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Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible
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.
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.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2012
About the author
E. Randolph Richards
13 books80 followersErnest Randolph Richards (M.Div. and Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is dean of the School of Ministry and professor of biblical studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is coauthor of "Discovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology" and "The Story of Israel: A Biblical Theology." He is the author of "Paul and First-Century Letter Writing" and "The Secretary in the Letters of Paul."
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September 20, 2020
"While this is a book about biblical interpretation, our primary goal is to help us learn to read ourselves."
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, E Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O'Brien
I read this on the way to NYC and flying back. While in the City, we visited the Morgan (Library) and saw one of its three Gutenberg Bibles (among many, many others). So, I felt primed and pumped to finish Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes.
A fascinating read that reminds those who read scripture (and I think this applicable to not just the Bible but any religious text read by people from a different time and place). We bring to the text our own biases, our own context, our own age, and our own needs. Some of this is good. It is good to liken these texts to ourselves, carefully. However, according to the authors it is also EASY to misread the Bible (that is their subject) because we view it with Western eyes. Without thinking about the context of scripture when might misread, add to, or passover the actual meaning because of our cultural biases.
This is a carefully written book that understands that not only the readers of this book are coming with their own blinders, but also the authors themselves. They aren't trying to provide an exact map of HOW to read the scriptures, but rather a way to read the scriptures. One of my favorite phrases from the book was "We like to say that generalizations are always wrong and usually helpful." That quote kinda captures the tone of the book. They are aware of themselves; write with humor, and point in a direction rather than at any one dogmatic reading of the scriptures. They want to teach the reader to think differently when reading, not teach them exactly what an exactly right interpretation might mean.
Another Gem from this book was the advice given by C.S. Lewis to read at least one old book for every three new ones:
“Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and especially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. . . . Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes.” I loved that. So not only is it misreading it with Western Eyes, but perhaps misreading scripture with Contemporary eyes as well.
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, E Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O'Brien
I read this on the way to NYC and flying back. While in the City, we visited the Morgan (Library) and saw one of its three Gutenberg Bibles (among many, many others). So, I felt primed and pumped to finish Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes.
A fascinating read that reminds those who read scripture (and I think this applicable to not just the Bible but any religious text read by people from a different time and place). We bring to the text our own biases, our own context, our own age, and our own needs. Some of this is good. It is good to liken these texts to ourselves, carefully. However, according to the authors it is also EASY to misread the Bible (that is their subject) because we view it with Western eyes. Without thinking about the context of scripture when might misread, add to, or passover the actual meaning because of our cultural biases.
This is a carefully written book that understands that not only the readers of this book are coming with their own blinders, but also the authors themselves. They aren't trying to provide an exact map of HOW to read the scriptures, but rather a way to read the scriptures. One of my favorite phrases from the book was "We like to say that generalizations are always wrong and usually helpful." That quote kinda captures the tone of the book. They are aware of themselves; write with humor, and point in a direction rather than at any one dogmatic reading of the scriptures. They want to teach the reader to think differently when reading, not teach them exactly what an exactly right interpretation might mean.
Another Gem from this book was the advice given by C.S. Lewis to read at least one old book for every three new ones:
“Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and especially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. . . . Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes.” I loved that. So not only is it misreading it with Western Eyes, but perhaps misreading scripture with Contemporary eyes as well.
April 2, 2017
I'm sorry to say that, altho I expected much more of this book, I was disappointed.
I am, myself, a European educated USAian, who has spent the last 30 years in evangelical theological education in the Arab World, so I was hoping to find orientation and insights.
Unfortunately, I found a rambling on about cultural relativity, with examples and illustrations gathered mostly from the authors' personal experiences.
This book would be great for someone thinking that his present culture in the "absolute" and tending to read his culture back into the scriptures. For this purpose, the book is good.
However, for those looking for more than personal anecdotes, I'd recommend Kenneth Bailey, "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes". More content, higher relevance, clearer thought process.
I am, myself, a European educated USAian, who has spent the last 30 years in evangelical theological education in the Arab World, so I was hoping to find orientation and insights.
Unfortunately, I found a rambling on about cultural relativity, with examples and illustrations gathered mostly from the authors' personal experiences.
This book would be great for someone thinking that his present culture in the "absolute" and tending to read his culture back into the scriptures. For this purpose, the book is good.
However, for those looking for more than personal anecdotes, I'd recommend Kenneth Bailey, "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes". More content, higher relevance, clearer thought process.
October 4, 2020
This book will mess with your head, but in the best ways. It is smart, funny, fascinating, startling, and extremely readable. In fact, it's just the sort of book the church needs more of: a serious and thoughtful exploration of theology and hermeneutics, yet accessible to the average Christian, not a dry academic tome. The authors' premise (and they have a lot of credibility due to their experience with long-term overseas missions) is that "what goes without being said" in our culture is often very, very different from what went without being said in the cultures of the Bible--and when we map our assumptions onto the text, we're in dangerous territory.
In the end, the book also provides one of the best indirect yet compelling arguments for the critical importance of diversity in the church.
All in all, it's excellent--well worth your time.
In the end, the book also provides one of the best indirect yet compelling arguments for the critical importance of diversity in the church.
All in all, it's excellent--well worth your time.
December 17, 2021
I’m surprised how much I liked this. The authors are earnest, Bible-literalist Christians, but their educations in biblical languages plus their pastoral experience in Europe, Indonesia, and the USA, makes them interestingly self-critical about the cultural assumptions they bring to the text. They note, for example, how “modesty” in the ancient Roman world was generally more about economic than sexual modesty. In the Bible’s original languages, “you” had different forms for the individual and the collective “you,” but modern North Americans commonly assume that “you” is addressed to “me.” Richards and O’Brien discuss lots of practical issues involving assumptions, which they do in an easy-going, fairly entertaining way. In the process they give some of the most thoughtful examinations of the cultural action within Bible stories that I’ve ever seen.
Toward the end of the book they consider things that North Americans generally assume are Christian, but are actually either not in the book, or else contrary to biblical common sense. To give a taste of this discussion, I’ll just list the five categories of “non-biblical” values they cover:
1. Self-sufficiency (As in the non-biblical saying “God helps those who help themselves.”)
2. Fighting for freedom
3. Pax Americana
4. Leadership
5. Tolerance
Clearly there’s lots to discuss, and good reason to discuss it. As the authors note, within 30 years only about one fifth of all Christians in the world will be white Westerners, so some self-critical cultural literacy is in order.
Toward the end of the book they consider things that North Americans generally assume are Christian, but are actually either not in the book, or else contrary to biblical common sense. To give a taste of this discussion, I’ll just list the five categories of “non-biblical” values they cover:
1. Self-sufficiency (As in the non-biblical saying “God helps those who help themselves.”)
2. Fighting for freedom
3. Pax Americana
4. Leadership
5. Tolerance
Clearly there’s lots to discuss, and good reason to discuss it. As the authors note, within 30 years only about one fifth of all Christians in the world will be white Westerners, so some self-critical cultural literacy is in order.
March 14, 2013
All of us assume things that "go without saying." And, until we encounter other cultures, we tend to assume that the things that go without saying are universally true. Furthermore, we are not aware of these assumptions ordinarily. We don't see them, we see "through" them.
Richards and O'Brien take these insights and apply them to how we read the Bible, a collection of books situated in different times and cultures (as well as a transcendent perspective!). They draw on their own cross-cultural missions experience to provide numerous helpful examples of how they discovered their own "western eyes". As matters that lie "above the surface", the authors explore mores, especially around sex, food, and money, race and ethnicity (particularly the presence of these issues in biblical narrative--for example, the book of Ruth), and our use of language. Below the surface come matters of individualism versus collectivism (we read the Bible very individualistically--much of the world does not), honor and shame versus right and wrong (western culture emphasizes the latter), and our conceptions of time (chronos vs kairos). And deep below the surface, they see issues of rules and relationships (which comes first), virtue and vice, and how we understand the will of God (all about me vs God's will for the world and his people).
They conclude each chapter with questions to help internalize the content and conclude the book with some beginning steps to recognize our cultural blinders. They also include an extensive listing organized around the book's chapters of resources for further study.
In reading this book, I find myself still wrestling with the desire for a protocol for reaching the 'right' interpretation of the biblical text, which I realize reflects my western embrace of right vs. wrong categories as well as my individualism. What this book helpfully does for me is remind me of the lenses I use in reading scripture as well as my need to read and understand the scriptures in a community that includes those who read with different lenses as well as being reminded of the different cultural horizon of the text. And that reminder also renews in me the sense of how we need the illumination of the Spirit to see more clearly.
