Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes’ by E Randolph Richards and Brandon J O’Brien (IVP, 2012).

This is a very impressive book which will help anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of how we (mis)read the Bible today; particularly how a Westernised mindset results in our frequently misrepresenting its meaning in many important areas.

The book is not of the same category as those which take us back into Hebraic roots (though this comes through in places) but rather, as its subtitle suggests, the authors help us to remove the ‘cultural blinders’ which cause us to miss so much of the Bible’s original message.

Dual Authorship Bonus

The fact that the book has dual authorship in no way diminishes its readability or impact. In fact, it is one of its plus points. For instance, it means there are plenty of personal illustrations from their separate experiences - Randolph spent time as a missionary in Indonesia, while Brandon speaks more from his time in Europe and his studies in history.

We always know which author is sharing with us as his name appears in brackets. Furthermore, it is also clear that they are of one mind on the key principles they are promoting.

As the introduction states, one of the main goals of the book is to “remind (or convince!) you of the crosscultural nature of biblical interpretation. We will do that by helping you become more aware of cultural differences that separate us from the foreign land of Scripture” (p11). However, the authors admit that the relationship of the Bible to its original culture is complicated (perhaps they should have said ‘complex’) and it is possible that at times you may want to disagree with some of the smaller details.

The authors help us to remove the ‘cultural blinders’ which cause us to miss so much of the Bible’s original message.

Nevertheless, you will certainly find yourself re-assessing some of the things you have previously thought and discover significant pointers towards an improved reading of Scripture generally.

An Iceberg?

The authors have arranged the book into three sections, based on the analogy of an iceberg. Some cultural differences are ‘above the surface’ and presumably easier to see; others are ‘just below the surface’ and still others are ‘deep below the surface.’ This was probably a structure more useful to the authors in planning their book than it is to those reading it, and can actually be ignored without losing anything of the usefulness of the book.

There are many small gems that arise as you read, but there are certain topics that are much more significant and take up several pages each. The authors explore the key issues of race and ethnicity, shame and honour, and the way a society can be based on the individual (such as ours) or the community (as in the Bible).

There are also very illuminating sections on the combined nature of grace and faith, and the two different approaches to understanding and appreciating time (based upon the words chronos and kairos).

You will find yourself re-assessing some of the things you have previously thought and discover pointers towards an improved reading of Scripture.

Usefully, the book concludes with endnotes and resources for further exploration, an author index and a Scripture index.

Overall, the authors state that “what we offer here is a conversation starter” (p22). The hope is that their readers will “begin with this volume and move on to deeper exploration of this important subject” (p22). Certainly the book can be used for group study (as I intend to do with one of my groups) and should provoke interesting discussion as well as provide eye-opening moments.

‘Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes’ (240pp, paperback, RRP £14.99) is available from Wordery for £9.82, also widely online including Amazon, Eden and the Book Depository.