A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
An important contribution to the contemporary discussion of transgenderism.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Sex, Gender, and Transgender: Setting the Scene
- The Contemporary Sex and Gender Crisis
- Evangelicals and Transgender Questions
- Evangelical Theological Method
Part 2: Sex, Gender, and Transgender in Historical Perspective
- The Creation and Construction of Sex
- The Invention and Subversion of Gender
- Reclaiming Sex and Rescuing Gender
Part 3: Sex, Gender, and Transgender in Biblical Perspective
- Male and Female in the Beginning
- The Making of Man and Woman
- The Meaning and Mystery of Marriage
- Sex and Gender Outside of Eden
- Sex and Gender in the End
- Conclusion
Selected Quotes
- “[At the heart of Transgender theory is] a rejection of the idea that the sexed body reveals and determines the gendered self and, as a consequence, should ground gender identity, guide gender roles, and govern gender expression.” (14)
- “For while gender identity and gender roles were distinct, the uniting thought was this: if gender is constructed, it can also be deconstructed!” (107)
- “Gender is the culturally mediated set of conceptions, expectations, and roles associated with being either male or female.” (152)
- “[If] gender is ultimately a mix of individual traits, subjective tastes, personal desires, and self-perceptions…it is a synonym for personality.” (159)
- “Being a man or a woman is a divine gift—a gift revealed by the reality of our natural sex.” (243)
- “In sum, the sex-and-gender binary and the sex-and-gender connection not only persist after the fall, but also remain necessary for human marriage, the creation of human family, and, most significantly, the divine plan of salvation.” (304)
- “Moreover, precisely because it is the male body of Jesus that determines his identity as a man, Jesus is the ultimate example of the goodness and necessity of the sex-and-gender connection.” (329)
- “…the body God gives will forever remain foundational to personal identity, and sex the eternal ground of gender.” (372)
Endorsements
- D. A. Carson
“In the rapidly expanding literature on this topic, no volume of which I am aware combines, as this one does, careful unpacking of the opening chapters of Genesis, thoughtful interaction with the views of other scholars (not least those with whom he disagrees), and good writing that makes this volume a joy to read. Don’t bother picking up this book if all you want is a crisp slogan or two. But if you want judicious arguments that reflect years of work grounded in exact and compassionate reading of the evidence, this is the book to read.”
- R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
“In this genuinely compassionate and deeply convictional work, Robert Smith offers a serious and thoughtful engagement with modern gender theory and transgender claims. Smith affirms the truth that both Scripture and Christian theology confirm that our Creator reveals our gender in our bodies. Christians will deeply appreciate his scholarship and his courage.”