Richards and O'Brien take these insights and apply them to how we read the Bible, a collection of books situated in different times and cultures (as well as a transcendent perspective!). They draw on their own cross-cultural missions experience to provide numerous helpful examples of how they discovered their own "western eyes". As matters that lie "above the surface", the authors explore mores, especially around sex, food, and money, race and ethnicity (particularly the presence of these issues in biblical narrative--for example, the book of Ruth), and our use of language. Below the surface come matters of individualism versus collectivism (we read the Bible very individualistically--much of the world does not), honor and shame versus right and wrong (western culture emphasizes the latter), and our conceptions of time (chronos vs kairos). And deep below the surface, they see issues of rules and relationships (which comes first), virtue and vice, and how we understand the will of God (all about me vs God's will for the world and his people).
They conclude each chapter with questions to help internalize the content and conclude the book with some beginning steps to recognize our cultural blinders. They also include an extensive listing organized around the book's chapters of resources for further study.
In reading this book, I find myself still wrestling with the desire for a protocol for reaching the 'right' interpretation of the biblical text, which I realize reflects my western embrace of right vs. wrong categories as well as my individualism. What this book helpfully does for me is remind me of the lenses I use in reading scripture as well as my need to read and understand the scriptures in a community that includes those who read with different lenses as well as being reminded of the different cultural horizon of the text. And that reminder also renews in me the sense of how we need the illumination of the Spirit to see more clearly.
October 5, 2015
The book rescues itself somewhat in its final chapters. Prior to that, I would have given the book a much more negative rating. The first 3/4 of the books suffers from over identification with Indonesian culture and it itself appears to be a reading based on Western academic assumptions that the West must be wrong
I was amazed to find out that Paul was using a racial slur in his address to the Galatians. Unlike Spurgeon, who critiqued about 1000 commentaries, I do not have a large enough database to know if that reading has been proffered before, or before 1965.
The book closes with some credible common sense admonitions on exegesis and the effects of reading contemporary culture back in to the Bible. Unfortunately, the majority of the book advocates clearly incorrect theories of meaning, language and culture. Also interpretative positions are taken without a consideration of all texts that might bear upon the issue (a failure to follow the exegetical principle that Scripture interprets Scripture).
Indonesian culture is adduced at various points as (presumably) superior to the West. While I agree that the West, in its current iteration, is in open defiance to God, and misreads or rejects clear injunctions from Jesus and the Bible, that does not valorize any third-world culture, in whole or in part. To say that reading the Bible cannot be culture free is itself based on a cultural view. The premise of the book cannot privilege itself.
I would suggest that a better approach would be to start with more traditional approaches to understanding the Bible. Then those traditional approaches can be critiqued in light of the effects of cultural bias and insights from believers from other cultures and times. This allows corrections in approach and interpretation to be made (the ongoing reformation of the church so to speak). The Word is without mistakes, our readings are certainly not. However, the Bible was written so ordinary persons could understand and follow it, not just scholars (or third-world citizens). Even with the gloss of the West, what Mark Twain says is still true: it is not the parts of the Bible that I do not understand that bothers me, it is the parts that I do understand.
To co-opt a passage from the book, it is not what Uriah knew and when he knew it that is the point of the story, it is David's rebellion against the revealed moral standards of God, God's forgiveness (Psalms 32), but the ongoing consequences of his sin (rebellion, war, death, etc.) that is the point. Shame, guilt or conscience, or all of the above (dichotimized in the book) are present, but only as pieces of the moral being taught.
I was amazed to find out that Paul was using a racial slur in his address to the Galatians. Unlike Spurgeon, who critiqued about 1000 commentaries, I do not have a large enough database to know if that reading has been proffered before, or before 1965.
The book closes with some credible common sense admonitions on exegesis and the effects of reading contemporary culture back in to the Bible. Unfortunately, the majority of the book advocates clearly incorrect theories of meaning, language and culture. Also interpretative positions are taken without a consideration of all texts that might bear upon the issue (a failure to follow the exegetical principle that Scripture interprets Scripture).
Indonesian culture is adduced at various points as (presumably) superior to the West. While I agree that the West, in its current iteration, is in open defiance to God, and misreads or rejects clear injunctions from Jesus and the Bible, that does not valorize any third-world culture, in whole or in part. To say that reading the Bible cannot be culture free is itself based on a cultural view. The premise of the book cannot privilege itself.
I would suggest that a better approach would be to start with more traditional approaches to understanding the Bible. Then those traditional approaches can be critiqued in light of the effects of cultural bias and insights from believers from other cultures and times. This allows corrections in approach and interpretation to be made (the ongoing reformation of the church so to speak). The Word is without mistakes, our readings are certainly not. However, the Bible was written so ordinary persons could understand and follow it, not just scholars (or third-world citizens). Even with the gloss of the West, what Mark Twain says is still true: it is not the parts of the Bible that I do not understand that bothers me, it is the parts that I do understand.
To co-opt a passage from the book, it is not what Uriah knew and when he knew it that is the point of the story, it is David's rebellion against the revealed moral standards of God, God's forgiveness (Psalms 32), but the ongoing consequences of his sin (rebellion, war, death, etc.) that is the point. Shame, guilt or conscience, or all of the above (dichotimized in the book) are present, but only as pieces of the moral being taught.
August 26, 2019
I put off reading this, expecting it to be a well-researched, exhaustive, corrective work targeted primarily at academics. (Something about the cover design, I suspect).
Instead, to my delight, I found it a well-researched, highly readable, extremely interesting introduction to reading the Christian sacred text as a cross-cultural experience. Didactic nonfiction is rarely a page-turner, but this one was for me.
The various texts that make up the Bible were written by numerous authors from many cultures over thousands of years. That they have had a formative influence on Western culture, and been translated into Western languages, actually makes us more prone to subconsciously supplanting their foreign elements with familiar tropes. Even if you've studied ancient Near-East cultures or biblical historical contexts, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes does excellent work highlighting what you may have been staring at without seeing.
Instead, to my delight, I found it a well-researched, highly readable, extremely interesting introduction to reading the Christian sacred text as a cross-cultural experience. Didactic nonfiction is rarely a page-turner, but this one was for me.
The various texts that make up the Bible were written by numerous authors from many cultures over thousands of years. That they have had a formative influence on Western culture, and been translated into Western languages, actually makes us more prone to subconsciously supplanting their foreign elements with familiar tropes. Even if you've studied ancient Near-East cultures or biblical historical contexts, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes does excellent work highlighting what you may have been staring at without seeing.
October 29, 2023
War insgesamt positiv überrascht. Bin mit der Prämisse reingegangen, dass ich schon viele kulturbedingte Sichtweisen kenne, aber konnte viel neues lernen. Nach dem Eisbergprinzip gliedern die Autoren das Buch in „Über die Oberfläche“ (… des Eisbergs), „Direkt unter der Oberfläche“ und „Tief unter der Oberfläche“. Fand die Erzählungen von ihren Erfahrungen aus nicht-westlichen Ländern sehr interessant, die die westliche Brille von heute als kulturbedingt entlarvt. Manche Kapitel kann man sicherlich schneller lesen, aber hatte einige Eyeopener wie zB die Story von David und Batseba. Im Kontext von Ehre und Scham erscheint die Story in einem neuen Licht.
Genervt hat mich dann aber trotzdem - wie in vielen anderen evangelikalen Büchern auch - die Rechtfertigung, dass die Bibel trotzdem normativ, Gottes Wort, … whatever ist. Verstehe aber aufgrund der Zielgruppe, warum sie es machen.
Genervt hat mich dann aber trotzdem - wie in vielen anderen evangelikalen Büchern auch - die Rechtfertigung, dass die Bibel trotzdem normativ, Gottes Wort, … whatever ist. Verstehe aber aufgrund der Zielgruppe, warum sie es machen.
January 3, 2018
This book is badly needed by anyone who teaches Bible in a non-Western setting. However, you might, like me, have at times wanted to somehow have a physical copy of the audio book to throw out the window of your car. Some of the exegesis is as strained as pulp-free orange juice. Other insights are simply fabulous. This is one to read with all the discernment filters on, but one definitely to read. Really effective at making you aware of your own biases.
December 3, 2012
I think the primary intent of this book is to help Western Bible readers recognize their own presuppositions (the "things that go without being said"). I think it will do a good job of that. Another positive element is the personal anecdotes gathered from experience with Western and Eastern cultures.
They, rightly, point out an aspect of our culture's teaching concerning marriage that is not exactly biblical. The Scripture values marriage and celibacy, even giving greater honor to the later.
They helpfully remind us that when Paul exhorts women to modesty he has immodest displays of wealth (not just sexual immodesty) in mind.
Each chapter ends with a few "questions to ponder."
Their treatment of race and language were fine.
Getting into part 2 I began to find some problems.
