An examination of sex and the Bible by one of the leading biblical scholars in the United States. For several decades, Michael Coogan's introductory course on the Old Testament has been a perennial favorite among students at Harvard University. In God and Sex, Coogan examines one of the most controversial aspects of the Hebrew Scripture: What the Old Testament really says about sex, and how contemporary understanding of those writings is frequently misunderstood or misrepresented. In the engaging and witty voice generations of students have appreciated, Coogan explores the language and social world of the Bible, showing how much innuendo and euphemism is at play, and illuminating the sexuality of biblical figures as well as God. By doing so, Coogan reveals the immense gap between popular use of Scripture and its original context. God and Sex is certain to provoke, entertain, and enlighten readers.

In a book that will forever change the way we interpret women of the Bible, Shoni Labowitz's long-awaited follow-up to her celebrated Miraculous Living explores the lives of eight key women and reveals their relevance today. With impressive scholarship, Labowitz makes a compelling case that, contrary to popular notion, these women were in fact passionate, confident and unashamed of their bodies. In the luminous and inspiring pages of God, Sex and Women of the Bible, these charismatic figures come magically alive as sexual beings and show their modern-day counterparts how to wed spirituality with passion. Mining language and history, Labowitz reinterprets the stories of eight biblical women, unveiling in the process truths and nuances that have been hidden by centuries of patriarchy. She paints vivid portraits of heroines and lesser-known women alike, presenting compelling evidence that they subscribed to a matriarchal goddess culture coexisting with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Moses. Within this rich framework, long-silenced voices speak out to reveal the conflicts and perplexities of their own lives -- helping us, in the process, to resolve our own issues. In these sensuously illuminating pages, you'll meet: LEAH: Plain and overlooked, she triumphs over injustices and creates a relationship with God that provides a model to help us overcome our own poor body images and discover the Divine within RACHEL: Leah's sister, who uncovers the mysteries of the moon goddess and menstruation, presents us with a new approach to rest and relaxation EVE: The first woman encourages us to invite God into our own sexuality and teaches us how to fully reveal ourselves to our partner JOCHEBED: A midwife and the mother of Moses, she shows us how to make motherhood a spiritual experience DEBORAH: The story of this Judge of Israel will inspire us to fearlessly reach new personal and professional heights, enabling us to enhance our families' lives MIRIAM: Moses' sister, a gutsy lady who follows her intuition, is the perfect guide to help us experience menopause with dignity and grace THE PROPHET'S WIDOW: This anonymous woman helps us to deal with the loss of loved ones UNNAMED WOMEN OF THE BIBLE: These unacknowledged figures explain how to cope with the devastation of hysterectomies NAOMI: In the most mature sexual stage of a woman's life, this queen of crones reveals her age-old secrets and teaches us how to be more confident and alluring Never preachy or exclusionary, Labowitz renders these stories accessible to women of all faiths, striking the perfect balance between textual commentary and practical application. Complementing the ancient wisdom gleaned from Hebrew texts with the voices of the women she has met, she shows us how to reclaim our own sexuality by revealing God's place in it. In God, Sex and Women of the Bible, we discover our own potential to be meaningful, holy and passionate -- not just once a week, but every day of our lives.

Do women and men have different intellectual, spiritual, moral, or emotional capacities? Over the centuries, women have read and interpreted the story of Eve, scrutinizing the details of the text to discern God's word for them. Biblical scholar Amanda Benckhuysen traces the history of women's interpretation of Genesis 1-3, allowing the voices of women to speak of Eve's story and its implications for life today.

Answers one of the biggest barriers to belief. Christians are increasingly seen as outdated, restrictive and judgmental when it comes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and homosexuality. In fact for many people, this issue is one of the biggest barriers for them considering Christianity. Sam Allberry, author of many books including Is God Anti-gay sets out God's good design for the expression of human sexuality, showing that God himself is love and that only he can satisfy our deepest desires. It is a great reminder of the Bible's positive blueprint for love, sex and marriage and ideal for giving away to people who may see this as a stumbling block for belief.

This ground-breaking resource challenges and equips Christians to think and act biblically and compassionately in matters of sexuality. Sexual abuse, sex addiction, gender confusion, brokenness, and shame plague today's world, and people are seeking clarity and hope. By contesting long-held cultural paradigms, this book equips you to see how sexuality is rooted in the broader context of God's heart and His work for us on earth. It provides a framework from which to understand the big picture of sexual challenges and wholeness, and helps you recognize that every sexual question is ultimately a spiritual one. It shifts the paradigm from combating sexual problems to confidently proclaiming and modeling the road to sacred sexuality. Instead of arguing with the world about what's right and wrong about sexual choices, this practical resource equips you to share the love and grace of Jesus as you encounter the pain of sexual brokenness--your own or someone else's.

The Bible has a way of shocking us. If Americans could still blush, we might blush at the words, "Rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love" (Proverbs 5:18-19). But, of course, sin always tries to trash God's gifts. So we can't just celebrate sex for what God made it to be; we have to fight what sin turned it into. The contributors to this unique volume encourage you to do both: celebrate and struggle. This book has something for all-men and women, married and single-from contributors like John Piper, C. J. and Carolyn Mahaney, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Carolyn McCulley, and others.

What does the Bible actually say about women? This scripturally accurate book rejects harmful misinterpretations and reminds us of the dignity God places on His daughters, with a helpful guide for reflection and group discussion included. In the wake of the Me Too and Church Too movements, many of our loved ones are leaving the church or questioning Christianity because the Bible has at times been misused against them. How do we help our loved ones understand Scripture accurately? Apologetics for Women In this helpful look at God’s work of redemption from Creation to today, Wendy Alsup explores questions such as: • How does God view justice and equal rights for women? • What does it mean to be made in the image of God? • How have the centuries distorted our interpretation of how God views women? • How did Jesus approach the Old Testament and how does that help us read difficult passages today? • What is the difference between a modern view of feminism and the feminism that Scripture models? • How does the Bible explain the Bible to us? Using a Jesus-centered understanding to look at both God’s grand storyline and specific biblical passages, Alsup shows the noble ways God speaks to and about women in its pages. Most of all, she gives concrete tools for understanding Scripture to women who are questioning if the Bible is truly good for them.