Homosexuality and the Bible All Hallows College 1. Sequence The Bible says so Reading the past PBC: The Bible and Morality Starting with the story of Lot Discussion 1 2 What we are not doing What we are doing Plan of the day + a text in Genesis Texts in Leviticus Pauline and Deutero-Pauline teaching Time for discussion / discernment ABD - under punishment EBD - brief HCDB - brief IDB - very brief NIDB - extensive and good DNTB - nothing DEJ - nothin DSE - extensive and exccellent 3 4 The Bible says so Dr Laura Schlessinger Issues: Serious Wider than any particular question Some teachings are culture-bound Some teachings transcend cultures Reading the Past Different presuppositions Different language Different approaches Wider context Limited reference 5 6
Bible and Morality PBC (2002) Moral life is a response to covenantal grace (throughout) Presentation Part One: A revealed morality: divine gift and human response Part Two: Biblical criteria for moral reflection Bible and Morality Criterion 1: convergence (natural wisdom) Criterion 2: contrast (against the culture) Criterion 3: advance (refinement of conscience) Criterion 4: community dimension (society) Criterion 5: finality (hope of future life with God) Criterion 6: discernment (prudence) 7 8 Read Place in the narrative Commentary 9 Gen 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening while Lot was sitting in the city s gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face toward the ground. Gen 19:2 He said, Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant s house. Stay the night and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning. No, they replied, we ll spend the night in the town square. Gen 19:3 But he urged them persistently, so they turned aside with him and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them, including bread baked without yeast, and they ate. 4 Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them! 10 Gen 19:6 Lot went outside to them, shutting the door behind him. 7 He said, No, my brothers! Don t act so wickedly! 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never had sexual relations with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you please. Only don t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof. Gen 19:9 Out of our way! they cried, and This man came to live here as a foreigner, and now he dares to judge us! We ll do more harm to you than to them! They kept pressing in on Lot until they were close enough to break down the door. Gen 19:10 So the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house as they shut the door. 11 Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, from the youngest to the oldest, with blindness. The men outside wore themselves out trying to find the door. Context: Genesis 18-19 A disturbing story Core issue? Worse than you think 18:1-15 Isaac s birth announced 18:16-33 Abraham pleads for Sodom 19:1-29 Lot and family escape from Sodom 19:30-38 Lot s daughters commit incest with their father 11 12
6. to know sexually, have intercourse with, copulate (MHeb. JArm. Syr. also Mkx, Arb. {arafa, Ug. hóss (Aistleitner 1060) Akk. id, (Hammurabi Laws 130 of a woman; AHw. 188a), lamaœdu; gignw&skein, feminae notitiam habere, cognoscere, THAT 1:689, 691) Gn 41 1K 14, paederastic Gn 195, of the woman (cf. Akk.!) 198 Nu 3117. First: a question of translation And they called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them. (:5 NRSV) To know They shouted to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them! (:5 NET) Calling out to Lot they said, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so that we can have intercourse with them. (:5 NJB) 13 14 Gen 18:16-19:28 Genesis 18-19 A. Abraham s visitor look to Sodom (18:16)! B. God s view (18:17-21!! C. Abraham pleads (18:22-33)!!! D. Angels arrive in Sodom (19:1-3!!!! E. Assault on Lot and his visitors (19:4-11)!!!!! F. Destruction announced (19:12-13)!!!! E* Lot s sons-in-law reject his appeal (19:14)!!! D* Departure from Sodom (19:15-16)!! C* Lot pleads (19:17-22)! B* Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed (19:23-26) A* Abraham looks towards Sodom 15 16 Contrasting hospitality: Mamre and Sodom Homosexual rape Hospitality as a sacred duty Lesser of two evils: the virgin daughters Gen 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening while Lot was sitting in the city s gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face toward the ground. Angel or messenger? Like Abraham, Lot thinks they are just human beings However, two - not three as before Gateway = public space Lot is very courteous 17 18
Gen 19:2 He said, Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant s house. Stay the night and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning. No, they replied, we ll spend the night in the town square. Gen 19:3 But he urged them persistently, so they turned aside with him and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them, including bread baked without yeast, and they ate. Sunset - so an invitation to stay Against custom, they reject the offer Why are they afraid to stay with Lot? Many unknowns here Lot twists their arm Brief relaxation of tension Speed (cf. Abraham) - hence unleavened bread 19 20 4 Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them! Emphasis on the whole population I.e. no one at all good in Sodom Lot alone is righteous and he is an immigrant Hence, the sin of Sodom (contested) To know is really unambiguous Lot s offer of his daughters confirms this Really: gang rape 21 22 Gen 19:6 Lot went outside to them, shutting the door behind him. 7 He said, No, my brothers! Don t act so wickedly! 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never had sexual relations with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you please. Only don t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof. Lot faces the mob with courage My brothers - soft to turn away wrath The offer was always shocking Motive: hospitality Context (apparently): lesser evil 23 24
Gen 19:9 Out of our way! they cried, and This man came to live here as a foreigner, and now he dares to judge us! We ll do more harm to you than to them! They kept pressing in on Lot until they were close enough to break down the door. Gen 19:10 So the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house as they shut the door. 11 Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, from the youngest to the oldest, with blindness. The men outside wore themselves out trying to find the door. The compromise is rejected Lot is threatened himself The guests rescue Lot Their true identity is revealed in their power to cause blindness 25 26 Discussion The action is clearly evil Attack on hospitality The text is not about same sex relations in general Often cited but not probative 27