They stated as fact that Christians "commandeered" and "biblicize" the ancient Greek myth of the crossing of the river Styx, replacing it with the river Jordan and entry into the promised land. Perhaps the hymn writers were influenced by the Greek myth. Perhaps not. If a resource such as the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery didn't feel comfortable stating it as a fact I doubt that these guys should be. Personally, I think it's unlikely.
They also claim that the "biblical image" is not us going to heaven, but God's kingdom coming here. So, when "we superimpose our image of 'leaving this world of woe' onto the Christian story, we turn the gospel of good news into bad news for people like the Khmus." Sounds good. Except that they've left out that the Bible does use the image of travelling from here to heaven. We are "strangers and pilgrims" (Heb 11:13; 1 Pet 2:11). And Jesus will return and take us to be with him (John 14:3). So, if the good news becomes bad news for those whose culture will not countenance leaving this old world behind for a new and better world on the other side, then the problem is with that culture.
Their discussion of individualism vs. collectivism was fine. I liked their emphasis on the importance of church attendance.
The discussion of honor/shame could prove helpful. Unfortunately, honor/shame and right/wrong are discussed in an either-or rather than a both-and manner. I suppose the authors are products of their (Western) culture.
As Westerners, our emphasis is on right/wrong rather than honor/shame. Still, there is no getting around the fact that humans, whether from the East or the West, have consciences. But the authors contend that "If a person from a shame culture commits a 'sin,' he will not likely feel guilty about it if no one else knows." No matter how excellent Stendahl's work (which they cite) may have been, it seems that he overstated his case when he claimed that the introspective conscience began with Augustine. The Bible bears witness of people with pained as well as clear consciences (Job 27:6; 1 Sam 24:5). The authors themselves deal with Psalm 51, but neglect to mention that David confesses guilt, not just shame. The NT especially talks about conscience -- bearing witness, weak, defiled, seared, and clear (Acts 23:1; Rom 2:15; 1 Cor 8:7,12; 1 Tim 4:2; Tit 1:15; Heb 9:9, 14; 10:22; 13:18; 1 Pet 3:16).
One of the "questions to ponder" at the end of the section on honor/shame stuck out to me. Paul's open rebuke of Peter is retold. "That was his culture; this is ours. So what should we do when a church leader isn't acting appropriately?" The wording suggests to me that the correct answer (according to the author) might go something like, "Our culture isn't an honor/shame culture. Open rebukes are not appropriate for church leaders in the USA." I disagree. It seems to me that an open rebuke will serve as a powerful incentive for change even in our more guilt/innocence oriented culture.
Their treatment of time was fine.
Rules and relationships had its good points. It also said "We Westerners should also likely consider being less rigid about the rules we read in Scripture." That's certainly a dangerous suggestion. Perhaps not entirely wrong. Dangerous nonetheless. Relationship and community are important. And without "rules" (love is the law) neither relationship nor community can thrive.
Their critique of Western virtues is interesting.
"It's all about me" Bible reading is exposed as illegitimate. Good. If I were writing this chapter I would have felt the need to talk about how the Spirit also speaks through texts in odd ways that ignore context. But I'm not about to argue with those who want to push us to read the Bible in context.
I enjoyed their conclusion. I really think this book could be helpful for the right person at the right time. We need a book of this sort.
For some reason, they never recommend the 2 volume IVP Bible Background Commentary. You should probably get those.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Kahneman is an excellent book that might also help produce interpretive humility.
They, rightly, point out an aspect of our culture's teaching concerning marriage that is not exactly biblical. The Scripture values marriage and celibacy, even giving greater honor to the later.
They helpfully remind us that when Paul exhorts women to modesty he has immodest displays of wealth (not just sexual immodesty) in mind.
Each chapter ends with a few "questions to ponder."
Their treatment of race and language were fine.
Getting into part 2 I began to find some problems.
They stated as fact that Christians "commandeered" and "biblicize" the ancient Greek myth of the crossing of the river Styx, replacing it with the river Jordan and entry into the promised land. Perhaps the hymn writers were influenced by the Greek myth. Perhaps not. If a resource such as the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery didn't feel comfortable stating it as a fact I doubt that these guys should be. Personally, I think it's unlikely.
They also claim that the "biblical image" is not us going to heaven, but God's kingdom coming here. So, when "we superimpose our image of 'leaving this world of woe' onto the Christian story, we turn the gospel of good news into bad news for people like the Khmus." Sounds good. Except that they've left out that the Bible does use the image of travelling from here to heaven. We are "strangers and pilgrims" (Heb 11:13; 1 Pet 2:11). And Jesus will return and take us to be with him (John 14:3). So, if the good news becomes bad news for those whose culture will not countenance leaving this old world behind for a new and better world on the other side, then the problem is with that culture.
Their discussion of individualism vs. collectivism was fine. I liked their emphasis on the importance of church attendance.
The discussion of honor/shame could prove helpful. Unfortunately, honor/shame and right/wrong are discussed in an either-or rather than a both-and manner. I suppose the authors are products of their (Western) culture.
As Westerners, our emphasis is on right/wrong rather than honor/shame. Still, there is no getting around the fact that humans, whether from the East or the West, have consciences. But the authors contend that "If a person from a shame culture commits a 'sin,' he will not likely feel guilty about it if no one else knows." No matter how excellent Stendahl's work (which they cite) may have been, it seems that he overstated his case when he claimed that the introspective conscience began with Augustine. The Bible bears witness of people with pained as well as clear consciences (Job 27:6; 1 Sam 24:5). The authors themselves deal with Psalm 51, but neglect to mention that David confesses guilt, not just shame. The NT especially talks about conscience -- bearing witness, weak, defiled, seared, and clear (Acts 23:1; Rom 2:15; 1 Cor 8:7,12; 1 Tim 4:2; Tit 1:15; Heb 9:9, 14; 10:22; 13:18; 1 Pet 3:16).
One of the "questions to ponder" at the end of the section on honor/shame stuck out to me. Paul's open rebuke of Peter is retold. "That was his culture; this is ours. So what should we do when a church leader isn't acting appropriately?" The wording suggests to me that the correct answer (according to the author) might go something like, "Our culture isn't an honor/shame culture. Open rebukes are not appropriate for church leaders in the USA." I disagree. It seems to me that an open rebuke will serve as a powerful incentive for change even in our more guilt/innocence oriented culture.
Their treatment of time was fine.
Rules and relationships had its good points. It also said "We Westerners should also likely consider being less rigid about the rules we read in Scripture." That's certainly a dangerous suggestion. Perhaps not entirely wrong. Dangerous nonetheless. Relationship and community are important. And without "rules" (love is the law) neither relationship nor community can thrive.
Their critique of Western virtues is interesting.
"It's all about me" Bible reading is exposed as illegitimate. Good. If I were writing this chapter I would have felt the need to talk about how the Spirit also speaks through texts in odd ways that ignore context. But I'm not about to argue with those who want to push us to read the Bible in context.
I enjoyed their conclusion. I really think this book could be helpful for the right person at the right time. We need a book of this sort.
For some reason, they never recommend the 2 volume IVP Bible Background Commentary. You should probably get those.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Kahneman is an excellent book that might also help produce interpretive humility.
May 7, 2021
I expected something fairly academic, but this was a surprisingly easy read. Or, as I think another reviewer called it, accessible. It didn’t make me feel bad for being from a western culture, but reminded me that mine is not the only one.
Both authors are white males, and are primarily speaking to a middle class American audience. One of the authors lived extensively in an Eastern culture, and has many stories about the cultural differences he didn’t expect, and how they challenged his presuppositions about the Bible, and the Christian life.
The chapters on individualism and collectivism and the strengths and weaknesses they both give to Christians and their interpretation of the Bible were especially good. I also appreciated their observations about the western view of time (it’s very important here!), “acceptable sins,” and obsession with everyone being a leader, and how that contrasts with Christ’s command to “follow me.”
The discussion questions were some of the most helpful ones I’ve seen. I find most questions like this boring and or manipulative, but these were truly thought provoking.
Both authors are white males, and are primarily speaking to a middle class American audience. One of the authors lived extensively in an Eastern culture, and has many stories about the cultural differences he didn’t expect, and how they challenged his presuppositions about the Bible, and the Christian life.
The chapters on individualism and collectivism and the strengths and weaknesses they both give to Christians and their interpretation of the Bible were especially good. I also appreciated their observations about the western view of time (it’s very important here!), “acceptable sins,” and obsession with everyone being a leader, and how that contrasts with Christ’s command to “follow me.”
The discussion questions were some of the most helpful ones I’ve seen. I find most questions like this boring and or manipulative, but these were truly thought provoking.
January 5, 2019
On the whole, an extremely interesting read that I found illuminating. It really draws attention to the assumptions we (Westerners) make without thought.
The most engaging sections for me were about:
• Mores (norms that are socially accepted without question). For example, as a society we’re currently much more concerned with sexual modesty than economical modesty.
