Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes


Book Description

Brandon O'Brien and Randy Richards shed light on the ways that Western readers often misunderstand the cultural dynamics of the Bible. Identifying nine areas where commonplaces of modern Western thought diverge with the text, the authors ask us to reconsider long-held opinions about our most beloved book.




Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes


Book Description

The Bible was written within collectivist cultures, and it's easy for Westerners to misinterpret—or miss—important elements. Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, this essential guidebook explores the deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean, stripping away individualist assumptions and helping us read the Bible better.




Paul Behaving Badly


Book Description

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, revealing a vision of Christian faith that was deeply disturbing to others in his day and remains so in ours.




Out of Context


Book Description

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




Scripture Twisting


Book Description

How often have you encountered some bizarre doctrine only to be stunned to hear a Bible verse quoted to support it? With new religious cults springing up almost daily and old ones growing rapidly, this is more and more common. How are they seemingly able to twist Scripture to mean something orthodox Christians have never believed it to mean in two thousand years? James Sire, author of The Universe Next Door and How to Read Slowly, has isolated twenty separate kinds of reading errors which are characteristically made by cultists as they interpret the Bible. He covers the full range from simple misquotation to complex argumentation which links one slightly eccentric interpretation to another, mixes in a few orthodox readings and ends with a conclusion totally foreign to the biblical world view. Sire also handles twisted translation, overspecification, virtue by association, ignoring the context and other flawed interpretations. A book to help us all become better readers of the Scriptures.




Perspective Criticism


Book Description

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




Understanding the Bible


Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF THE SEMINARY. The Officers of the Board of Commissioners for the ensuing year are: Rev. Newton L. Reed, President. Rev. Tract B. Griswold, Auburn, N. Y., Stated Clerk. Rev. Frank E. Van Wie, Clerk. Rev. "warren D. More, Assistant Clerk. The Board Of Trustees is constituted as follows: 1. Class whose term of office will expire in 1901: Hon. Charles C. Dwight, LL.D., Auburn. Hon. Charles A. Hawley, LL.D., Seneca Falls. The President of the Seminary. Jared T. Newman. Esq., Ithaca. Rev. M. Woolsey Stryker, D.D., LL.D., Clinton. 2. Class whose term of office will expire in 1902: Hon. Charles I. Avery, B.S., Auburn. Hon. James H. Loomis, Attica. Mr. John H. Osborne, Auburn. Rev. Levi Parsons, D.D., Mount Morris. Hon. John D. Teller, Auburn. 3. Class whose term of office will expire in 1903: Mr. Clarence F. Baldwin, Auburn. Mr. Stephen M. Clement, Buffalo. Mr. Henry A. Morgan, Aurora. Mr. John C. Knowlton, Watertown. Rev. George B. Spalding, DD., LL.D., Syracuse. The following are the Officers of the Board of Trustees: Rev. Levi Parsons, D.D., President. Hon. Charles C. Dwight, LL.D., Vice-President. Hon. Charles I. Avery, B.S., Secretary. The Treasurer of the Seminary is Mr. Levi S. Gates, Auburn, N.Y. n. The Faculty. The Board Of Instruction for the year now closing has been constituted as follows: Rev. George Black Stewart, D.D., President of the Seminary and Professor of Practical Theology. Rev. Samuel Miles Hopkins, D.D., Emeritus Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity. Rev. Ezra Abel Huntington, D.D., LL.D., Emeritus Professor of Biblical Criticism. Rev. Willis J. Beecher, D.D., Professor of the Hebrew Language and Literature. Rev. Anson Judd Upson, D.D..LL.D., L.H.D., Emeritus Professor of...




Crossing Cultures with Jesus


Book Description

You can be a missionary by crossing an ocean or by crossing the street. Filled with compelling stories, practical resources and relational tools, this guide from veteran crosscultural minister Katie Rawson shows how we can witness the way Jesus did, entering into people's worlds and drawing them into God-centered community.




Suffering


Book Description

Sometimes life just hurts. Out of nowhere, death, illness, unemployment, or a difficult relationship can change our lives and challenge everything we thought we knew—leaving us feeling unable to cope. But, in the midst if all this pain and confusion, we are not alone. Weaving together his personal story, pastoral ministry experience, and biblical insights, best-selling author Paul David Tripp helps us trust God in the midst of suffering. He identifies traps to avoid in our suffering and points us instead to comforts to embrace. This raw yet hope-filled book will help you cling to God's promises when trials come and move forward with the hope of the gospel.




Global Voices


Book Description

This collection of essays from ethnically diverse scholars explores the meaning of non-Western interpretations.