Jesus and Sodom

Same-Sex Sexuality through the Messiah's Merciful Eyes

Free to read · 21 chapters in 6 parts · Published chapter by chapter on Substack

What is this book about?

Is there a way to think about same-sex sexuality that starts with Jesus himself? This book looks at the question through the Messiah's merciful eyes, asking how Jesus read the Scriptures, what he taught about marriage and sexual morality, and what he meant when he spoke of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Beginning with the unfathomable mercy of the Lord Jesus, the book moves through the world of ancient Gentiles and Jews, to Jesus' own teaching, in light of the Old Testament's witness (including Genesis 19), and notably the way Jesus connects the flood and Sodom, along with the voices of Judah (Jude) and Simon Peter, key followers of Jesus the Messiah. (There is also a chapter on Paul's writings.) It culminates in an invitation to the many forms of intimacy God offers: natural family, God’s family, the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit and, later, the greatest intimacy of all.

More Formats on the Way, God Willing

The whole book is currently available to read for free on Substack, one chapter at a time, starting with the Preface.

An ebook is coming soon, God willing, as well as a hardcopy edition, it is hoped. The aim is to make both of them available for free, too.

Six parts, 21 chapters, and a preface. Tap a part to see its chapters, then click through to read.

Preface

Read the Preface

Part 1 – Setting the Stage (chapters 1–3)

Chapter 1: Jesus, the Merciful Shepherd – the unfathomable mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter 2: Jesus and the Scriptures – Jesus' deep respect for and understanding of the Scriptures.
Chapter 3: Has Jesus Been Ignored? – why Jesus and his view of the Scriptures deserve more attention in the scholarly debate.

Part 2 – Jesus on Sexuality and Marriage (chapters 4–7)

Chapter 4: Ancient, Gentile, Same-sex Sexuality – how widely known and pervasive it was among Gentiles in Jesus' day.
Chapter 5: Jews' Views on Same-sex Sexuality – how ancient Jews, with one voice, saw it as decidedly Gentile and inappropriate.
Chapter 6: Jesus on Marriage, Family, Childrearing, Celibacy – marriage as God's design from the beginning, male and female in his image, and celibacy as possible for some.
Chapter 7: Jesus on Divorce, Adultery, Incest, Sexual Immorality – Jesus' stricter teaching on sexual sin, and an umbrella term that includes homosexuality.

Part 3 – Jesus on Sodom and Gomorrah (chapters 8–13)

Chapter 8: Ancient Jews on Sodom and Gomorrah – how Jews saw sexual immorality and homosexuality in particular, as a key sin behind Sodom's demise.
Chapter 9: Jesus on Sodom and Gomorrah – Jesus compares the two cities to kinsmen in his day who failed to repent and shows Sodom's habitual sins.
Chapter 10: Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis – what Genesis 19 shows about same-sex sexuality and about God's abundant mercy, tragically rejected.
Chapter 11: Sodom and Gomorrah and the Scriptures' Discourse on Same-Sex Sexuality – how Genesis 19 connects to the Old Testament's wider discussion, even where Sodom isn't named.
Chapter 12: Sodom and Gomorrah Elsewhere in the Hebrew Scriptures – how other references fit the comparisons with Judah and Israel, whose sexual sins are criticized.
Chapter 13: Sexual Immorality, Foreign Gods and Losing the Land – how sexual perversion and idolatry unravel God's promises and lead to losing the Promised Land.

Part 4 – Jesus on the Flood and Sodom (chapters 14–16)

Chapter 14: Jesus on Reading the Noah and Lot Stories Together – how he understands the flood and Sodom in light of one another, raising homosexuality to the fore.
Chapter 15: Judah on the Flood and Sodom – the New Testament's explicit reference to Sodom's same-sex sexuality and Jesus' likely influence on his brother.
Chapter 16: Simon Peter on the Flood and Sodom – Peter's close link between the flood and Sodom and its parallels with Jesus' thinking.

Part 5 – Paul on Same-sex Sexuality (chapter 17)

Chapter 17: Paul of Tarsus, Apostle of Jesus – what he taught on marriage, celibacy, divorce and sexual sins, including homosexuality.

Part 6 – A Call to Intimacy (chapters 18–21)

Chapter 18: Marriage and Family – the beauty of natural family relationships, God's good design.
Chapter 19: God's Family – the intimacy of life as siblings under one loving Father.
Chapter 20: A Greater Intimacy – the intimacy of the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 21: The Greatest Intimacy – the greatest intimacy of all, still to come.

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Start with the Preface and follow the book chapter by chapter.

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