• Virtues and vices. Some that we hold onto are cultural rather than biblical.
• The contextual meaning of verses vs our own personal application/understanding of them.
The most engaging sections for me were about:
• Mores (norms that are socially accepted without question). For example, as a society we’re currently much more concerned with sexual modesty than economical modesty.
• Virtues and vices. Some that we hold onto are cultural rather than biblical.
• The contextual meaning of verses vs our own personal application/understanding of them.
June 12, 2023
Most recent comments:
Summary: Very good introduction to hermeneutics (how we understand scripture), the cultural background of scripture, and how our own culture impacts our reading and understanding of scripture.
I recently led a book group through Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. When I lead book discussions, I almost always read the book twice; once early in the week, I listen to it on audiobook. And then the day of the book club, I reread the same section in print and take notes and highlight the areas that I want to discuss. But this is not my first reading. My review on Audible has 196 likes. And on Amazon, the book description starts with saying that Bookwi.se (me) named it my favorite book of the year in 2015. So I believe that this is my 3th and 4th reading of Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes.
What I like about leading book groups is seeing how others respond to a book. In virtually every book club meeting, one of the members held up the book and said a variation of, "I love this book." By the end of the book club (which was about nine weeks), he had convinced his wife, his mother-in-law, two of his coworkers, and some others to read the book. This is a good book that really can help you see different perspectives on scripture. And that is very helpful in renewing interest in scripture.
This book group, which has been meeting on and off for about three years now, started as a church small group reading books about race. The group has expanded and changed, and because it has always been a Zoom group, it isn't only local people or only people from one church. For several years I have been suggesting to anyone that will listen that one good way to raise consciousness about racial issues in the White Evangelical church is to start with Misreading Scripture because it is a helpful book that raises issues of culture and meaning. When we discover that other people, especially those that are from different cultures and times, have different understandings of how the world works, we can start to investigate how our understanding of the world may be culturally constructed. This isn't "post-modernism"; this is just acknowledgment of reality, similar to the suggestion of CS Lewis about reading old books. I think, handled correctly, Misreading Scripture can be effective in introducing with people who may be reluctant to discuss race and culture by concentrating on a book that is primarily about understanding scripture.
I do not want to repeat what I said in my earlier post, so anything I mentioned there I won't mention here. I do not think it really sunk in until I read this with others how important the iceberg metaphor is in Western Eyes. Generally, the stuff that is more identifiable, the visible parts of the iceberg, are those things that are less essential and more discussed. But what really riles people up are those things below the iceberg's surface. It was the last chapter of the book that raised the most questions.
Related, a central phrase of the book is "because something went without being said." The idea here is that as we read scripture, we often come across passages where there appears to be unrelated details or holes in the story. O'Brian and Richards are regularly pointing out areas where something important to the biblical culture was not said because the author of the passage assumed that what was central to the culture at the time did not need to be explicitly stated. To bring in the iceberg metaphor again, what is below the surface, the larger part of our culture does not need to be explicit because it is assumed. The parts that do not need to be said are the parts that that are most difficult to translate to another culture because they are not explicit.
The previous two times I read this book were pre-2016. I believe that had this book been written in 2020 or later, some passages would have been written differently. I think the discussion of David and Bathsheba would be written differently in a post-#MeToo and #ChurchToo movement. Several other examples are now dated. One talks about the potential for a pandemic. And several passages I felt would be better served today if there was an explicit discussion of Christian Nationalism. It has only been 11 years since Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes came out, but reading this today is a reminder about how quickly some aspects of culture and some cultural references shift.
A few dated references and ideas aside, I still think Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes should be widely read, not just because of the specific contents of the book but because the issues it raises are helpful to broader issues of discipleship. (And while I have only reading Misreading Scripture Individualistic Eyes, it is a great followup book.)
________________
First reading
Short Review: My new favorite book to recommend about how culture obscures scripture. Misreading Scripture is as much about cultural anthropology as it is about scripture, but that is a real strength. Culture matters and it especially matters to those that have little exposure to different cultures. (If you were unaware, the bible was written in a different time, culture and place and that matters.)
Misreading Scripture has nine chapters about basic, but important issues, like differences in language, understanding of time, how honor/shame cultures work vs our standard Western right/wrong culture and more.
The best feature of the book is that it is very well written and engaging for the reader that is not academically trained in theology or bible or culture, while not watering down the content. While it may seem from my description that the book is mostly about culture instead of the bible, the issues are continually brought back to how this matters to reading actual scripture.
I highly recommend it. My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/misreading-scripture...
Summary: Very good introduction to hermeneutics (how we understand scripture), the cultural background of scripture, and how our own culture impacts our reading and understanding of scripture.
I recently led a book group through Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. When I lead book discussions, I almost always read the book twice; once early in the week, I listen to it on audiobook. And then the day of the book club, I reread the same section in print and take notes and highlight the areas that I want to discuss. But this is not my first reading. My review on Audible has 196 likes. And on Amazon, the book description starts with saying that Bookwi.se (me) named it my favorite book of the year in 2015. So I believe that this is my 3th and 4th reading of Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes.
What I like about leading book groups is seeing how others respond to a book. In virtually every book club meeting, one of the members held up the book and said a variation of, "I love this book." By the end of the book club (which was about nine weeks), he had convinced his wife, his mother-in-law, two of his coworkers, and some others to read the book. This is a good book that really can help you see different perspectives on scripture. And that is very helpful in renewing interest in scripture.
This book group, which has been meeting on and off for about three years now, started as a church small group reading books about race. The group has expanded and changed, and because it has always been a Zoom group, it isn't only local people or only people from one church. For several years I have been suggesting to anyone that will listen that one good way to raise consciousness about racial issues in the White Evangelical church is to start with Misreading Scripture because it is a helpful book that raises issues of culture and meaning. When we discover that other people, especially those that are from different cultures and times, have different understandings of how the world works, we can start to investigate how our understanding of the world may be culturally constructed. This isn't "post-modernism"; this is just acknowledgment of reality, similar to the suggestion of CS Lewis about reading old books. I think, handled correctly, Misreading Scripture can be effective in introducing with people who may be reluctant to discuss race and culture by concentrating on a book that is primarily about understanding scripture.
I do not want to repeat what I said in my earlier post, so anything I mentioned there I won't mention here. I do not think it really sunk in until I read this with others how important the iceberg metaphor is in Western Eyes. Generally, the stuff that is more identifiable, the visible parts of the iceberg, are those things that are less essential and more discussed. But what really riles people up are those things below the iceberg's surface. It was the last chapter of the book that raised the most questions.
Related, a central phrase of the book is "because something went without being said." The idea here is that as we read scripture, we often come across passages where there appears to be unrelated details or holes in the story. O'Brian and Richards are regularly pointing out areas where something important to the biblical culture was not said because the author of the passage assumed that what was central to the culture at the time did not need to be explicitly stated. To bring in the iceberg metaphor again, what is below the surface, the larger part of our culture does not need to be explicit because it is assumed. The parts that do not need to be said are the parts that that are most difficult to translate to another culture because they are not explicit.
The previous two times I read this book were pre-2016. I believe that had this book been written in 2020 or later, some passages would have been written differently. I think the discussion of David and Bathsheba would be written differently in a post-#MeToo and #ChurchToo movement. Several other examples are now dated. One talks about the potential for a pandemic. And several passages I felt would be better served today if there was an explicit discussion of Christian Nationalism. It has only been 11 years since Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes came out, but reading this today is a reminder about how quickly some aspects of culture and some cultural references shift.
A few dated references and ideas aside, I still think Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes should be widely read, not just because of the specific contents of the book but because the issues it raises are helpful to broader issues of discipleship. (And while I have only reading Misreading Scripture Individualistic Eyes, it is a great followup book.)
________________
First reading
Short Review: My new favorite book to recommend about how culture obscures scripture. Misreading Scripture is as much about cultural anthropology as it is about scripture, but that is a real strength. Culture matters and it especially matters to those that have little exposure to different cultures. (If you were unaware, the bible was written in a different time, culture and place and that matters.)
Misreading Scripture has nine chapters about basic, but important issues, like differences in language, understanding of time, how honor/shame cultures work vs our standard Western right/wrong culture and more.
The best feature of the book is that it is very well written and engaging for the reader that is not academically trained in theology or bible or culture, while not watering down the content. While it may seem from my description that the book is mostly about culture instead of the bible, the issues are continually brought back to how this matters to reading actual scripture.
I highly recommend it. My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/misreading-scripture...
