Sex and Salvation: Virginity As A Soteriological Paradigm in Ancient Christianity

by Roger Steven Evans

Overview

Sex and Salvation explores the growth and development of virginity in the cultural contexts of the ancient church. An examination of Greek, Roman, and Jewish literature, which speaks to the issues of virginity, reveals that the Christian understanding of life-long virginity was a foreign concept to the peoples and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world. In a time when families and authorities demanded that women follow the ancient tradition of marriage and motherhood, a growing number of important Christian authors were calling for a life free from the "dangerous" sexual passions that beset all women.

In Sex and Salvation, author Roger Steven Evans gathers over thirty documents from early Catholic, pseudopigraphical and heterodox letters, epistles, apologies, and canon law that trace the importance of virginity in early Christianity. Evans contends that the sexual ethic established by early Christian authors has reverberated throughout the intervening centuries, and is still being felt in the post modern world of the 21st century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761827696
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	06/04/2004
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	6.48(w) x 8.92(h) x 0.64(d)

About the Author

Roger Steven Evans is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Payne Theological Seminary and a Visiting Professor at United Theological Seminary. He was named among Who's Who of American Teachers® in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Evans holds a Ph.D. in Intellectual History from the Ohio State University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 PART ONE: VIRGINITY IN THE ANCIENT WORLD: Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Greek and Roman Writings: Virginity in the Greek Writings; Virginity in the Roman Writings Chapter 5 Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Jewish Writings: Virginity in the Hebrew Scriptures; Virginity in the Extra-Biblical Literature: Rabbinic Literature; Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs; Essene Literature Chapter 6 Christian Virginity and Its Interpretations: The New Testament; The Question of Marriage; The Case for Virginity in 1 Corinthians 7 Chapter 7 The Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 7 Chapter 8 Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Gnostic and New Testament Apocrypha Writings Chapter 9 The Gendering of Virginity: "Who Gets to Call Whom What?": Escaping Femaleness = Becoming Men; Escaping Femaleness = Escaping Sex; The Politics of Virginity: Controlling Virginity = Controlling Virgins; The Politics of Virginity: Legislated Control Chapter 10 The Growth of Virginity in Early Christianity Chapter 11 Conclusion Chapter 12 PART TWO: VIRGINITY IN THE WRITINGS OF THE CHURCH FATHERS: Introduction Chapter 13 The Gift of Virginity: A Gift From God/A Gift to God Chapter 14 Virginity and the Divine: Virgins are the Brides of Christ; Virgins are the Mothers of Christ; Virgins are the Constant Companions of Christ; Virginity is Pleasing to God; Virginity Brings Rewards From God; Virgins are Angelic; Virgins are Holy Chapter 15 Virginity and Marriage Chapter 16 Virginity in the Economy of Salvation: Virgins are Saved; Virgins are Saviors Chapter 17 Virginity Lost Chapter 18 Conclusion Chapter 19 Bibliography Chapter 20 Scripture Index Chapter 21 Name Index Chapter 22 About the Author