Sexual Ethics and the New Testament: Behavior and Belief

Speaking as a Protestant scholar, I welcome Collins' book. It is the best treatment of the Biblical sexual ethic to be found on the market, plus it is the only book that contains a detailed examination of the New Testament's catalogues of sins. Collins corrects so-called progressive claims about what the Bible teaches, although the book is not a polemic against these, it is simply an honest comprehensive examination of the evidence.

While I do not consider myself a biblical scholar, this book definitely caught my attention. I have to admit expecting a Roman Catholic papal redundancy on this topic, but instead I found Fr. Collins to be very insightful and penetrating in his analysis of controverisal topics. This book has challenged me with its nascent call to a sexual identity that is both wholesome and spiritual. Kudos to Fr. Collins! He is a welcome beacon in an often stale, stolid tradition.

I was introduced to Fr. Collins' work while studying theology and have come to expect much from this fine scholar. This book upholds the consistency and penetrating depth I have found in his other works. In this book, Collins explores relevant New Testament texts in both a historical and literary context, offering to the reader a new understanding of how discipleship and sexuality relate to each other, necessarily. Using poignant examples from the Gospels and the epistles, Collins dispels many misunderstandings about sexuality in the New Testament by using his fine exegetical skills, especially in noting the various lenses inherent to any hermeneutic task. Collins does not seek to define certain meanings or construct a systematic program; rather, he opens the New Testament texts to allow them to speak for themselves, to speak to the fact that human sexuality is a complex reality permeating any person's existence--hence the subtitle of his work: behavior and belief. The central motif of this book is that all disciples of Christ are called to embrace their sexuality as both gift and responsibility. In this affirmation Collins offers a look into the cultural contexts of the New Testament and elicits the reader to grapple with the questions offered in the New Testament texts themselves and those still very applicable in our own time: divorce, adultery and homosexuality. The parameters of this challenge can be found in Collins' conclusion; that a viable contemporary sexual ethics must include the following: the notion of embodied existence; the dignity of women in God's plan; and the overarching demands of agapaic love. Though written and executed in fine academic fashion, Collins also brings to this work his pastoral experience and compassion thereby making the book accessible to anyone who seeks to integrate sexuality and ethics as a living reality. Though attempts have been made to separate human sexuality and ethics, Collins invites his readers to integrate these realities. Thus, he gives us yet another great work, providing a valuable resource not only to ethicists and theologians but to all who wish to explore the possibilites of growth in their Christian identity.

I was introduced to Fr. Collins' work while studying theology and have come to expect much from this fine scholar. This book upholds the consistency and penetrating depth I have found in his other works. In this book, Collins explores relevant New Testament texts in both a historical and literary context, offering to the reader a new understanding of how discipleship and sexuality relate to each other, necessarily. Using poignant examples from the Gospels and the epistles, Collins dispels many misunderstandings about sexuality in the New Testament by using his fine exegetical skills, especially in noting the various lenses inherent to any hermeneutic task. Collins does not seek to define certain meanings or construct a systematic program; rather, he opens the New Testament texts to allow them to speak for themselves, to speak to the fact that human sexuality is a complex reality permeating any person's existence--hence the subtitle of his work: behavior and belief. The central motif of this book is that all disciples of Christ are called to embrace their sexuality as both gift and responsibility. In this affirmation Collins offers a look into the cultural conexts of the New Testament and elicits the reader to grapple with the questions offered in the New Testament texts themselves and those still very applicable in our own time: divorce, adultery and homosexuality. The parameters of this challenge can be found in Collins' conclusion; that a viable contemporary sexual ethics must include the following: the notion of embodied existence; the dignity of women in God's plan; and the overarching demands of agapaic love. Though written and executed in fine academic fashion, Collins also brings to this work his pastoral experience and compassion thereby making the book accessible to anyone who seeks to integrate sexuality and ethics as a living reality. Though attempts have been made to separate human sexuality and ethics, Collins invites his readers to integrate these realities. Thus, he gives us yet another great work, providing a valuable resource not only to ethicists and theologians but to all who wish to explore the possiblites of growth in their Christian identity.