March 31, 2020
There are no shortcuts in the process of removing cultural blinders. If you are thirty years old and Western, then you’ve been developing Western habits of thinking and reading for thirty years. It’s unreasonable to expect to reverse those habits by reading a single book or bearing a few principles in mind. We’re not trying to teach you a new methodology. We’re trying to help you become a certain kind of reader: the kind of reader who is increasingly aware of his or her cultural assumptions. And that takes time, self-reflection and hard work. We’re convinced the reward is worth the hard work. (212)Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes is a very good reminder of what a complex book the Bible is and how easy it is to misinterpret it based on cultural assumptions. There is so much potential for confusion, whether for Christians who accept the Bible as authoritative but unknowingly misunderstand key aspects of it, or for people who believe they are rejecting the Bible but in fact are rejecting wrong cultural interpretations of the Bible, not the actual book itself. Course corrections for all audiences are always valuable, and so this book is very worthwhile.
It reads at an undergraduate level, and I think it would make a good course reading, especially if supplemented with other, more rigorous, readings (such as some of the titles listed in the “Resources for Further Exploration” in the back of the book).
Though the topic is great, and I found much of the content compelling and enlightening (the final chapter, “It’s All about Me,” was particularly good and should be read by many Western Christians), for me the book is not as eye-opening as books on this topic by authors such as Kenneth Bailey and John Walton. Because I’d already read those authors, the main point here was not new to me, and I sometimes wanted more specific biblical interpretation, rather than the general “intro to culture” lessons.
Also, I would have enjoyed a more comprehensive research scope to support the authors’ points. One of the authors, Randy Richards, was a missionary in Indonesia for some years, and a lot of sentences in this book begin, “When I (Randy) lived in Indonesia . . .” These anecdotes are fine (it’s all very much like things I say in my classes about “when I lived in Papua New Guinea . . .”), but greater breadth of examples from more parts of the world—and based on research rather than personal anecdote—would elevate the quality of the book tremendously.
However, many Christians (and others) would benefit from considering the points the authors bring up in these chapters. May we all learn to see ourselves and the Bible with greater clarity and true understanding!
May 3, 2021
I had been anticipating reading this book for some time due to 1. how many I saw reading it and 2. Because of the positive response. I could not have been more disappointed. Far more bones than meat. There is a clear anti-western and anti-white bias, the anti-western bias saturates the entire book. The book is built around the ridiculous notion that western = less biblical and eastern = more biblical, therefore we ought to think less western and more eastern. It is just another book in a long list of books intended to discredit the west and western culture, a culture built upon and saturated by judeo-Christian values. I believe strongly that context matters. In fact, I believe it is the most important factor in correctly interpreting any scripture, and I thought before reading that this book was intended to bring out that point, I was wrong. Instead, the implication from the book is that if you are born and raised in the west you are culturally predisposed to interpret scripture incorrectly, a truly ludicrous idea. If you skip this book you are not missing anything.
February 4, 2017
Insulting. This book is a few good points embedded in a load of rubbish. The main point is a good one and can be communicated in one sentence: When you read the Bible, be aware of your cultural perspectives and biases. That's great, but the book includes nonsense such as "Leadership is not a biblical teaching" (What about Moses? Joshua? Nehemiah? Paul?) and a general tone of negativity about Western culture. It's insulting to me as a Westerner. For example, the authors say that Westerners believe that the Bible teaches us to save money, but we are wrong to believe so because Indonesian fisherman would be foolish to save fish, as they would spoil. It's insulting to accuse Westerners of applying the biblical principle of saving to fish. We're not stupid, but this book sure seems to attempt to make that point.
February 8, 2013
Richards, E. Randolph, and Brandon J. O'Brien. 2012. Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.
Who we are affects how we read the Bible, and culture shapes who we are to a significant degree. For example, a married, middle-aged man from Springfield, Missouri, interprets the Bible differently than an unmarried, teenage girl from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. This doesn’t mean that Scripture has no correct interpretation. It does mean, however, that we shouldn’t assume ours is it.
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Randy Richards and Brandon O’Brien identifies nine key areas where Western cultural assumptions differ from biblical cultural assumptions. These areas have to do with mores, ethnicity, language, individualism and collectivism, honor/shame and right/wrong, time, rules and relationships, virtue and vice, and the identity of the center of God’s will. The authors devote a chapter to each area, mixing cross-cultural anecdotes (often drawn from the mission field) and examples from Scripture to show how Western ways of reading can misinterpret biblical teaching.
Chapter 3, for example, shows how, among other assumptions about language, Westerners prefer propositions to metaphors. “Because we are somewhat uncomfortable with the ambiguity of metaphors,” the authors write, “we tend to distill propositions out of them.” The biblical authors didn’t share our discomfort with metaphors, however. They “recorded the profoundest truth in similes, metaphors, parables and other colorful and expressive (and potentially ambiguous) forms of language.” The Western tendency to distill propositions out of metaphors “actually diminishes the breadth and application of the text.” What proposition better expresses, theologically and emotionally, God’s providential care of us than “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)? Moreover, “the biblical writers use metaphors to connect central truths in Scripture.” When Jesus said of himself, in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd,” he drew on both Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, where God called himself a shepherd. His opponents rightly discerned that he was claiming to be God (John 10:33). Unlike propositions, metaphors “say more with less.”
By identifying ways that Westerners misread Scripture, Randolph and O’Brien help them cultivate more faithful ways of reading and applying Scripture. I recommend this book to preachers, theological students, and would-be missionaries. It is written at an introductory level and includes a list of recommended books for more in-depth study of the relationship between culture and biblical interpretation.
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
Who we are affects how we read the Bible, and culture shapes who we are to a significant degree. For example, a married, middle-aged man from Springfield, Missouri, interprets the Bible differently than an unmarried, teenage girl from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. This doesn’t mean that Scripture has no correct interpretation. It does mean, however, that we shouldn’t assume ours is it.
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Randy Richards and Brandon O’Brien identifies nine key areas where Western cultural assumptions differ from biblical cultural assumptions. These areas have to do with mores, ethnicity, language, individualism and collectivism, honor/shame and right/wrong, time, rules and relationships, virtue and vice, and the identity of the center of God’s will. The authors devote a chapter to each area, mixing cross-cultural anecdotes (often drawn from the mission field) and examples from Scripture to show how Western ways of reading can misinterpret biblical teaching.
Chapter 3, for example, shows how, among other assumptions about language, Westerners prefer propositions to metaphors. “Because we are somewhat uncomfortable with the ambiguity of metaphors,” the authors write, “we tend to distill propositions out of them.” The biblical authors didn’t share our discomfort with metaphors, however. They “recorded the profoundest truth in similes, metaphors, parables and other colorful and expressive (and potentially ambiguous) forms of language.” The Western tendency to distill propositions out of metaphors “actually diminishes the breadth and application of the text.” What proposition better expresses, theologically and emotionally, God’s providential care of us than “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)? Moreover, “the biblical writers use metaphors to connect central truths in Scripture.” When Jesus said of himself, in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd,” he drew on both Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, where God called himself a shepherd. His opponents rightly discerned that he was claiming to be God (John 10:33). Unlike propositions, metaphors “say more with less.”
By identifying ways that Westerners misread Scripture, Randolph and O’Brien help them cultivate more faithful ways of reading and applying Scripture. I recommend this book to preachers, theological students, and would-be missionaries. It is written at an introductory level and includes a list of recommended books for more in-depth study of the relationship between culture and biblical interpretation.
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
May 4, 2021
This will be a difficult book for me to review, simply because it was so challenging and so well-done on so many levels.
I appreciated the authors’ emphasis on how we can open our eyes to our cultural preconceptions as we read Scripture. Their questions at the end of each chapter were deep and thought-provoking and would make great discussion questions for a group study.
The authors’ experiences in Indonesia also helped, as they had many stories to relate that helped broaden my perspective.
I also appreciated that this was not an overly academic book but was truly written for a layperson. There was not a dull page in the book.
American culture is very individualistic, and I see many ways in which that damages the American church and skews our approach to Scripture. And many, if not most, cultures are instead, collectivist — including the culture in which scripture was written. I totally disagree with some of the reviewers’ criticisms that this book seemed to insult western culture and favor eastern cultures. Instead, I saw the authors trying to help me get into the mindset of an Israelite in biblical times, which in some cases totally changes my understanding of a story, such as David’s interactions with Bathsheba and Uriah. The book does not demean western culture, but instead says we all can learn from other cultures’ perspectives on scripture, since it is inspired by God for ALL cultures at ALL times! That said, the culture IN WHICH it was written is particularly important for us to understand if we are to rightly read and interpret it.
A corollary of the individualist/collectivist culture contrast is the innocence/guilt culture in contrast to the honor/shame culture. Of the nine cultural categories covered in this book, that was by far the most challenging for me. It’s hard for me to NOT view honor/shame values as people pleasing, fear of man, lack of conscience. And to view an awareness of innocence and guilt as morally and spiritually mature in comparison. And yet, as I consider the impact of something I highly value - true community - I also can recognize that it would perhaps invite God to work in different ways than just through an individual conscience - that the community, in fact, would be how God chooses to convict and humble a believer. That Chapter more than any other opened my eyes to how deeply ingrained that particular cultural value is in me, and how hard it is for me NOT to see it as somehow morally superior.
