Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes Removing Cultural Blinders To Better Understand The Bible

Author : E. Randolph Richards
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830863478
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.71/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes written by E. Randolph Richards and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2012-07-31 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over 100,000 Copies Sold Worldwide! ECPA Bronze Sales Award Bookwi.se's Favorite Books of the Year What was clear to the original readers of Scripture is not always clear to us. Because of the cultural distance between the biblical world and our contemporary setting, we often bring modern Western biases to the text. For example: When Western readers hear Paul exhorting women to "dress modestly," we automatically think in terms of sexual modesty. But most women in that culture would never wear racy clothing. The context suggests that Paul is likely more concerned about economic modesty—that Christian women not flaunt their wealth through expensive clothes, braided hair and gold jewelry. Some readers might assume that Moses married "below himself" because his wife was a dark-skinned Cushite. Actually, Hebrews were the slave race, not the Cushites, who were highly respected. Aaron and Miriam probably thought Moses was being presumptuous by marrying "above himself." Western individualism leads us to assume that Mary and Joseph traveled alone to Bethlehem. What went without saying was that they were likely accompanied by a large entourage of extended family. Biblical scholars Brandon O'Brien and Randy Richards shed light on the ways that Western readers often misunderstand the cultural dynamics of the Bible. They identify nine key areas where modern Westerners have significantly different assumptions about what might be going on in a text. Drawing on their own crosscultural experience in global mission, O'Brien and Richards show how better self-awareness and understanding of cultural differences in language, time and social mores allow us to see the Bible in fresh and unexpected ways. Getting beyond our own cultural assumptions is increasingly important for being Christians in our interconnected and globalized world. Learn to read Scripture as a member of the global body of Christ.

Author : E. Randolph Richards
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830843795
Total Pages : 308 pages
Book Rating : 4.94/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes written by E. Randolph Richards and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2020-10-13 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bible was written within collectivist cultures. When Westerners, immersed in individualism, read the Bible, it's easy to misinterpret important elements—or miss them altogether. In any culture, the most important things usually go without being said. So to read Scripture well we benefit when we uncover the unspoken social structures and values of its world. We need to recalibrate our vision. Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes is an essential guidebook to the cultural background of the Bible and how it should inform our reading. E. Randolph Richards and Richard James explore deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean—kinship, patronage, and brokerage—along with their key social tools—honor, shame, and boundaries—that the biblical authors lived in and lie below the surface of each text. From Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to Peter's instructions to elders, the authors strip away individualist assumptions and bring the world of the biblical writers to life. Expanding on the popular Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, this book makes clear how understanding collectivism will help us better understand the Bible, which in turn will help us live more faithfully in an increasingly globalized world.

Author : Richard Schultz
Publisher : Baker Books
ISBN 13 : 1441238883
Total Pages : 188 pages
Book Rating : 4.87/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Out of Context written by Richard Schultz and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2012-11-01 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although 92% of American households own at least one Bible, their use of the Bible varies significantly. Only 59% of Americans read the Bible at least occasionally, and an even smaller percentage go beyond merely reading the Bible and actually study it. It is no wonder that even those who say they read the Scriptures often don't understand them. Veteran Bible professor Richard L. Schultz believes the misinterpretation and misapplication of biblical texts amounts to a crisis of "interpretive malpractice." In Out of Context he seeks to explain how biblical interpretation goes wrong and how to get it right. He introduces readers to the important concepts of context, word meaning, genre, and the differences between the world of the Bible and our own. Readers who delve into the fascinating world of biblical interpretation found in this book will find their Scripture reading enhanced and be enlightened by Schultz's powerful and ultimately positive message.

Author : Glenn R. Paauw
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830851240
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.49/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Saving the Bible from Ourselves written by Glenn R. Paauw and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2016-03-30 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Has dividing the Bible into chapters and verses led to sampling Scripture rather than reading it deeply? According to author Glenn R. Paauw, misreading the Bible has divorced it from its context, leaving only a database of quick answers to life's questions. In these pages he introduces us to seven new understandings of Scripture to help us read and live the Bible well.

Author : Gary Yamasaki
Publisher : James Clarke & Company
ISBN 13 : 0227901703
Total Pages : 163 pages
Book Rating : 4.00/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Perspective Criticism written by Gary Yamasaki and published by James Clarke & Company. This book was released on 2013-02-28 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perspective Criticism sets out a new and illuminating biblical methodology designed to help the reader of biblical narratives in which there is a character engaged in action but no explicit indication from the storyteller on how the action is to be evaluated. Gary Yamasaki argues that in these cases we are receiving cryptic guidance from the author through the narrative technique of point-of-view. In such cases the methodology of Perspective Criticism may be applied to reveal this abstruse guidance. Gary Yamasaki provides a series of frames of analysis within the theory of Perspective Criticism which may be applied to biblical stories: the spatial, psychological, informational, temporal, phraseological, and ideological perspectives. Because the majority of the point-of-view devices found in biblical narratives are also used in cinematic storytelling, the book includes accessible analyses of film scenes, providing pop-culture illustrations of the workings of the point-of-view perspective. Gary Yamasaki concludes by applying his method to two case studies: the New Testament story of Gamaliel, and the Old Testament story of Gideon. In his work Yamasaki creates a valuable foundation for the deeper understanding of biblical narrative, a gift to anyone who has struggled with the concealed messages that should be divined in biblical point-of-view narratives.

