Book Critique Assignment
Martisen Harmon
NBST610: Hermeneutics
Professor Joseph Pak
July 21, 2024
Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................. 2
Summary................................................................................................. 2
Analysis................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion...........................................................................................9
Bibliography......................................................................................10
Introduction
I, for one, enjoyed reading "Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural
Blinders to Better Understand the Bible" by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien, and I
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believe it to be a relevant and enlightening take on how the things of the world can skew both the
way we read and understand it. The Book challenges its readers to examine our approach to
biblical interpretation. Richards and O'Brien address a critical issue in modern Christian studies
of the tendency for Western readers to impose their own cultural biases onto Scripture, distorting
its true meaning. Their style of using relatable language and scholarly references provides
sincere insight, guiding readers through cultural comparisons and historical contexts to display
how much cultural assumptions can obscure our understanding of the Bible. I believe this Book
is a valuable resource for students, scholars, pastors, or anyone who desires a different
perspective on studying the Bible's messages. This Book truly reveals the influence of Western
perspectives on biblical interpretation and encourages readers to engage with Scripture in a more
informed and authentic way. Their approach is both enlightening and practical, and for that I
believe this Book is a must-read for anyone serious about drowning out the noise of culture
persuasiveness to understand the Bible thoroughly.
Summary
The authors address the issue of how Western cultural perspectives influence the
interpretation of the Bible. The tendency of Western readers to interpret Scripture through
cultural and societal lenses, which more times than not leads to significant misinterpretations and
misunderstandings of the biblical text. Their argument is that recognizing and addressing these
cultural biases is necessary for readers to understand the original meaning and intent of the
Scriptures, therefore distorting the messages intended for diverse audiences across different
historical and cultural contexts. The authors closely examine various aspects of Western cultural
assumptions and their impact on their biblical interpretation. They describe how these
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assumptions shape the readers' understanding of biblical concepts, practices, and narratives. For
instance, they believe Western individualism may lead to interpretations prioritizing personal
spirituality over communal aspects. At the same time, their notions of modernity can obscure
ancient contexts and customs observed in the Bible.1 The Book aims to expose how
misinterpreting the scriptures can affect theological conclusions and practical applications in
today’s society. Richards and O'Brien argue that failing to recognize and address these biases can
lead to theological errors and ineffective faith practice.2 It is their stance that recognizing and
removing cultural influences allows readers to engage with the Bible in a manner that is more
true to its original context and message. This approach enhances theological understanding and
promotes a more genuine practice of faith, which reaches beyond diverse cultural and historical
backgrounds.
The Book explores several major themes that support the author's argument of how
cultural biases can lead to misinterpretations of Scripture. Some of the themes that not only stood
out to me but helped me understand the basis from which the author's message derives are
"Reading the Bible, Reading Ourselves, Serving Two Masters, All Kinds of Different, and A
Slave Race?".5Each section provides valuable lessons on the impact of cultural biases and the
importance of understanding the background of the scriptures. The Reading the Bible/Reading
Ourselves" section of the Book argues that readers in countries such as the United States,
Canada, and Western Europe often project their own cultural values onto biblical texts, leading to
an interpretation that reflects their own context rather than the original meaning intended by the
1 E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien,Misreading Scripture with Western
Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible(Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2012), 1-5.
2 Ibid,15-20.
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authors.3 This theme stresses the need for readers of these countries to recognize their cultural
habits and strive to look deeper within the text to gain a more detailed understanding of
Scripture. Another important theme is “Serving Two Masters,” this section explores how Western
double-minded thinking, which separates what is Holy from the secular, can distort
interpretations of biblical teachings. The authors illustrate how this mindset can affect the way
we understand concepts such as stewardship, community, and personal responsibility, which are
often integrated into biblical contexts but are often lost in the translation of Western thought. The
theme of "All Kinds of Different" examines the diversity of cultural practices and beliefs in the
biblical world.4 Richards and O'Brien highlight how Western readers might need to pay more
attention to the cultural and social differences that influenced biblical narratives, leading to a
diluted and often inaccurate interpretation of these texts. Lastly, “A Slave Race?” investigates
how Westerners, specifically Americans, perceptions of slavery and social hierarchies can skew
our understanding of biblical references to slavery and servitude. The authors argue that their
views on race and social status can impact interpretations of biblical passages related to slavery.
They often relate their understanding of the text as addressing certain groups while ignoring
Geographical locations and the complex historical context of biblical time social structures. I
believe these sections together teach readers about the significant impact our biases and
assumptions can have on biblical interpretations and stress the importance of studying Scripture
within its historical and cultural framework.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid, 57-68.
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Analysis
In this Book, the authors explicitly focus on addressing how cultural context shapes how
Scripture is understood and interpreted by modern readers, particularly those from Western
backgrounds. This is evident when the authors recount a personal experience where a friend's
parents had a wine chiller engraved with 1 Timothy 5:23, which talks about the use of wine,
contrasting with his own tradition’s negative view of alcohol. This experience led the author to
question the cultural versus biblical basis of attitudes toward alcohol. He emphasizes that our
cultural mores are not universal and can lead to misinterpretations of biblical texts, invoking the
story of Sodom and Gomorrah and how it is read differently in various cultures. For instance,
Western Christians might interpret the sin as sodomy, while Indonesian Christians focus on
inhospitality based on Ezekiel 16:49.5
The authors' ideological perspectives are explicitly stated throughout the Book,
consistently stressing the need for readers to recognize and adjust their worldview to better grasp
the Bible’s original meaning.6 Richards and O’Brien take a philosophical approach to their
writing that is rooted in anthropology and historical context. They use this approach to challenge
conventional interpretations. They advocate for a more nuanced reading of Scripture that takes
into account the cultural and historical background of the biblical world rather than subjecting
spiritual revelation to societal values and beliefs. Their perspective is not overt, but it is clearly
modeled through their analysis of various biblical passages and the corresponding cultural
insights they provide.
