EBOOK
Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes
Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World
E. Randolph Richards4.2
(16)
About
The Bible was written within collectivist cultures. When Westerners, immersed in individualism, read the Bible, it's easy to misinterpret important elements-or miss them altogether. In any culture, the most important things usually go without being said. So to read Scripture well we benefit when we uncover the unspoken social structures and values of its world. We need to recalibrate our vision.
Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes is an essential guidebook to the cultural background of the Bible and how it should inform our reading. E. Randolph Richards and Richard James explore deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean-kinship, patronage, and brokerage-along with their key social tools-honor, shame, and boundaries-that the biblical authors lived in and lie below the surface of each text. From Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to Peter's instructions to elders, the authors strip away individualist assumptions and bring the world of the biblical writers to life.
Expanding on the popular Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, this book makes clear how understanding collectivism will help us better understand the Bible, which in turn will help us live more faithfully in an increasingly globalized world.
Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes is an essential guidebook to the cultural background of the Bible and how it should inform our reading. E. Randolph Richards and Richard James explore deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean-kinship, patronage, and brokerage-along with their key social tools-honor, shame, and boundaries-that the biblical authors lived in and lie below the surface of each text. From Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to Peter's instructions to elders, the authors strip away individualist assumptions and bring the world of the biblical writers to life.
Expanding on the popular Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, this book makes clear how understanding collectivism will help us better understand the Bible, which in turn will help us live more faithfully in an increasingly globalized world.
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Reviews
"Do we really misread Scripture with individualist eyes? Richards and James put that question to rest . . . yes, we do! If collectivist thinking has ever seemed too complex or even unbiblical, this book can bring clarity. It is not only practical, it's a page-turner. Its scriptural insights are gems and its stories illuminating. They demonstrate the significance of collectivist thinking both in the Bible and our contemporary world, making it a vital resource for missionaries, theologians, and biblical scholars. At the same time, the book's down-to-earth style will make it popular for a broader audience."
Brad Vaughn, theologian-in-residence with Mission One, author of Reading Romans with Easte
"What an illuminating book! Richards and James take us on a delightful journey through the biblical world of collectivistic culture. They make concepts like kinship, honor and shame, patronage, and brokerage come to life by illustrating them richly from both Scripture and their own life experiences. Their fresh readings of biblical stories alone are worth the price of the book. But Western Christians also should prepare to be unsettled. The authors expose how often our individualistic readings of texts lead us to miss the point. Beautifully written and highly accessible, the book not only shows how Scripture reflects collective values but also how the gospel reshapes and redeems those values. Please read this book. Be challenged by it. You may never read the Bible the same way again!"
Dean Flemming, MidAmerica Nazarene University, author of Contextualization in the New Test
"Like seasoned travelers to a foreign land, Randy and Rich help us understand the culture of the biblical world as they take us on a trip through the Scriptures. Since we are Westerners born and bred in a world that celebrates our individualism, it doesn't take long for us to realize that the people of the Bible don't think like us, act like us, share our social convictions, or claim the same worldview. That's when our expert tour guides step up to answer the question, 'Why do they do that?,' keeping us from misreading Scripture with individualist eyes."
Rodney Reeves, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas