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Enriches students’ experience of learning about the Bible.
The exciting first edition, Global Perspectives on the Bible, by Mark Roncace and Joseph Weaver, is a diverse collection of writings derived from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, political, economic, and religious contexts. The editors have created a volume of forty chapters, each comprised of four articles with different perspectives on the biblical texts. While some chapters focus on a particular Bible verse, others cover multiple passages; some chapters take on the themes throughout an entire book, and others compare passages from multiple books. Readers gain an enriched learning experience during their study of the Bible as well as insight into their own perspectives.
In addition to compiling fresh interpretations of biblical texts, the editors of Global Perspectives on the Bible emphasize the fact that these interpretations are only part of a global conversation, and they encourage readers to continue that conversation by analyzing and voicing their own views.
Learning Goals
Upon completing this book, readers will be able to:
Approach the Bible with a better understanding of how the text means different things to different people.
Analyze and compare various interpretations of the Bible.
Gain a new understanding of their own perspectives on the Bible.
Table of Contents:
In this section:
1) Brief Table of Contents
2) Detailed Table of Contents
Breif Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Text: Genesis 1-3
Chapter 2 Text: Genesis 1-3
Chapter 3 Text: Genesis 12-21
Chapter 4 Text: Genesis 22
Chapter 5 Text: Genesis 25-33
Chapter 6 Text: Genesis 37-50
Chapter 7 Text: Exodus 1-15
Chapter 8 Text: Exodus 20
Chapter 9 Text: Numbers 22-24, 32, 36
Chapter 10 Text: Deuteronomy 6, 10, 16, 24
Chapter 11 Text: Joshua 1-11
Chapter 12 Text: 1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 21
Chapter 13 Text: Isaiah 40-55
Chapter 14 Text: Ezekiel 1-24
Chapter 15 Text: Jonah
Chapter 16 Text: Micah 3 and 6
Chapter 17 Text: Psalm 22, 23, 42, 148
Chapter 18 Text: Psalm 137
Chapter 19 Text: Proverbs 31
Chapter 20 Text: Job
Chapter 21 Text: Song of Songs
Chapter 22 Text: Ruth
Chapter 23 Text: Lamentations
Chapter 24 Text: Ezra and Nehemiah
Chapter 25 Text: Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2
Chapter 26 Text: Matthew 5-7; Luke 6
Chapter 27 Text: Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 25:1-13
Chapter 28 Text: Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 25:14-30; Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21; Matthew 13:1-23
Chapter 29 Text: Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 15:4-9; Mark 12:38-44; Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28
Chapter 30 Text: Luke 20:20-26 and Matthew 22:15-22 and Mark 12:13-17; Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:16-20; Matthew 12:33; Luke 13:6-9; Luke 18:18-30
Chapter 31 Text: Matthew 9:27-30; Mark 4:35-5:1; Matthew 8:5-13
Chapter 32 Text: John 1-10; 16
Chapter 33 Text: Gospel of John
Chapter 34 Text: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 19-20
Chapter 35 Text: Acts 2
Chapter 36 Text: Romans
Chapter 37 Text: Ephesians
Chapter 38 Text: Philippians 2
Chapter 39 Text: Revelation
Chapter 40 Text: Revelation
Detailed Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Genesis 1-3
A Comparison of Chinese Creation Myths and Biblical Texts: Sonia Kwok Wong (China)
The Hindu Purusa-Sukta Compared to Biblical Texts: M. Aravind Jeyakumar (India)
The Concept of Human Community in African Creation Stories: David T. Williams (South Africa)
Six Differences between Two Creation Stories in Genesis: Meir Bar-Ilan (Israel)
Chapter 2: Genesis 1-3
A Theistic Evolutionist Perspective on the Bible and Modern Science: Patrick Gray (United States)
A Literal Reading of Genesis 1: Keith Megilligan (United States)
Genesis and the Treatment of the Natural World: Jonathan Merritt (United States)
Animals and Our Relationship to Them as Outlined in Genesis: Phillip Sherman (United States)
Chapter 3: Genesis 12-21
Parallels Between Life in India and Abraham’s Trials: K.B. Georgekutty (India)
Raimundo Panikkar’s Interpretation of Melchizedek in Genesis 14: Erik Ranstrom (United States)
An “Ethnic Minority” Interpretation of Hagar and Ishmael: Janice P. De-Whyte (Ghana and England):
Sodom and Gomorrah in Light of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras: Roland Boer (Australia)
Chapter 4: Genesis 22
Genesis 22 and Conflict in the Modern-Day Middle East: Clare Amos (Lebanon)
A Comparison of Genesis 22 to the Qur’an: F. Volker Greifenhagen (Canada)
A Personal Reflection on the Sacrifice of a Son: Shira Salamone (United States)