5 Ibid, 35.
6 Ibid, 71-76.
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Richards and O’Brien provide robust evidence supporting their argument that Western
cultural assumptions skew biblical interpretation. They use concrete examples related to sex,
money, and food to demonstrate cultural misunderstandings. For instance, they challenge the
traditional view that the sin of Sodom was primarily sexual immorality, suggesting instead that
the core issue was inhospitality, supported by Ezekiel 16:49, which cites arrogance and neglect
of the poor as Sodom's primary sins.7 Their discussion of money addresses the contrast of non-
Western views, where wealth is seen as a finite resource. In such cultures, amassing great wealth
is often perceived as morally problematic because it implies that others have less. They use
Psalm 52:7 to illustrate this point, showing how the psalmist equates hoarding wealth with
destroying others, indicating a moral rebuke of wealth accumulation, not just the trust in wealth
over God.8 Regarding food, they use personal anecdotes and biblical examples, like Peter’s
vision in Acts 10-11, to illustrate that food laws often reflect deep cultural norms rather than just
dietary rules.9 By drawing parallels with modern food restrictions, they argue that understanding
these cultural biases is essential for accurate biblical interpretation, suggesting that Western
views on food may distort the understanding of biblical texts on food and dietary laws. In their
section "Clarity over Ambiguity: Hard Facts Are Better Than Frilly Words," The authors argue
that Western preference for clear, propositional language over metaphorical expressions can
obscure the meaning of biblical texts. They emphasize that understanding different genres of
biblical language, such as poetry and apocalyptic literature—is crucial, as these often use
metaphors to convey deeper theological truths.10 They rely on the discussion of Exodus 14 and
7 Ibid, 35-41.
8 Ibid, 41-45.
9 Ibid, 45-48.
10 Ibid, 84-88.
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15 to show how different genres, whether historical narratives or poetic songs, use language
differently. This underscores the importance of recognizing genre to interpret biblical texts
accurately.
The authors present a compelling argument about the influence of Western cultural
perspectives on biblical interpretation. The argument is clear and systematically addresses how
cultural biases can distort the understanding of scriptural texts. The flow is generally logical as
the Book progresses from identifying specific cultural differences to demonstrating their impact
on biblical exegesis. The authors effectively outline the contrast between Western mores, such as
individualism and materialism, and biblical norms with concrete examples,11 they are setting a
solid foundation for understanding cultural impacts on biblical interpretation. They articulate
how individualism versus collectivism influences interpretation and further connect cultural
concepts like honor/shame and time to scriptural understanding. The discussion then expands to
examining how rules versus relationships and virtue versus vice shape biblical interpretation,
with a logical progression from surface-level observations to more profound cultural influences.
The text, however, could improve by offering a more nuanced analysis of how different Western
cultures uniquely affect biblical interpretation, as this is somewhat overlooked. Additionally, the
sections on honor/shame and time may generalize these complex cultural constructs, reducing
them to multiple oppositions without considering the many variations.12 Finally, the discussions
on virtue and vice and finding the center of God's will might lack practical application for
11 Ibid, 29-70.
12 Ibid, 95,137.
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Western readers, potentially leaving their integration into the theological understanding ideal
unexamined.13
Conclusion
Overall, the authors excel in using personal stories to illustrate their
points, which relates to how Jesus used parables to teach. For example, they
effectively use the story of a Christian friend's parents' Bible passage about
a wine chiller to display how different cultures perceive scriptures
differently than the West and the example of how churches treat single
pastors to demonstrate how cultural biases can distort biblical
interpretation of sex. These stories make complex concepts more relatable
and memorable. Additionally, the authors thoroughly examine scriptures such as Jeremiah
29:11 and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. They correctly explain that Jeremiah 29:11 pertains
to God's promise to restore Israel to their land rather than career or academic success and that
Ezekiel's depiction of Sodom's sin centers on poor hospitality. However, while they affirm the
importance of correct interpretation, they miss the opportunity to acknowledge that God can also
provide personal revelation that applies Scripture to individual situations. For instance, using
Jeremiah 29:11 to celebrate career or educational milestones is acceptable as long as the original
context of the Scripture is understood. This approach would embrace both accurate interpretation
and personal application, enriching the reader’s engagement with the Bible. Yet and still, the
Book accomplishes its mission in regards to opening Westerner eyes to the prism through which
we study God's word while also providing valuable suggestions on how we can improve to
13 Ibid, 153-211.
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ensure accurate interpretations and serving as informal content to outside cultures on how to
prevent such imprudent behaviors which lead to misinterpretations.
Bibliography
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Richards, E. Randolph, and Brandon J. O'Brien.5Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes:
Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2012.
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