Overview

"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. By the same token, 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 cross-cultural 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."

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"E. Randolph Richards is Research Professor of New Testament in the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University. His many books include Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, Rediscovering Jesus, Rediscovering Paul, The Story of Israel, and Paul and First-Century Letter Writing. Brandon J. O'Brien is director of content development for Redeemer City to City in New York City. He has been published in Leadership Journal, Christianity Today, and Relevant, and has been interviewed by and quoted in USA Today and other national newspapers. He is the author of The Strategically Small Church and coauthor, with E. Randolph Richards, of Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible and Paul Behaving Badly. He has a wide range of interests, but Brandon's primary goals in writing are to help Christians better understand the Scriptures, themselves, and their place in God's mission in the world. He has spoken to groups of pastors and lay leaders on issues ranging from small-church ministry to national trends in religion and in a variety of formats, from pastors' retreats to writing seminars. Since recording his first book for the Kansas Audio Reader Network in 1985, Tom Parks has enjoyed giving voice to stories. He has been nominated for Audie Awards and has received several AudioFile Earphones Awards, and reviewers have described his performances as ""conversational,"" ""energetic,"" ""earnest,"" ""sincere,"" and as having a certain ""gravity."" Tom is also an active workshop leader and in-demand speaker for corporations and is a featured lecturer for Carnival Cruise Lines. On the side, Tom gigs as a drummer who performs regularly on the Midwest musical theater circuit."

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