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New Testament Studies: Gender Studies
Resources available at Yale Divinity Library for New Testament studies.
The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender by Adrian ThatcherPresents an overview of the theological study of sexuality and gender. 40+ essays focused on new advances. Eight thematic sections, including methods, concepts, issues, controversies. History, theology, denominational politics treated. Exhaustive.
Gay and Lesbian Theologies by Elizabeth StuartCritical survey of gay and lesbian theology. Argues that this theology has proven incapable of providing universally convincing reasons for the inclusion of lesbian and gay people and their relationships in the Church and unable to deal with the experience of AIDS crises. Argues for all to embrace the "queer" of Biblical traditions. Ruffles feathers and sparks discussion.
by Mary Caldera
Last Updated Apr 27, 2020
890 views this year
Introduction to Genders Studies and the New Testament
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies by Julia M. O'BrienIncludes 19-20th feminist + gender studies, more recent (e.g. queer studies), and more. Many methods and operative frameworks. Multi-volumes, 160+ entries. Diverse and interdisciplinary examination of historical and modern conceptions of gender and sexuality in the Bible. Bibliography + further reading. Online available.
Marriage and Sexuality in Early Christianity by David G. HunterA representative sampling of early Christian thought. The goal of each volume is not to be exhaustive but representative enough to denote for a nonspecialist audience the multivalent character of early Christian thought. Online available.
Homoeroticism in the Biblical World by Martti Nissinen;Attempts to sever ancient texts -- both biblical and nonbiblical -- from arguments in today's debates. Or at least complicate modern attempts to "appeal" to ancient sources.
Case Studies
Love Between Women by Bernadette J. BrootenLandmark examination of female homoeroticism and the role of women in the ancient Roman world. Evidence includes marriages between women and condemnations of female homoerotic practices based on widespread awareness of love between women. Includes NT mentions of female homoeroticism. Online available.
God's Gym: divine male bodies of the Bible by Stephen MooreConsiders God's male bodies--e.g. the Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus in the NT--and the modern quest for a perfect human form. God's Gym is about divinity, physical pain, and the visions of male perfectability.
New Testament Masculinities by Stephen Moore; Janice Capel AndersonCollects themes of Christology, patriarchy, violence, colonialism, family structures, and sexual practices as it explores the construction and performance of masculinity in the NT. Examining the Gospels, Romans, the Pastorals,Revelation, and the Shepherd of Hermas, situates diverse masculinities within historical context.
God's Beauty Parlor by Stephen D. MooreCritical commentary on sex and sexuality (via queer theory and masculinity studies) in NT texts. Themes of homoeroticism, masculinity, beauty, and violence.
Holy Misogyny: why the sex and gender conflicts in the early church still matter by April D. DeConickIn Holy Misogyny, bible scholar April DeConick wants real answers to the questions that are rarely whispered from the pulpits of the contemporary Christian churches. Why is God male? Why are women associated with sin? Why can't women be priests? Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the early Christian literature, she seeks to understand the conflicts over sex and gender in the early church-what they were and what was at stake. She explains how these ancient conflicts have shaped contemporary Christianity and its promotion of male exclusivity and superiority in terms of God, church leadership, and the bed. DeConick's detective work uncovers old aspects of Christianity before later doctrines and dogmas were imposed upon the churches, and the earlier teachings about the female were distorted. Holy Misogyny shows how the female was systematically erased from the Christian tradition, and why. She concludes that the distortion and erasure of the female is the result of ancient misogyny made divine writ, a holy misogyny that remains with us today.
The Corinthian Body by Dale B. MartinIn this discussion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Martin contends that Paul's various disagreements with the Corinthians were the result of fundamental ideological conflict. Online available.
The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender by Presents an overview of the theological study of sexuality and gender. 40+ essays focused on new advances. Eight thematic sections, including methods, concepts, issues, controversies. History, theology, denominational politics treated. Exhaustive.
Transgender, Intersex and Biblical Interpretation by Introduces terms for the various identities of trans people and how the Bible can affirm those deemed sexually "other." Biblical focus. Show how gender was not binary, and in the Bible gender and sex are always dynamic categories.
Gay and Lesbian Theologies by Critical survey of gay and lesbian theology. Argues that this theology has proven incapable of providing universally convincing reasons for the inclusion of lesbian and gay people and their relationships in the Church and unable to deal with the experience of AIDS crises. Argues for all to embrace the "queer" of Biblical traditions. Ruffles feathers and sparks discussion.
Queer Theology by Online available.
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies by Includes 19-20th feminist + gender studies, more recent (e.g. queer studies), and more. Many methods and operative frameworks. Multi-volumes, 160+ entries. Diverse and interdisciplinary examination of historical and modern conceptions of gender and sexuality in the Bible. Bibliography + further reading. Online available.
The Oxford Handbook of New Testament, Gender, and Sexuality by Introduces ancient Mediterranean conceptions of embodiment, sexual difference, and desire. Includes ongoing theological and social debates. Online available.
Marriage and Sexuality in Early Christianity by A representative sampling of early Christian thought. The goal of each volume is not to be exhaustive but representative enough to denote for a nonspecialist audience the multivalent character of early Christian thought. Online available.
Homoeroticism in the Biblical World by Attempts to sever ancient texts -- both biblical and nonbiblical -- from arguments in today's debates. Or at least complicate modern attempts to "appeal" to ancient sources.
Love Between Women by Landmark examination of female homoeroticism and the role of women in the ancient Roman world. Evidence includes marriages between women and condemnations of female homoerotic practices based on widespread awareness of love between women. Includes NT mentions of female homoeroticism. Online available.
God's Gym: divine male bodies of the Bible by Considers God's male bodies--e.g. the Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus in the NT--and the modern quest for a perfect human form. God's Gym is about divinity, physical pain, and the visions of male perfectability.
New Testament Masculinities by Collects themes of Christology, patriarchy, violence, colonialism, family structures, and sexual practices as it explores the construction and performance of masculinity in the NT. Examining the Gospels, Romans, the Pastorals,Revelation, and the Shepherd of Hermas, situates diverse masculinities within historical context.
God's Beauty Parlor by Critical commentary on sex and sexuality (via queer theory and masculinity studies) in NT texts. Themes of homoeroticism, masculinity, beauty, and violence.
Holy Misogyny: why the sex and gender conflicts in the early church still matter by In Holy Misogyny, bible scholar April DeConick wants real answers to the questions that are rarely whispered from the pulpits of the contemporary Christian churches. Why is God male? Why are women associated with sin? Why can't women be priests? Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the early Christian literature, she seeks to understand the conflicts over sex and gender in the early church-what they were and what was at stake. She explains how these ancient conflicts have shaped contemporary Christianity and its promotion of male exclusivity and superiority in terms of God, church leadership, and the bed. DeConick's detective work uncovers old aspects of Christianity before later doctrines and dogmas were imposed upon the churches, and the earlier teachings about the female were distorted. Holy Misogyny shows how the female was systematically erased from the Christian tradition, and why. She concludes that the distortion and erasure of the female is the result of ancient misogyny made divine writ, a holy misogyny that remains with us today.
The Corinthian Body by In this discussion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Martin contends that Paul's various disagreements with the Corinthians were the result of fundamental ideological conflict. Online available.
