The New Testament and homosexuality? Part 1: The social system behind Romans 1

Abstract

In this, the first of two parts of a continuous argument, the focus falls on what Paul meant by his statement in Romans 1 about same-gender sexual relations. The social system within which and from which his statements had meaning is considered. The second part of this argument, to appear in Verbum et Ecclesia 23 (2) 2002, looks more closely at the various traditions that could have influenced Paul's thinking, and draws conclusions to the developed argument on the prevalence of homosexuality in the New Testament era.