Book review by Bernard J. Fitzgerald

by Brandon J. O’Brien and E. Randolph Richards, IVP books, 349 pp. (Using Scribd app.)

Many people picking up this book would have a long history of church attendance, Bible study, and perhaps even theological education. Most of them would believe that they have a solid grasp on Scripture, and probably understand the majority of the Bible. I would fit into those categories, and yet I was pleasantly surprised by the careful study and deep insights this book provided me. For instance, O’Brien and Richards share an anecdote about people in Western cultures vs Eastern (Russian, specifically) who retold the story of the “prodigal”. Only 6% in the USA vs 84% in Russia mentioned the detail of the famine in the story. This is due to the fact that the Russians had a severe famine in their recent history. This illustrates how easily a Westerner can overlook certain points which may seem obvious to a person from the “majority-world”. Although I have been a missionary for 16 years in Peru South America, in a culture different from my formative years, I still found that the authors brought many new ideas into my cultural awareness.  I am certain that the authors would be happy to hear that since they stated “One of our goals in this book is to remind (or convince!) you of the crosscultural [sic] 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.”(12) 

The authors have divided the book into three main parts. “In part one, we discuss cultural issues that are glaring and obvious, plainly visible above the surface and therefore least likely to cause serious misunderstanding. In part two, we discuss cultural issues that are less obvious. They reside below the surface but are visible once you know to look for them. Because they are less visible, they are more shocking and more likely to cause misunderstanding. Finally, in part three, we address cultural issues that are not obvious at all. They lurk deep below the surface, often subtly hidden behind or beneath other values and assumptions. These are the most difficult to detect and, therefore, the most dangerous for interpretation” (17) The truth is that most of us who seriously read Scripture believe that we approach the sacred book with an open heart and a neutral mind. Perhaps we also need to add understanding of the culture in which this book was written.

O’Brien and Richards tackled some issues which will be of great interest to those serving overseas, or those serving minority cultures within the confines of the United States. Time is one subject which can be very tricky for those accustomed to punctuality, especially when working with people who are more focused on the relationships with people who are present. Gifts are another sensitive subject in many areas of the world where the gift can be viewed as entirely necessary and appropriate or alternatively a bribe. Riches is another theme confronted by the authors, who clearly demonstrate that Westerners (who are generally wealthy by the world’s standard) gravitate towards Bible verses on saving and stewardship, while majority world cultures (who quite often experience subsistence living) will focus on verses about God’s provision (such as Matthew 6). The authors continue by showing that the topic of gifts in relation to “patron” and “clients” can even affect a Westerner’s understanding of salvation.  “Words we usually consider particularly Christian terms-grace and faith were common parlance before Paul commandeered them. The undeserved gifts of assistance the patron offered were commonly Called charis (“grace” and “gift”). [8] The loyalty the client offered the patron in response was called pistis (“Faith” and “faithfulness”).” (216)

Finally, the book shares three ways how we as Westerners often individualize texts and perhaps apply them incorrectly, using 2 Kings 24:3 as an example. “First, Western readers tend to ignore the context.”(261)  Second, “Western readers misread the passage: we unconsciously turn the us into me.” (261) “Third, we Westerners tend to microwave this verse. That is, we fast-forward the outcome.” (263) Awareness and correction of these three issues very possibly would change our relationship with the God of the Bible. 

In conclusion, I have been teaching courses on hermeneutics and exegesis during my entire career as a missionary, yet I had not personally considered many of these examples. Although some of these points would apply more to Eastern cultures, I believe the book is valuable for every cross-cultural worker, and really every believer who wants to read the Bible with more understanding.

Amazon link – https://a.co/d/9lEyN4l