Biblical Texts on Human Sexuality

• The lesson aims to appreciate biblical texts on human sexuality and evaluate the application of biblical moral teachings in today's world.

Historicity of Moral Concepts

• Human concepts, theories, and actions are expressions of human understanding.
• Human understanding evolves over time, leading to changes in affirmations and concepts.
• These changes are cumulative
• Cumulative changes may not align across different times and places.

Group Work

• Form groups to read and analyze sections of the Sacred Scriptures to understand their perspectives on human sexuality.
• Group 1: First 3 chapters of Genesis.
• Group 2: Torah (Leviticus & Deuteronomy) and Prophets (Hosea).
• Group 3: First 8 chapters of the Song of Songs.
• Group 4: Synoptic Gospels.
• Group 5: Pauline epistles.

Guide Questions

• Identify beliefs or teachings in the texts regarding human sexuality's meaning and value.
• Identify beliefs or teachings in the texts regarding the relationship between man and woman.
• Identify beliefs or teachings in the texts regarding unacceptable behaviors related to sex.

Preliminary Points

• The Bible doesn't offer a systematic treatment of human sexuality or sexual ethics.
• The Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) have a limited role.
• Fundamental truths about human sexuality are articulated
• Understanding is within the context of the people's relationship with God, a religious moral vision.
• The Bible presents a distinct vision compared to other cultures.

From Genesis

• Central message: Human sexuality is good, a gift from the transcendent Creator.

Two Accounts of Creation

• The Yahwist account situates sexuality relationally, emphasizing companionship.
• Genesis 2:18: "It is not good for man to be alone."
• Genesis 2:23: "Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."
• Equality implies intimacy in marriage.
• There's comfort with each other's sexuality, as seen in Genesis 1:25, "were both naked and not ashamed."
• The Priestly account situates sexuality in a procreative context.
• It describes cooperation with the Creator in creation and caring providence.
• Genesis 1:28: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it."
• Procreation was valued, with large Israelite families seen as fulfilling the promise to Abraham.

Common Elements in Creation

• The accounts combat the Myth of Baal and presents a clear vision of human sexuality aligned with God's design, contrasting the human condition after the fall.

Combating the Myth of Baal

• Challenges "sex as divine" and "sexual union between humans as participation in the divine".
• Rejects the idea of "Gods as sexual beings capable of unrestrained lust"
• It argues that sexuality is human and good, not divine.

Presenting God's Vision on Human Sexuality

• Humans were created in God's image, not as isolated individuals
• Humans were sexually differentiated into male and female but equal in dignity.
• There is complementarity and mutuality.
• Humans are ordered to faithful, intimate sharing of life in marriage and ordained to increase and multiply.

Contrasts to the Human Condition After the Fall

• There is alienation from one's own body and sexuality.
• There is separation between man and woman.
• Men dominate their wives, resulting in social and cultural inferiority of women.

Torah and Prophets

• Marriage is a holy and natural institution, a symbol of the covenant between God and His people.
• Prophets like Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel used it as such.
• "Yahweh and Israel formed a union of salvation, of grace, of one body."
• Imperfect understanding of marriage exists, allowing divorce. Also women are seen as inferior.
• Sexual behaviors such as adultery, premarital sex (Dt. 22: 23-27), bestiality, and homosexuality (Ex 22: 19 and Dt. 22---) are rejected as abominable (Lev. 18:23; 20:15).

From The Song of Songs

• It almost did not make it to the canon due to strong sexual allusions.
• Sexuality is portrayed as good, with sexual union an occasion for joy and celebration.
• It is a 'love song' for wedding celebration with erotic and genital union noted in 7:1-8.
• Esteem is held for the virginal state of the bride.
• Sexuality as good needs responsible control according to God's design and plan.

From the New Testament

• Was Jesus' teaching on human sexuality coherent and consistent with the OT teachings?
• Can one perceive new dimensions in his teaching?
• Were legal prescriptions in Judaism abrogated by the Christian view of reality (sexuality)?

Preliminary Notes

• The New Testament is viewed within the total vision of the Reign of God, emphasizing justice, peace, love, redemption, and salvation.
• Christ is the center/measure.

Synoptic Gospels

• There is a new understanding of celibacy, from something absurd or sinful to something of priority value.
• Jews of the first century, except the Essenes, considered celibacy absurd and sinful as rejecting the exhortation in Genesis to "Be fruitful and multiply!"
• Jesus was a virgin/celibate and recommended the same for the sake of the Gospel.
• There is movement beyond the law on divorce and back to God's plan, superseding the interpretation of the Mosaic law.
• There is unequivocal condemnation of divorce and remarriage (as adultery).
• The OT teaching on the fundamental equality of men and women is clarified and developed.
• There is no toleration of the double standard evident in the Old Testament and also gracious dealings with women.
• Morality of internal disposition is emphasized over external behavior, transcending mere legalism, minimalism, act-orientedness, or judgementalism.

Pauline Epistles

• Context: Two extreme positions taken regarding sexuality.
• Corinth was a center of sexual licentiousness and gnosticism.
• Contention is an affirmation of the basic goodness of human sexuality, of marriage, and of sexual union.
• There is condemnation of sexual perversions and vices (1 Cor 6. 9-10).

Epistle to the Ephesians 5

• The marital relationship is depicted by the image of Christ as bridegroom to the Church.
• "Transfiguration of title"

Epistle to the Romans

• It is on homosexuality.
• It is wrong, which is taken as evident.
• Presents it as an evil and a distortion of human life resulting from sin (Rm 1:26-27).

Summary of N.T.

• Virginity is respected as a witness to the kingdom.
• There is respect for the goodness of sexuality.
• Sexuality is viewed from the perspective of the Kingdom.
• Sin is a ruptured relationship.

Application of the Biblical Teaching on Sex in Our Times

• To what extent are certain teachings or legal prescriptions on human sexuality normative nowadays?
• Can we distinguish between teachings or ways of thinking that are purely cultural and those that are revealed truths from God?