Sex and Salvation Virginity As A

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.

Roger Steven Evans is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Payne Theological Seminary and a Visiting Professor at United Theological Seminary.

Preface

vii

Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction

xi

Part 1: Virginity in the Ancient World

1

(100)

1 Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Greek and Roman Writings

3

(14)

Virginity in the Greek Writings

3

(6)

Virginity in the Roman Writings

9

(8)

2 Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Jewish Writings

17

(8)

Virginity in the Hebrew Scriptures

17

(3)

Virginity in the Extra-Biblical Literature

20

(5)

Rabbinic Literature

20

(1)

Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

21

(1)

Essene Literature

21

(4)

3 Christian Virginity and Its Interpretations

25

(12)

The New Testament

25

(2)

The Question of Marriage

27

(1)

The Case for Virginity in 1 Corinthians 7

27

(10)

4 The Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 7

37

(17)

5 Views of Virgins and Virginity in the Ancient Gnostic and New Testament Apocrypha Writings

54

(14)

6 The Gendering of Virginity: "Who Gets to Call Whom What?"

68

(21)

Escaping Femaleness = Becoming Men

68

(3)

Escaping Femaleness = Escaping Sex

71

(5)

The Politics of Virginity: Controlling Virginity =Controlling Virgins

76

(5)

The Politics of Virginity: Legislated Control of Virginity

81

(8)

7 The Growth of Virginity in Early Christianity

89

(6)

Conclusion

95

(6)

Part 2: Virginity in the Writings of the Church Fathers

101

(70)

Introduction

101

(2)

1 The Gift of Virginity: A Gift From God/A Gift to God

103

(7)

2 Virginity and the Divine

110

(22)

Virgins are the Brides of Christ

110

(3)

Virgins are the Mothers of Christ

113

(1)

Virgins are the Constant Companions of Christ

114

(3)

Virginity is Pleasing to God

117

(2)

Virginity Brings Rewards from God

119

(2)

Virgins are Angelic

121

(4)

Virgins are Holy

125

(7)

3 Virginity and Marriage

132

(9)

4 Virginity in the Economy of Salvation

141

(22)

Virgins are Saved

141

(15)

Virgins are Saviours

156

(7)

5 Virginity Lost

163

(8)

Conclusion

171

(4)

Bibliography

175

(6)

Scripture Index

181

(2)

Name Index

183

(4)

About the Author

187

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Sex and Salvation Virginity As A Soteriological Paradigm in Ancient Christianity

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials