Did past societies accept and condone homosexual relationships? This thorough study of homosexuality defines and answers today's questions using the Bible, Jewish intertestamental literature, and information from ancient cultures. 

A new orthodoxy is being proclaimed in some church circles: "One can be a practicing homosexual and an authentic Christian." Basic to this position is the argument that ancient cultures and the Bible did not condemn homosexuality as a condition nor as a lifestyle. It asserted that: 

• homosexuality was generally accepted by the ancients, including Plato
• homosexuality was not the sin that doomed Sodom
• the Old Testament honors the love of David and Jonathan
• Since Jesus did not condemn same gender sexuality, we shouldn't either
• Paul's words about homosexuality were either uninformed or a rhetorical ploy to arouse Anti-Gentile sentiment
• New Testament writers couldn't have conceived of today's mutual committed relationship

Dr. James De Young interacts with the modern apologists for Christian and societal acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. He examines their positions honestly and answers them based on sound reasoning and a thorough review of the ancient source materials. Each chapter personalizes and illustrates its main points with a fictional story based on archaeological and literary evidence. Here is a gentle but unequivocal guide for all who want to face the homosexuality issue honestly.

About the Author

James B. De Young (Th.M., Talbot Theological Seminary; ThD., Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. His articles have appeared in Bibliotheca Sacra, Master's Seminary Journal, and Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. He co-authored Beyond the Obvious: Discover the Deeper Meaning of Scripture and contributed to the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible and The Gospels and the Scriptures of Israel. He has been actively involved in the social-moral issues of his community and state.