The indices and appendices were also very helpful and helped me add to my reading list on this topic.
I will most definitely be rereading this book. And i recommend it to every serious student of scripture.
I appreciated the authors’ emphasis on how we can open our eyes to our cultural preconceptions as we read Scripture. Their questions at the end of each chapter were deep and thought-provoking and would make great discussion questions for a group study.
The authors’ experiences in Indonesia also helped, as they had many stories to relate that helped broaden my perspective.
I also appreciated that this was not an overly academic book but was truly written for a layperson. There was not a dull page in the book.
American culture is very individualistic, and I see many ways in which that damages the American church and skews our approach to Scripture. And many, if not most, cultures are instead, collectivist — including the culture in which scripture was written. I totally disagree with some of the reviewers’ criticisms that this book seemed to insult western culture and favor eastern cultures. Instead, I saw the authors trying to help me get into the mindset of an Israelite in biblical times, which in some cases totally changes my understanding of a story, such as David’s interactions with Bathsheba and Uriah. The book does not demean western culture, but instead says we all can learn from other cultures’ perspectives on scripture, since it is inspired by God for ALL cultures at ALL times! That said, the culture IN WHICH it was written is particularly important for us to understand if we are to rightly read and interpret it.
A corollary of the individualist/collectivist culture contrast is the innocence/guilt culture in contrast to the honor/shame culture. Of the nine cultural categories covered in this book, that was by far the most challenging for me. It’s hard for me to NOT view honor/shame values as people pleasing, fear of man, lack of conscience. And to view an awareness of innocence and guilt as morally and spiritually mature in comparison. And yet, as I consider the impact of something I highly value - true community - I also can recognize that it would perhaps invite God to work in different ways than just through an individual conscience - that the community, in fact, would be how God chooses to convict and humble a believer. That Chapter more than any other opened my eyes to how deeply ingrained that particular cultural value is in me, and how hard it is for me NOT to see it as somehow morally superior.
The indices and appendices were also very helpful and helped me add to my reading list on this topic.
I will most definitely be rereading this book. And i recommend it to every serious student of scripture.
June 13, 2014
My only complaint was that it did not go into more depth. I feel like it could have been much longer and more thorough; revealing how modern western bias has influenced our understanding of scripture. That being said, the book deftly explains the difference between our individualistic culture and the collectivist culture which was the modus operandi of the time, which cleaves to one of their core points, that the Bible does not speak to the individual in the sense that every passage and verse can be applied to "me," but rather to a people. In our individualistic lifestyle, collectivism and the concept of internal conscience versus the honor/shame dynamic of collectivism is utterly foreign; much to our loss, as the Bible was written with these concepts held as fundamental truths. Other fascinating aspects of the book dealt with conceptions of time, the Greek Kairos vs. Chronos, the racist worldview that was present when the Bible was written and is reflected (whether we like it or not) in the text, and how some of our most deep-seated Western 'virtues,' i.e. Saving for a 'rainy day,' self- sufficiency, the false notion that 'God helps those who help themselves,' and the value of labor in order to be worthy of reward are either un-biblical or downright anti-biblical, particularly in regards to treatment of the poor and downtrodden.
A worthy read
A worthy read
July 28, 2024
Who we are matters significantly in our reading of scripture. An American, a Korean, and a Turk can all read the exact same scripture and notice different things, coming away with a different understanding of what that scripture says. This is because each culture has its own cultural blinders as well as areas in which they are especially sensitive, or receptive, to scriptural truth.
This book attempts to remove the cultural blinders of Western, particularly American, ways of thinking. It exposes some ways we commonly misunderstand scripture and digs deep into how the original audience would have heard it. Part hermeneutics, part cultural anthropology, part devotional, this book is all good. Richards walks the fine line of correcting common errors yet still being respectful and pastoral in a way that makes the reader want to change rather than putting their back up. I would strongly recommend this book to... well... everyone.
This book attempts to remove the cultural blinders of Western, particularly American, ways of thinking. It exposes some ways we commonly misunderstand scripture and digs deep into how the original audience would have heard it. Part hermeneutics, part cultural anthropology, part devotional, this book is all good. Richards walks the fine line of correcting common errors yet still being respectful and pastoral in a way that makes the reader want to change rather than putting their back up. I would strongly recommend this book to... well... everyone.
March 1, 2022
This was good for revealing some of our cultural biases. Not very helpful when it came to application. A lot of the application could be dangerous if pursued. I think he was on to something in his discussion on collectivism, but his lack of acknowledgment of the covenantal motif led him to go off the rails. While it is true that the Bible does typically speak of God’s people as a collective, it logically follows that the collective is made up of individuals. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
April 26, 2024
All in all, this book did not disappoint. Having heard rave reviews on it from friends across the ministry spectrum, I eagerly dove into reading what the authors had to say about this subject.
In the Introduction alone, I was given a good reason to understand the Bible through a cultural lens with the sharing of the passage in Revelation to the church in Laodicea regarding hot/cold/lukewarm principles. As the authors stated, without knowing story behind those waters, one would misapply the truth (and I have before) that God has for us.
I like how the authors broke down the book into three sections: 1) Above the Surface, 2) Just Below the Surface, and 3) Deep Below the Surface. The sections are then further broken down into chapters:
Above the Surface
Mores: Sex, Money, Food
Color: Race & Ethnicity
Words: Language
Just Below the Surface
Individualism & Collectivism
Shame: Honor/Shame & Right/Wrong
Time
Deep Below the Surface
Rules & Relationships
Virtue & Vice
Finding the Center ofGod's Will
There are certain things one would just NOT be aware of unless they were to visit the culture in which they were studying. You could study the Bible and commentaries and other study helps and you just wouldn't know unless you were immersed in that culture. Having said that, reading a book like this just helps to make one aware that often we need to consider the culture in which the Bible was written when we study.
For instance, the chapter on individualism versus collectivism made complete sense since we live in such an individualistic society here in the United States. We often laud rugged individualism whereas in many parts of the world, that is looked down on and the group or the collective is esteemed.
Having said that, in this same chapter on individualism versus collectivism, the authors (in my opinion) blow it by stating that our current English versions do not differentiate between singular "you" and plural "you." It's obvious to me that they are not acquainted with the King James Version. The King James translators, used "ye" when referring to plural "you," and "you" when referring to singular "you." It's a pretty easy solution. The King James gets this issue right; the others get it wrong. This is not a book on that topic, but it highlighted for me (yet once again), the importance of a Bible you can trust.
In the chapter of honor/shame I found fascinating the insight that the authors gave into the story of David & Bathsheba. Here again, without understanding how a culture views honor/shame views certain things can drastically change your perspective of a story.
While I enjoyed the different examples of applying cultural norms to a passage of Scripture, I disagreed with their interpretation of, for instance, women teachers/apostles. In the chapter of Rules/Relationships, the author show how in Bible times and settings, the relationship trumped rules. And although I agree to an extent of their supposition, I disagree that God allows women to teach/preach in the church. The New Testament is clear that women are not to "usurp authority over the man."
I loved the last chapter entitled "It's All About Me." The authors rightly suggest that North American Christians generally read the Bible like it was all written to us directly. Notice the following quote:
"Western Christians, especially North American Christians, tend to read every scriptural promise, every blessing, as if it necessarily applies to us - to each of us and all of us individually. More to the point, we are confident that us always includes me specifically. And this may not be the case. In this chapter, we are discussing an aspect of the Western worldview that is similar to the individualism versus collectivism trait that we noted earlier. The idea is related but not the same. This misreading of Scripture arises from combining our individualism with a more subtle, deeply hidden and deeply rooted aspect of our Western worldview: we still think the universe centers around us. The assumption is naïve; but worse, it influences the way we read the Bible."
p.193
And I say a hearty amen to that statement! The authors then continue to show throughout that chapter how dangerous it is to continually filter the Bible through our own lens of the Bible believing that every single promise in the Bible is for me specifically.
In the Introduction alone, I was given a good reason to understand the Bible through a cultural lens with the sharing of the passage in Revelation to the church in Laodicea regarding hot/cold/lukewarm principles. As the authors stated, without knowing story behind those waters, one would misapply the truth (and I have before) that God has for us.
I like how the authors broke down the book into three sections: 1) Above the Surface, 2) Just Below the Surface, and 3) Deep Below the Surface. The sections are then further broken down into chapters:
Above the Surface
Mores: Sex, Money, Food
Color: Race & Ethnicity
Words: Language
Just Below the Surface
Individualism & Collectivism
Shame: Honor/Shame & Right/Wrong
Time
Deep Below the Surface
Rules & Relationships
Virtue & Vice
Finding the Center ofGod's Will
There are certain things one would just NOT be aware of unless they were to visit the culture in which they were studying. You could study the Bible and commentaries and other study helps and you just wouldn't know unless you were immersed in that culture. Having said that, reading a book like this just helps to make one aware that often we need to consider the culture in which the Bible was written when we study.
For instance, the chapter on individualism versus collectivism made complete sense since we live in such an individualistic society here in the United States. We often laud rugged individualism whereas in many parts of the world, that is looked down on and the group or the collective is esteemed.
Having said that, in this same chapter on individualism versus collectivism, the authors (in my opinion) blow it by stating that our current English versions do not differentiate between singular "you" and plural "you." It's obvious to me that they are not acquainted with the King James Version. The King James translators, used "ye" when referring to plural "you," and "you" when referring to singular "you." It's a pretty easy solution. The King James gets this issue right; the others get it wrong. This is not a book on that topic, but it highlighted for me (yet once again), the importance of a Bible you can trust.
In the chapter of honor/shame I found fascinating the insight that the authors gave into the story of David & Bathsheba. Here again, without understanding how a culture views honor/shame views certain things can drastically change your perspective of a story.
While I enjoyed the different examples of applying cultural norms to a passage of Scripture, I disagreed with their interpretation of, for instance, women teachers/apostles. In the chapter of Rules/Relationships, the author show how in Bible times and settings, the relationship trumped rules. And although I agree to an extent of their supposition, I disagree that God allows women to teach/preach in the church. The New Testament is clear that women are not to "usurp authority over the man."
I loved the last chapter entitled "It's All About Me." The authors rightly suggest that North American Christians generally read the Bible like it was all written to us directly. Notice the following quote:
"Western Christians, especially North American Christians, tend to read every scriptural promise, every blessing, as if it necessarily applies to us - to each of us and all of us individually. More to the point, we are confident that us always includes me specifically. And this may not be the case. In this chapter, we are discussing an aspect of the Western worldview that is similar to the individualism versus collectivism trait that we noted earlier. The idea is related but not the same. This misreading of Scripture arises from combining our individualism with a more subtle, deeply hidden and deeply rooted aspect of our Western worldview: we still think the universe centers around us. The assumption is naïve; but worse, it influences the way we read the Bible."
p.193
And I say a hearty amen to that statement! The authors then continue to show throughout that chapter how dangerous it is to continually filter the Bible through our own lens of the Bible believing that every single promise in the Bible is for me specifically.
September 3, 2023
A great introduction to the idea of the presuppositions we put on the Biblical texts due to our own cultural beliefs and ideals! Having lived in non-western contexts for most of my life, I feel like I had a bit of a head start on the points the Authors are making. But it was still really good to highlight the subconscious western thoughts that influence how I read Scripture. Additionally, I recommend this to every westerner; in particular to those who have never lived outside the western context. And for those westerners who live outside of the western context: you will find this book very validating and putting words to the thoughts swimming around in your minds of how living abroad has changed how you read scripture!
Read
May 4, 2024I had a hard time rating this one. I’ll start by saying, I really enjoyed the read. It was fascinating. I think I realized I have a lot to learn as a Westerner, and I’m not sure I realized how little I understand about the cultural biases I may bring to the table. The concluding chapter was especially impactful with what I believe were wise words on how we can work on removing cultural blinders.
There were a couple of theological concepts explained differently than I had ever heard them and I was unsure about their validity. It made me want to dig deeper and hear more discussion about it.
There were a couple of theological concepts explained differently than I had ever heard them and I was unsure about their validity. It made me want to dig deeper and hear more discussion about it.
September 15, 2020
Edit: After a second read-through and leading a book study, I've gotten even more out of this book. I'd say it's an essential read if you are teaching the Bible or leading a church or ministry.
This is a great book to help understand Western cultural preconceptions, and how they might distort the way we interpret the Bible. It's hard to sum up all the good content of this book since it takes a good deal of explanation and examples to get underneath some of the deep cultural mores that we're not even aware of, but the topics covered are these:
Race/Ethnicity
Language
Individualism/Collectivism
Honor/Shame and Right/Wrong
Time
Rules/Relationships
Virtue/Vice
"Me as the center of scripture"
My one recommendation is to push through to the Individualism/Collectivism portion. The book starts a little slow, but the topics get much more interesting as the book goes on. I highly recommended it to any Westerner seeking an unbiased view on scripture. I might be buying a few copies for people...
This is a great book to help understand Western cultural preconceptions, and how they might distort the way we interpret the Bible. It's hard to sum up all the good content of this book since it takes a good deal of explanation and examples to get underneath some of the deep cultural mores that we're not even aware of, but the topics covered are these:
Race/Ethnicity
Language
Individualism/Collectivism
Honor/Shame and Right/Wrong
Time
Rules/Relationships
Virtue/Vice
"Me as the center of scripture"
My one recommendation is to push through to the Individualism/Collectivism portion. The book starts a little slow, but the topics get much more interesting as the book goes on. I highly recommended it to any Westerner seeking an unbiased view on scripture. I might be buying a few copies for people...
April 23, 2020
Every student of ancient texts should read this book. It is nearly impossible for a reader to dissociate themselves from their cultural perspective. Richards offers some tools to help us do this. Great examples of biblical texts that are often misread due to cultural biases and brief explanations of the implications. As a teacher of the Bible, I always tell my students, "The task of the teacher/preacher, is to determine what the writer was expressing to his audience at the time that it was written, which is interpretation. Then, we must find the timeless truth in that writing and apply it to our own audience." This is a formidable task. Ancient texts are not open to private or cultural interpretation. We must interpret them correctly. Excellent read! Very valuable! Highly recommend.
September 24, 2021
It was pretty naïve and arrogant of me to think I knew what this books was going to say before I read it but there ya go. I was dead wrong. I’m very grateful for the way this book graciously and firmly strikes at cultural blinders. The writers do a great job of giving examples and stories that really illustrate their arguments. The last couple chapters courageously hit at the core of some fundamental assumptions of Western Christians and will certainly make an impact on how I preach and teach.
August 21, 2022
an eloquently written & much needed gut punch for the western christian
September 10, 2021
This book was brilliant and frustrating. And I fear that many of its readers may not have the discernment to know when it's doing which.
This book would raise some excellent points where western readers are prone to misunderstand Bible because of cultural blinders. I would want to hug the author and give the book 5 starts. Then a paragraph later the author(s) would use this same point to sloppily misinterpret the passage. It was like watching someone make an amazing one-handed catch under heavy defensive coverage and then letting the ball slip out of their hands 1 yard from the endzone. This happened constantly. I would say that at least a third of the Biblical passages that were being re-interpreted through a new cultural lens were misinterpreted in some way. And I know what you're thinking: "Jay you're just a readers who is unwilling to have his interpretive perspective changed because of his western bias." Although there may be a hint of truth to this at times, the misinterpretations they made that I'm talking about are ones that objectively contradict other passages of Scripture.
For example, in chapter 5 the authors explain that western cultures focus far more on individualistic right and wrong and personal conscience. Eastern cultures emphasize honor and shame and are far more community oriented in their ethics and morality. Excellent point to remember when we read Scripture. However, the author went on to apply this to David and Bathsheba by saying: "We typically assume that David was aware of his sin but stubbornly refused to repent. Then when Nathan confronts David - or, in a sense, tricks him - David's conscience is pricked, he gives in to his inner conviction and he publicly repents. It is far more likely that David had not given the matters a moment's thought. Remember, we Westerners tend to be introspective, but biblical characters were generally not" (Pg. 112-113).
Psalm 32, although not written about David's sin with Bathsheba, was still written by David about another grievous sin he had committed.
Psalm 3:3-5
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And I did not hide my guilt;
I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
In Psalm 32, David's conscience was eating him alive until he confessed his sin to God. How does the author jump to the conclusion that after committing adultery and murdering a man, "it is far more likely that David had not given the matters a moment's thought." The author(s) will frequently commit large leaps in logic such as this.
The author(s) questioned whether our western emphasis on private personal devotions is Biblical. They said that many other cultures have their "devotional" time in a room with other people. Why do we assume we have to have our intimate time with Jesus alone? In their whole debate on the topic they ignored the fact that Jesus frequently withdrew early in the morning to a desolate place to pray (Luke 1:35).
I find that the Bible's worldview and message often strikes a balance between modern eastern and western cultural emphases. Claiming that the east has a monopoly on the Bible's culture is a stretch, although the Bible's culture may be slightly more eastern than western. You can find many western cultural emphases that are unbiblical, but you can also find many eastern cultural emphases that are also unbiblical. The authors seem to acknowledge this balance to a small degree, but they still seem prone to overemphasize the eastern culture.
