Thomas D. Hanks

Robert Jewett (2006) and Robert Gagnon (2001)
on Romans 1:16 - 2:16

CLICK HERE for the paper in full

A paper to be presented
at the AARSBL 2007 Annual Meeting
(American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature)

San Diego, California
November 17, 2007

A Gay Apostle’s Queer Epistle for a Peculiar People: Romans 1:16-2:16
Review: Robert Jewett, (Romans.  Hermeneia.  Minneapolis: Fortress;  2006:148-218)
thanks@wamani.apc.org (Buenos Aires, after Dec. 1)

Writings

Writings

on this page...

Thomas D.
Hanks
-
paper to be
presented
at
AARSBL
Annual Meeting

San Diego
California
November 17,
2007
This website was reconstructed in June of 2007
Visits made to this web page since October 2007
"I have other sheep that are not of this
fold.  I must bring them in also."  
John 10:16
Counter
Index-Outline                                                                                                        

Translation  1:16-2:16  Good News for oppressed slaves; bad news for idolatrous
oppressors                         

Introduction: 4 elements deconstructed; 1 normative element (for slaves)                                         

Context: Historical and literary                                                                                         

Scope of pericope (1:16-32): persons described: Gentiles, Jews, all humanity?

1:16-17 + 18  Good News for the oppressed, bad news for idolatrous
oppressors                                           

1:23,25  “They ex/changed”: idolatry (3x)     26  unnatural sex (1x) + 27 “leaving”: unnatural sex
(1x)      

1:24,26,28  “God handed them over”: mythico-historical categories (Adam, Sodom, Sinai,
“Solomon”?)

1:18-23, 25      1:24, 26-27  Idolatry      Sexual “impurity/uncleanness”      deconstruction (14:
14,20)          

1:24  Countryman (1988; 2003) on sexual uncleanness and “all things clean” (14:14,20)             

1:26  Not referring to lesbians (Church fathers, James Miller et al, pace Jewett)                             

1:24, 26-27  From shame and dishonor (3x: Moxnes and Jewett)      boasting (5:2-
3,11)                         

1:26-27  From “un/natural” sexual acts to Paul’s deconstruction        11:20, 24                                    

1:27  Jewett’s translation:  3 controversial features                                                       

1:27e  The “error” of idolatry and the payback of male effeminzation
(Swancutt)                                         

2:1-16  Paul’s rhetorical trap sprung: from rhetoric to theology to “ethics” to
mission                                

Two Hermeneutical Horizons: Gagnon’s Holy War against homosexuals vs Paul’s mission
to Spain (Jewett).                                                                                                                 

  Patriarchy (male chauvinism) and slave society       new knowledge (sexual  
       orientations)   
  Jewett on sexual exploitation of slaves vs. Gagnon on “mutuality” and “complimentarity”           

Summary: Jewett and Gagnon on Romans  
                                                                       
Seven Conclusions: Rom 1:18-2:16 (esp 1:24-27)      
                                                              
Excursus  Romans 1:26 and the late patristic invention of  “lesbophobic”  
                    misinterpretations        
    
Appendix 1  Robert Gagnon’s contribution (from lemon to eschatological
                    lemonade)       
                        
Appendix 2  Heterosexism/Homophobia in recent studies of
                    Romans   
                                                  
Bibliographies    
                                                                                              
                                            CLICK HERE for the paper in full
PICTURED ABOVE
Rev. Dr. Tom Hanks,
Theologian / Director of Mission.
Buenos Aires, 2006