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Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World
Author(s): E. Randolph Richards & Richard James
Publisher: IVP Academic
Price: $2.99
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.
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible
Author(s): E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien
Publisher: Intervarsity Press
Price: $2.99
Bookwi.se’s Favorite Books of the Year, Non-Fiction
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.
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In this grab bag, we have 7 e-books on Theology. The prices and sale dates that they have provided are under each e-book cover.
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In this grab bag, we have 6 Bible study e-books. The prices and sale dates that they have provided are under each book cover.
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Gospel e-books is working together with Christian publishers to allow you to choose what e-books you’d like to have discounted. Cast your vote below and the book with the most votes in each poll will be placed on sale soon after. If there are less than 100 total votes in a particular poll, the winning book will not be discounted.
Book details:
Kregel: Occult ABC: Exposing Occult Practices and Ideologies by Kurt E. Koch vs. Discipled Warriors: Growing Healthy Churches That Are Equipped for Spiritual Warfare by Chuck Lawless
Intervarsity Press: Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World by E. Randolph Richards & Richard James vs. Reading Scripture as the Church: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Hermeneutic of Discipleship by Derek W. Taylor
New Leaf: Gospel Reset: Salvation Made Relevant by Ken Ham vs. Searching for Truth: The Illustrated Gospel by Tim Chaffey
Good Book Company: If Only: Finding Contentment in the Face of Lack and Longing by Jennie Pollock vs. Real: The Surprising Secret to Deeper Relationships by Catherine Parks
Crossway: The Whole Counsel of God: Why and How to Preach the Entire Bible by Tim Patrick vs. Preaching Christ in All of Scripture by Edmund P. Clowney
Christian Focus: The Adorable Trinity: Standing for Orthodoxy in Nineteenth–Century America by Mantle Nance vs. Communion with God by John Owen
David C. Cook: The 10 Myths of Teen Dating: Truths Your Daughter Needs to Know to Date Smart, Avoid Disaster, and Protect Her Future by Daniel Anderson vs. The Joy of Letting Go: Releasing Your Teen into Real Life in the Big World by Vicki Caruana
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Publisher: Intervarsity Press
Price: $2.99 (April 19-20)
The apostle Paul was kind of a jerk.
He was arrogant and stubborn. He called his opponents derogatory, racist names. He legitimized slavery and silenced women. He was a moralistic, homophobic killjoy who imposed his narrow religious views on others.
Or was he?
Randolph Richards and Brandon O’Brien explore the complicated persona and teachings of the apostle Paul. Unpacking his personal history and cultural context, they show how Paul both offended Roman perspectives and scandalized Jewish sensibilities. His vision of Christian faith was deeply disturbing to those in his day and remains so in ours.
Paul behaved badly, but not just in the ways we might think. Take another look at Paul and see why this “worst of sinners” dares to say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
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Gospel e-books is working together with Christian publishers to allow you to choose what e-books you’d like to have discounted. Cast your vote below and the book with the most votes in each poll will be placed on sale soon after. If there are less than 100 total votes in a particular poll, the winning book will not be discounted.
Book details:
Kregel: Baptism: The Believer’s First Obedience by Larry E. Dyer vs. Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches by Thomas White, Jason G. Duesing, Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Intervarsity Press: Jesus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee by Mark L. Strauss vs. Paul Behaving Badly: Was the Apostle a Racist, Chauvinist Jerk? by E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien
New Leaf: Galapagos Islands: A Different View vs. Buried Alive by Jack Cuozzo
Good Book Company: Gospel-Centered Work: Becoming the Worker God Wants You To Be by Tim Chester vs. Gospel-Centered Family: Becoming the Parents God Wants You To Be by Tim Chester & Ed Moll
Crossway: Loving God with All Your Mind: Thinking as a Christian in the Postmodern World by Gene Edward Veith Jr. vs. Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture by Gene Edward Veith Jr.
Christian Focus: Service – How Do I Give Back? (First Steps) by Mez McConnell vs. Equipped to Serve by Richard Bewes
David C. Cook: Unquestioned Answers: Rethinking Ten Christian Clichés to Rediscover Biblical Truths by Jeff Myers vs. So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean McDowell & J. Warner Wallace
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In this grab bag, we have 11 e-books on “How to Read the Bible” from Intervarsity Press. The prices and sale dates that they have provided are under each book cover.
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