Five Historical Explanations for Genesis 22 and its Inclusion in the Scripture: Christo Lombaard (South Africa)
Chapter 5: Genesis 25-33
A Jewish Feminist Reflection on Rebekah: Arlette Poland (United States):
God’s Treatment of Esau as it Relates to Theology and Doctrine: Shirley Phelps-Roper (United States):
Leah and the Challenges of Women in Polygynous Partnership: Madipoane Masenya (South Africa):
Jacob’s Reconciliation with His Father and the Continuing Power of the Bible:
Clarence Mitchell (United States)
Chapter 6: Genesis 37-50
Forgiveness as a Central Theme of the Joseph Narrative: Eric A. Seibert (United States)
Joseph’s Actions through a Modern Economic Lens: Wayne Tarrant (United States)
An LGBT Reading of Genesis 37-50: Mona West (United States)
A Personal Conversation with Joseph: Francis G.H. Pang (Hong Kong and Canada)
Chapter 7: Exodus 1-15
Two Aspects of Exodus through a Buddhist Lens: Vanessa R. Sasson (Canada)
A Comparison of the Divine Name with Kitaro Nishida’s Concept of God: Eiko Hanaokat (-Kawamura) (Japan)
The Exodus Story as Historical Fiction: Megan Bishop Moore (United States)
A Liberationist Reading of the Exodus Story: Gilbert Lozano (Brazil)
Chapter 8: Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments in an African-American Community: Febbie C. Dickerson (United States)
The Ten Commandments and the Separation of Church and State: Jonathan Redding (United States)
The Confucian Ideal of Honoring Parents While Also Honoring God: Maggie Low (Singapore)
Translating the Ten Commandments into the Native Language of Greenland: Flemming A.J. Nielsen (Greenland)
Chapter 9: Numbers 22-24, 32, 36
The Balaam Story through a Pentecostal Lens: Lee Roy Martin (United States)
The Balaam Narrative as a Story about Temptation and Protection: Tony Wing (United States)
Numbers 22-24 as a Justification for Overrunning Indigenous Peoples: Roland Boer (Australia)
Numbers in the Context of Western Colonization of the Islands of Oceania: Jione Havea (Oceania)
Chapter 10: Deuteronomy 6, 10, 16, 24
Korean Celebrations of Culture Compared to Exhortations in Deuteronomy: Heewon Chung (South Korea)
Deuteronomy as Inspiration for Chinese Christians Living in Indonesia: Andrea K. Iskandar (Indonesia)
Deuteronomy as a Lesson on How to Treat the Oppressed: Song-Chong Lee (Korea)
Deuteronomy as a Blueprint for Social Justice: Santiago Slabodsky (Argentina)
Chapter 11: Joshua 1-11
Understanding Joshua through Progressive Revelation: Michael Penny (United Kingdom)
Four Strategies for Reading Joshua Non-Violently: Eric A. Seibert (United States)
A Defense of God: Stanley V. Udd (United States)
God as an Egotistical Deity: Maria Vlashchenko (Russia)
Chapter 12: 1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 21
The David Stories as Sanctioning a Life of Reckless Abandon: Seth Boulton (United States)
Four Interpretations of the David-Jonathan Relationship: James N. Pohlig (West Africa)
The Woman of 2 Samuel 20 and Abigail as Peacemakers: Andreas Kunz-Lubcke (Germany)
The Inspiration of Rizpah’s Courageous Helplessness: Valerie Bridgeman (United States)
Chapter 13: Isaiah 40-55
Words of Hope for Contemporary Exiles in South and Central America: Gilbert Lozano (Columbia, Brazil)
Fear of the Future among Igorot Tribes of the Philippines: R.G. dela Cruz (Philippines)
Isaiah as Resistance Literature: Rubertha Taylor (United States)
The Myth of Baliraja Compared to the Servant Figure in Isaiah: Rajkumar Boaz Johnson (India)
Chapter 14: Ezekiel 1-24
“Doom and Gloom” in Ezekiel and Today’s News Networks: A Comparison: John Fink (United States)
God’s Mistreatment of Female Jerusalem in Ezekiel 16: Aaron Koller (United States)
Ezekiel 16 as Hope and Warning for Orphans in Bulgaria: Elizabeth A. Steger (Bulgaria)
Ezekiel 18 in the Context of Shame Cultures and Guilt Cultures: James N. Pohlig (West Africa)
Chapter 15: Jonah
Jonah as Missionary: Jonathan Seitz (Taiwan)
A Tongan Island Reading of Jonah as Oriented Toward the Ocean: Nasili Vaka’uta (New Zealand)
Jonah and the Challenges and Contradictions of Buenos Aires: Mariel Pons (Argentina)
Jonah as a Book of Surprises and Reversals: Jione Havea (Australia)
Chapter 16: Micah 3 and 6
Micah 3 as a Warning to Greedy Preachers in Korea: Hyung Won Lee (Korea)
A Jewish Lesbian Interpretation of Micah 6:8: Rebecca T. Alpert (United States)
Micah and Hope for Toronto’s Poor: Shannon E. Baines (Canada)
“The Image of Limited Good” in Relation to Micah: James N. Pohlig (Nigeria, Mexico)
Chapter 17: Psalm 22, 23, 42, 148
Psalm 22 as an African Spell: Zacharias Kotzé (South Africa)
A Christian Reading of Psalm 23 and West African Shepherds: Danielle Smith (Senegal)
Psalm 42 and Anorexia: Amy Lambert (United States)
