Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
E. Randolph Richards, Brandon J. O’Brien (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012). 240pp.
As a teenager in the 1960’s I knew exactly what the preacher meant when he thundered, “First Timothy two, verse nine, says women should ‘adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.’”(“Not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing” wasn’t even mentioned).
When Richards and O’Brien suggest that Paul might not have had sexual modesty in mind at all, but rather economic modesty (p. 43), verse nine takes on a whole new meaning. Using examples like this, the authors challenge us to take off our cultural blinders as the spotlight is trained on Western presuppositions that can skew a proper understanding of Scripture passages.
Although written by Westerners for Westerners, this book benefits Easterners as well. Richards served as a missionary in Indonesia, and brings his experience in Asia to the table, sharing examples through the lens of Eastern culture that may or may not be the best understanding of a particular verse.
Perhaps intentionally, the book is organized in a classic three point Western format: three main sections explore three subject areas each, detailing how Western and Eastern perspectives can render strikingly different conclusions. Part One, “Above the Surface,” deals with 1) mores, 2) race and ethnicity, and 3) language. Part Two, “Just Below the Surface,” dips into 4) individualism and collectivism, 5) honor/shame and right/wrong, and 6) time. Part Three “Deep Below the Surface,” dives into 7) rules and relationships, 8) virtue and vice, and 9) finding the center of God’s will.
Each chapter closes with “Questions to Ponder,” a helpful addition that will be useful for a book discussion group.
The book concludes with a list of books for those who wish to dig more deeply into each of the nine topic areas.
As an introductory text to the issue of Western bias when reading Scripture, this book is an excellent first read.