Author : Dan Kimball
Publisher : Zondervan
ISBN 13 : 0310113768
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.68/5 ( download)

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Download or read book How (Not) to Read the Bible written by Dan Kimball and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2020-12-01 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Is Reading the Bible the Fastest Way to Lose Your Faith? For centuries, the Bible was called "the Good Book," a moral and religious text that guides us into a relationship with God and shows us the right way to live. Today, however, some people argue the Bible is outdated and harmful, with many Christians unaware of some of the odd and disturbing things the Bible says. Whether you are a Christian, a doubter, or someone exploring the Bible for the first time, bestselling author Dan Kimball guides you step-by-step in how to make sense of these difficult and disturbing Bible passages. Filled with stories, visual illustrations, and memes reflecting popular cultural objections, How (Not) to Read the Bible is a lifeline for individuals who are confused or discouraged with questions about the Bible. It also works great as a small-group study or sermon series.

Author : Barbara M. Bowen
Publisher : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9780802815118
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.11/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Strange Scriptures That Perplex the Western Mind written by Barbara M. Bowen and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 1943-04-30 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With fascinating insights into biblical customs and conditions--many of which exist today in the Middle East--Bowen clarifies over 100 scriptural texts and phrases that often puzzle Western readers unfamiliar with the culture of Bible times.

Author : Katie J. Rawson
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830898921
Total Pages : 214 pages
Book Rating : 4.23/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Crossing Cultures with Jesus written by Katie J. Rawson and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2015-11-04 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You can be a missionary by crossing an ocean or by crossing the street. We now have unprecedented opportunities to meet people from every culture and nation. International study and global migration allow us to build relationships with Buddhists and Muslims, students from Singapore and workers from the Middle East. But how do we share the gospel with people from different cultures and worldviews? Crosscultural evangelism can be scary. But veteran crosscultural minister Katie Rawson shows how we can witness the way Jesus did, entering into people's worlds and drawing them into God-centered community. She equips readers to evangelize Jesus' way, depending on him as companion and guide and venturing out in joy to be and share good news. Filled with compelling stories, practical resources and relational tools, this guide gives crosscultural training and shows how you can share the gospel through story and diagram, with clear communication and authentic community.

Author : Craig Keener
Publisher : Hendrickson Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1619701189
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.82/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Global Voices written by Craig Keener and published by Hendrickson Publishers. This book was released on 2022-05-03 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ethically and nationally diverse scholars familiar with both non-western and Western hermeneutic traditions explore what it means to hear, heed and appreciate biblical interpretations from the non-western world in this illuminating collection of writings. Ten voices emanate from across the globe, from Sri lanka to Africa, Guatemala to Canada, and Hong Kong to the United States, including: M. Daniel carroll Rodas David A. deSilva Barbara M. Leung Lai J. Ayodeji Adewuya Grant LeMarquand Nijay Gupta Chloe Sun K.K. Yeo Daniel K. Darko Oswaldo Padilla

Author : Paul Borthwick
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830866051
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.52/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Western Christians in Global Mission written by Paul Borthwick and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2012-10-03 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christianity Today Book Award of Merit Winner Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year The world has changed. A century ago, Christianity was still primarily centered in North America and Europe. By the dawn of the twenty-first century, Christianity had become a truly global faith, with Christians in Asia, Africa and Latin America outpacing those in the rest of the world. There are now more Christians in China than in all of Europe, more Pentecostals in Brazil than in the United States, and more Anglicans in Kenya than in Great Britain, Canada and the United States combined. Countries that were once destinations for western missionaries are now sending their own missionaries to North America. Given these changes, some think the day of the Western missionary is over. Some are wary that American mission efforts may perpetuate an imperialistic colonialism. Some say that global outreach is best left to indigenous leaders. Others simply feel that resources should be focused on the home front. Is there an ongoing role for the North American church in global mission? Missions specialist Paul Borthwick brings an urgent report on how the Western church can best continue in global mission. He provides a current analysis of the state of the world and how Majority World leaders perceive North American Christians' place. Borthwick offers concrete advice for how Western Christians can be involved without being paternalistic or creating dependency. Using their human and material resources with wise and strategic stewardship, North Americans can join forces with the Majority World in new, interdependent ways to answer God?s call to global involvement. In this critical age, the global body of Christ needs one another more than ever. Discover how the Western church can contribute to a new era of mission marked by mutuality, reciprocity and humility.