The author also presented the "four loves" idea at a certain point in the book (agape, phileo, eros, storge). For those who don't know, these words have far more overlap than most people realize. For example, there are some times where agape CAN'T mean unconditional love. In Luke 6:32, Jesus says "If you agapo those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners agapo those who love them." Even sinners only give their unconditional love to people on the condition that those people unconditionally love them? Or "do not agapo the world or the things in the world" (1 John 2:15). Do not exhibit D.A. Carson brings this flaw up in "exegetical fallacies" and many other authors have debunked it as well. I guess I just expected better from a biblical scholar so when Richards made this point it made me lose some trust in his thoroughness.
There are other times when the author(s) don't so much misinterpret the text as read details into it that aren't there. They speculate a lot into biblical passages. Many of these unwritten cultural details probably were in the background of the story, but I'm not always convinced. I've seen scholars often take a cultural practice that was used marginally somewhere around the same time as a biblical story and apply it to everything they read. We must be careful to not go "beyond what is written" (1 Cor 4:6). Or the author will assume that a certain cultural practice was at play that affected people to act in the way they did. It often felt like they were reading far too much culture into a certain action. Often times while reading this book I had to stop and go "but we don't really KNOW that." It's hard to explain but maybe when you read their account of David and Bathsheba (page 120-127) you'll know what I mean.
Having said that, this book brings up some excellent points that are worthy of our notice as we read the Bible. This book exposes people to a worthwhile idea. The authors were spot on with many statements. And it was very easy to read.
To any readers: practice discernment as you read this book and be willing to spit out a decent amount of fat.
This book reaffirmed my firm belief in the importance of scripture interpreting scripture. The importance of this principle cannot be overstated. You can have a mountain of degrees, books, cultural knowledge, historical knowledge, and linguistic knowledge, but without a deep familiarity with the Bible's content you will make silly, unbiblical points because you have little awareness of which bible verses are debunking the statements that are coming out of your mouth. (Not accusing the authors of this, although there are times where the shoe may fit a little bit).
This book would raise some excellent points where western readers are prone to misunderstand Bible because of cultural blinders. I would want to hug the author and give the book 5 starts. Then a paragraph later the author(s) would use this same point to sloppily misinterpret the passage. It was like watching someone make an amazing one-handed catch under heavy defensive coverage and then letting the ball slip out of their hands 1 yard from the endzone. This happened constantly. I would say that at least a third of the Biblical passages that were being re-interpreted through a new cultural lens were misinterpreted in some way. And I know what you're thinking: "Jay you're just a readers who is unwilling to have his interpretive perspective changed because of his western bias." Although there may be a hint of truth to this at times, the misinterpretations they made that I'm talking about are ones that objectively contradict other passages of Scripture.
For example, in chapter 5 the authors explain that western cultures focus far more on individualistic right and wrong and personal conscience. Eastern cultures emphasize honor and shame and are far more community oriented in their ethics and morality. Excellent point to remember when we read Scripture. However, the author went on to apply this to David and Bathsheba by saying: "We typically assume that David was aware of his sin but stubbornly refused to repent. Then when Nathan confronts David - or, in a sense, tricks him - David's conscience is pricked, he gives in to his inner conviction and he publicly repents. It is far more likely that David had not given the matters a moment's thought. Remember, we Westerners tend to be introspective, but biblical characters were generally not" (Pg. 112-113).
Psalm 32, although not written about David's sin with Bathsheba, was still written by David about another grievous sin he had committed.
Psalm 3:3-5
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And I did not hide my guilt;
I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
In Psalm 32, David's conscience was eating him alive until he confessed his sin to God. How does the author jump to the conclusion that after committing adultery and murdering a man, "it is far more likely that David had not given the matters a moment's thought." The author(s) will frequently commit large leaps in logic such as this.
The author(s) questioned whether our western emphasis on private personal devotions is Biblical. They said that many other cultures have their "devotional" time in a room with other people. Why do we assume we have to have our intimate time with Jesus alone? In their whole debate on the topic they ignored the fact that Jesus frequently withdrew early in the morning to a desolate place to pray (Luke 1:35).
I find that the Bible's worldview and message often strikes a balance between modern eastern and western cultural emphases. Claiming that the east has a monopoly on the Bible's culture is a stretch, although the Bible's culture may be slightly more eastern than western. You can find many western cultural emphases that are unbiblical, but you can also find many eastern cultural emphases that are also unbiblical. The authors seem to acknowledge this balance to a small degree, but they still seem prone to overemphasize the eastern culture.
The author also presented the "four loves" idea at a certain point in the book (agape, phileo, eros, storge). For those who don't know, these words have far more overlap than most people realize. For example, there are some times where agape CAN'T mean unconditional love. In Luke 6:32, Jesus says "If you agapo those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners agapo those who love them." Even sinners only give their unconditional love to people on the condition that those people unconditionally love them? Or "do not agapo the world or the things in the world" (1 John 2:15). Do not exhibit D.A. Carson brings this flaw up in "exegetical fallacies" and many other authors have debunked it as well. I guess I just expected better from a biblical scholar so when Richards made this point it made me lose some trust in his thoroughness.
There are other times when the author(s) don't so much misinterpret the text as read details into it that aren't there. They speculate a lot into biblical passages. Many of these unwritten cultural details probably were in the background of the story, but I'm not always convinced. I've seen scholars often take a cultural practice that was used marginally somewhere around the same time as a biblical story and apply it to everything they read. We must be careful to not go "beyond what is written" (1 Cor 4:6). Or the author will assume that a certain cultural practice was at play that affected people to act in the way they did. It often felt like they were reading far too much culture into a certain action. Often times while reading this book I had to stop and go "but we don't really KNOW that." It's hard to explain but maybe when you read their account of David and Bathsheba (page 120-127) you'll know what I mean.
Having said that, this book brings up some excellent points that are worthy of our notice as we read the Bible. This book exposes people to a worthwhile idea. The authors were spot on with many statements. And it was very easy to read.
To any readers: practice discernment as you read this book and be willing to spit out a decent amount of fat.
This book reaffirmed my firm belief in the importance of scripture interpreting scripture. The importance of this principle cannot be overstated. You can have a mountain of degrees, books, cultural knowledge, historical knowledge, and linguistic knowledge, but without a deep familiarity with the Bible's content you will make silly, unbiblical points because you have little awareness of which bible verses are debunking the statements that are coming out of your mouth. (Not accusing the authors of this, although there are times where the shoe may fit a little bit).
August 9, 2023
This has been one of the few books to actually inspire a radical shift in my understanding of scripture and Christianity in the west. I’m not surprised since I’m the exact description of the target audience: a white American male christian.
The majority of my Christian experience being within a narrowly defined theology and set of cultural assumptions, this book has further opened my eyes to the global nature of the Church and especially to the collectivist and honor/shame cultures of the biblical authors (versus the individualist and guilt/innocence worldview I assume by default). American individualism isn’t inherently “wrong”, but it has cultural assumptions that are important to distinguish if you want to hear the biblical authors more faithfully.
Paraphrasing the authors, they say to the reader two things:
1.) “You’ll probably wish we’d offer a more detailed exegesis of certain passages. We’re not gonna - we want to help you become aware of your cultural assumptions so you can begin to study on your own.” This is true - I kept wishing they’d explain passages further!
2.) “You’ll probably overcorrect once you begin recognizing the assumptions you’re making.” This is also true! I’m a classic over-thinker, so naturally this big of a shift in perspective has me questioning everything.
Overall, it’s a great book that has introduced a collectivist-honor-relationship aspect to the gospel which I have only known as individualist-guilt-rules. Looking forward to exploring it further!
The majority of my Christian experience being within a narrowly defined theology and set of cultural assumptions, this book has further opened my eyes to the global nature of the Church and especially to the collectivist and honor/shame cultures of the biblical authors (versus the individualist and guilt/innocence worldview I assume by default). American individualism isn’t inherently “wrong”, but it has cultural assumptions that are important to distinguish if you want to hear the biblical authors more faithfully.
Paraphrasing the authors, they say to the reader two things:
1.) “You’ll probably wish we’d offer a more detailed exegesis of certain passages. We’re not gonna - we want to help you become aware of your cultural assumptions so you can begin to study on your own.” This is true - I kept wishing they’d explain passages further!
2.) “You’ll probably overcorrect once you begin recognizing the assumptions you’re making.” This is also true! I’m a classic over-thinker, so naturally this big of a shift in perspective has me questioning everything.
Overall, it’s a great book that has introduced a collectivist-honor-relationship aspect to the gospel which I have only known as individualist-guilt-rules. Looking forward to exploring it further!
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