Denver Seminary

2022-2023 Student Handbook 63 exegetically convincing. Nor does the use of the masculine gender found in the Hebrew grammar of these prohibitions exclude female practice. 2 Further, understanding the deep friendships between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1—4) and between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18—20) as homosexual relationships imposes an interpretation on these narratives that the texts do not support. In light of the broad and consistent teaching of the OT on human sexuality, it is clear that any sexual behaviors other than consensual heterosexual union between a husband and wife were contrary to God's creation design and his covenant with Israel. 3 The sharp delineation of maleness and femaleness in the creation narrative and the repeated representation of married heterosexual relations as the biblical norm, indicate that clear distinctions between men and women are important among the people of God. Dispositions toward homoerotic attraction, homosexual orientation, trans-sexuality and transgendered identity are not specifically addressed in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 22:5 prohibits women from wearing an item specifically identified for use by men, and men from wearing women's clothing. 4 Although this prohibition's lack of a clear context in that section of Deuteronomy makes it difficult to apply specifically to transgendered identity and trans-sexuality, it does illustrate that the distinction between male and female established in the creation narrative remains the norm in the biblical laws that speak to sexuality. In line with this consistent distinction between male and female, the Old Testament assumes that congruence between a person's sex and gender identity is part of God's original design for human sexuality. The Old Testament affirms that human sexuality, though now thoroughly affected by sin, is not hopelessly lost to sin. God's intended design and purpose for a complementarity between men and women, each holding a unique and valued identity, affirm the importance and beauty of human sexuality in creation. New Testament. Essentially, the teaching of the New Testament on human sexuality is grounded in the theology and worldview developed in the Old Testament. Jesus insists that the creation narrative demonstrates that God intended marriage to unite a man and a woman in a life-long monogamous relationship—not to be terminated except when one of the parties is guilty of porneia (πορνεία), often translated as "immorality" (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). This breach of the marriage commitment shows God's inviolable intention of permissible sexuality—a committed man-woman, life-long, consensual relationship bound in the covenant of marriage. 5 For this reason all other expressions of sexual behavior are forbidden. Not surprisingly, the Apostle Paul also bases his view of marriage on the creation narrative (Genesis 1-3). Specifically, he likens the union of husband and wife (the "one flesh" union cited in Genesis 2:24) to the union of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). In such a union, a man and a woman have the opportunity to portray in their relationship something of the nature of Christ's relationship with his bride, the Church. Faithfulness, complementarity, service, and protection all flow out of this union—husband and wife mirroring Christ and the Church. Paul argues for the importance of purity in the lives of leaders in local churches using language that specifically refers to moral purity or chastity (1 Timothy 4:12; 5:9). Moral purity, specifically in the area of human sexuality is essential not only for church leadership but for human flourishing. For those who are married such purity demands marital fidelity and for those who are single, abstinence from sexual relations. Paul argues that by bearing God's image, humans were created to worship their Creator but foolishly chose to worship created things (Romans 1:21-23). In like manner humans violated the creation pattern of male-female complementarity and union in human sexuality choosing instead homosexual behavior (Romans 1:24-27). Just as idolatry is a departure from God's design and intent for humanity spiritually, so homosexuality is seen as a departure from God's design and intent for humanity sexually. 6

• Cover