Robert A. J. Gagnon (born July 31, 1958) is an American theological writer, professor of New Testament Theology at Houston Baptist University (since 2018),[1] former associate professor of the New Testament at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1994–2017),[2][3] an expert on biblical homosexuality, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).[4] He holds a BA from Dartmouth, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a PhD from the Princeton Theological Seminary.[2][3]
Robert A. J. Gagnon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 31, 1958 |
| Nationality | American |
| Title | Associate Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Professor of New Testament Theology, Houston Baptist University |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Dartmouth College, Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary (PhD) |
| Thesis | Should we sin? The Romans debate and Romans 6:1-7:6 (1993) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Biblical studies |
| Sub-discipline | NT studies |
| Institutions | Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Houston Baptist University |
| Main interests | Pauline theology and sexuality |
| Notable works | The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics (2001) |
| Website | www |
Gagnon's primary fields are Pauline theology and sexuality. Gagnon has focused on the issue of The Bible and homosexuality. Gagnon has been described by theologian James V. Brownson as "the foremost traditionalist interpreter" on this topic,[5] and has published several books and articles about the subject.[3] Gagnon's work on homosexuality is derived from Old and New Testament texts dealing with sexuality. Gagnon's arguments are based on reproductive biology and gender complementarity,[5] in which Gagnon presents and interprets modern scholarship on the ancient texts.[6] Gagnon's use of arguments based on "natural law" were targeted by liberal theologians like Jack Bartlett Rogers, who alleged Gagnon employed a "nonbiblical standard" in which "all people who are homosexual have willfully chosen that behavior and therefore can successfully change their sexual identity,"[7]. Gagnon responded this was an "outrageous misrepresentation" of his views.[8] In the coauthored book Homosexuality and the Bible, Gagnon presents a conservative side of the debate on homosexuality and the church, while Dan O. Via, professor emeritus of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, presents an opposing view.[9][10]
In his paper Why the 'Weak' at Rome Cannot Be Non-Christian Jews, Gagnon disputes work by Mark D. Nanos,[11][12] who argues that Paul the Apostle was a Torah-observant follower of Judaism.[13]
One of the authors of The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics, Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, and Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology.
Works
editThesis
edit- Gagnon, Robert A. J. (1993). Should we sin? The Romans debate and Romans 6:1-7:6 (Ph.D.). Princeton Theological Seminary. OCLC 29423276.[14]
Books
edit- ——— (2001). The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. ISBN 978-0-687-08413-5. OCLC 45122623.
- ——— (2002). Are There Universally Valid Sex Precepts?: a critique of Walter Wink's views on the Bible and homosexuality. South Hamilton, MA: Goddard Library. OCLC 909918519.
- ———; Via, Dan Otto (2003). Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. ISBN 978-0-800-63618-0. OCLC 53080113.
Articles and chapters
edit- ——— (January 2000). "Why the 'Weak' at Rome Cannot Be Non-Christian Jews". Catholic Biblical Quarterly. 62 (1): 64–82.
References
edit- ^ "Dr. Robert A.J. Gagnon Joins HBU School of Christian Thought". Houston Baptist University. October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019.
- ^ a b McDermott, Gerald (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology. Oxford University Press. p. xii.
- ^ a b c "Faculty Bio". Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- ^ Leonard, Kim (March 15, 2009). "Pittsburgh Presbytery rejects gay minister measure". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- ^ a b Brownson, James Victor (2013). Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. pp. 21, 23.
- ^ Harrington, Daniel (March 11, 2002). "The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics". America: the National Catholic Weekly. 186: 8 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Rogers, Jack Bartlett (2009). Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 77–79. ISBN 9781611640502.
- ^ Robert A. J. Gagnon, "Does Jack Rogers's New Book 'Explode the Myths' about the Bible and Homosexuality and 'Heal the Church'? Installment 4," www.robgagnon.net, June 12, 12, 2006, accessed July 3, 2013.
- ^ Renato, John (2006). "Book Review: 'Homosexuality And The Bible. Two Views'". Feminist Theology. 15. SAGE: 127–128. doi:10.1177/0966735006068859. S2CID 143348021.
- ^ Siker, Jeffrey S. (2005). "Book Review: 'Homosexuality And The Bible. Two Views'". Interpretation. 59 (1). SAGE: 90–92. doi:10.1177/002096430505900122. S2CID 170385612.
- ^ Harrison, James R. (2003). Paul's Language of Grace in Its Graeco-Roman Context. Mohr Siebeck Verlag. pp. 213–214. ISBN 9783161480973.
- ^ Kinzer, Mark (2005). Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People. Brazos Press. p. 75. ISBN 9781587431524.
- ^ Bird, Michael F. (ed.) (2012). Four Views on the Apostle Paul. Zondervan. p. 166.
{{cite book}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "WebVoyáge Holdings Information". Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. 1993. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
External links
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