and Sex.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this one would be more interesting and maybe even almost slightly.. Opinionated. He could've done better in the "Homosexual" chapters though.