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This book provides a literary analysis of New Testament texts on marriage, sex, family, and celibate ideals. It seeks to explore if, how, and eventually to what extent the New Testament favors sexual abstinence. The core of this study consequently consists of fresh perspectives on the issue of sexual abstinence in the New Testament through close readings of 1 Cor 7, Gal 3:28, Matt 19:10-12, and Mark 12:18-27/Matt 22:23-33/Luke 20:27-40, with a keen eye to the many ambassadors of abstinence in the texts-characters exhibiting sexual abstinence given a favorable characterization and function.
As a comprehensive literary analysis of these texts from this perspective lacks precedent in contemporary biblical scholarship, the study is a valuable contribution to the ongoing scholarly debate on the biblical views on sex and marriage.
List of contents
List of Figures - List of Tables - Editor's Preface - Abbreviations - Introduction - The Scope of This Study - Particular Gifts of God: 1 Cor 7 - For Those Given: Matt 19:10-12 - Un-familial Kingdom: Asexual Heaven - Un-Familial Kingdom: The New Social Order of Paul (Gal 3:28) - The Familial Kingdom: The Old Social Order in Letters like Paul's - Conclusions - Bibliography - Index.
About the author
Cato Gulaker is Assistant Professor at Ansgar University College and Theological Seminary where he currently serves as Dean of Studies. He received his PhD from MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. He is the author of Satan, the Heavenly Adversary of Man: A Narrative Analysis of the Function of Satan in the Book of Revelation.
Report
"In this thorough study, Gulaker brings a literary lens to the issue of sexual abstinence in the New Testament. The fresh readings offer new insights by understanding the sayings on abstinence in their literary context. The book provides a useful overview of the state-of-the art for this topic, as it studies both the texts that give priority to abstinence and the counter-texts that promote family life."-Anna Rebecca Solevåg, Professor of New Testament Studies, VID Specialized University, Norway
