The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory
What is the relationship between sex and gender?
In The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory, Robert S. Smith argues that God intends a person’s gender to be grounded in the reality of his or her biological sex—the body God has given. In making his case, Smith critiques the central claim of transgender theory—that the sexed body does not determine the gendered self. He also evaluates the shifts in how society thinks and talks about sex and gender, responding with biblical clarity, theological conviction, and Christian compassion. God speaks clearly, both in his word and in his world.
Praise for The Body God Gives
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.
—D. A. Carson, emeritus professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
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.
—R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The breadth of this book is stunning! All conclusions are biblically grounded, theologically sound, person affirming, and God honoring. The Body God Gives has my highest recommendation!
—Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; secretary, Evangelical Theological Society
This is an in-depth, fair-minded, and delightfully clear examination of contemporary trans and gender theories. There are no ‘straw men’ to be found here. That this book also includes a compelling account of biblical theological anthropology makes it a must-read for Christians who desire thoughtful and faithful engagement on these questions.
—Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory
This volume is required reading for anyone who is serious about understanding how the Bible speaks to contemporary conversations of sex and gender.
—Rachel Gilson, author of Born Again This Way
- 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
- Title: The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory
- Author: Robert S. Smith
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2025
- Pages: 472
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683598121
Robert S. Smith is an ordained Anglican minister and a lecturer in theology, ethics, and music ministry at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. He is the author of How Should We Think About Gender and Identity? and coauthor of The Gender Revolution: A Biblical, Biological and Compassionate Response.