Psalm 148 and the Native American View of Animals: David Aftandilian (United States)
Chapter 18: Psalm 137
Psalm 137 and the Histories, Experiences, and Challenges of the Bahamas: Fiona C. Black (Bahamas)
“Rivers of Babylon” and the Torture of Detainees in Abu Ghraib: Erin Runions (United States)
The Violent Conclusion of Psalm 137 in Relation to 9/11: James Mackay (United States)
Righteousness and Hatred in Psalm 137: Maria Vlashchenko (Russia)
Chapter 19: Proverbs 31
Aspiring to Be the Woman of Proverbs 31: Melanie Chitwood (United States)
Reading Proverbs 31 Suspiciously: Athalya Brenner (The Netherlands, Israel)
Pandita Ramabai’s Translation and Use of Proverbs 31: Rajkumar Boaz Johnson (India)
“Praise of Lady Yum,” Proverbs 31, and a Challenge to Patriarchy: Heewon Chung (South Korea)
Chapter 20: Job
An African-South African Woman’s Perspective on Job 3: Madipoane Masenya (South Africa)
Job 3 and 42 and Their Relation to People Living with HIV in South Africa: Gerald West (South Africa)
Job’s Critique of a Theology of Prosperity in Latin America: Gilbert Lozano (Brazil)
The Troubling Theology of Job and its Place in Contemporary Life: Jonathan Redding (United States)
Chapter 21: Song of Songs
A Comparison of the Song to Literature and Film in India: Monica J. Melanchthon (India)
Hearing the Song as a Secular Cultural Product: Athalya Brenner (Israel)
The Song as Jesus’ Personal Love Notes: Lynn Cowell (United States)
The Song as a Censored Allegory: Roland Boer (Australia)
Chapter 22: Ruth
Ruth and the Plight of Foreign Female Workers in Modern-Day Israel: Athalya Brenner (Israel)
Ruth as a Successful Global Citizen, Migrant Worker, and Marriage Migrant: Yani Yoo (Korea)
Ruth’s Relevance to the Same-Sex Marriage Debate: Comea M. Walthall (United States)
Ruth as the Ideal Surrogate Mother?: Francis G.H. Pang (Hong Kong)
Chapter 23: Lamentations
The Three Voices of Lamentations and Korean Minjung Theology of Han: Yeong Mee Lee (Korea)
Lamentations and the Form and Function of Dalit Poetry: Monica J. Melanchthon (India)
The Theological Difficulties of God’s Destruction of Jerusalem: Ulrich Berges (Germany)
The Depiction of Jerusalem As an Unprotected Widow: Naomi Graetz (Israel)
Chapter 24: Ezra and Nehemiah
Asian North American Women and Ezra’s Banishment of Foreign Wives: Grace Ji-Sun Kim (United States)
A Cuban Reflection on the Biblical Experience of Exile: Franco Valdes (Cuba, United States)
A Few Personal Thoughts on the Identity Crisis of Biblical Exiles: Danielle Smith (Senegal, United States)
The Complicated History of the Competition of Ezra and Nehemiah: Juha Pakkala (Finland)
Chapter 25: Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2
The Annunciation to Mary in the Qur’an: F. Volker Greifenhagen (Canada)
The Parallels and Differences Between the Birth Story of Lord Lao and Jesus: Bede Benjamin Bidlack (United States)
Herod’s Slaughter of Children and Other Atrocities Throughout Time: Nestor O. Miguez (Argentina)
Reading Luke’s Christmas Story with Those in Haiti: Kent Annan (Haiti)
Chapter 26: Matthew 5-7; Luke 6
Comparing Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path and Jesus’ Beatitudes: Elizabeth West (United Kingdom)
The Beatitudes and the Accra Confession: Margaret Aymer (United States)
The Sermon on the Mount in Light of Wealthy Batak Christians in Indonesia: Batara Sihombing (Indonesia)
Reading Matthew 6 with Those in Impoverished Tanzania: Sakari Hakkinen (Tanzania)
Chapter 27: Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Good Samaritan and Those in Need: James Wiseman (United States)
Frederick Douglass’s Use of the Good Samaritan in Abolitionist Rhetoric: Margaret Aymer (United States)
The Parable of the Weeds and Wheat from the Perspective of Korean Christianity: Eunjoo Mary Kim (Korea)
A Comparison of Marriage Practices in India with the Parable of the Ten Virgins: Surekha Nelavala (India)
Chapter 28: Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 25:14-30; Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21; Matthew 13:1-23
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard and the Unemployed in South Africa: Gerald West and Sithembiso Zwane (South Africa)
Reading the Parable of the Talents with First-Century Palestinian Peasants and Those in India: David Joy (India)
A Queer Reading of the Parable of the Leaven: Robert E. Shore-Goss (United States)
A Confucian Reading of the Parable of the Sower: Kurtis Hagen (United States)
Chapter 29: Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 15:4-9; Mark 12:38-44; Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28
Luke 4 and the African-American Bushwick Neighborhood in New York: Josiah Young (United States)
Honoring Your Parents and Ancestors: Andrea K. Iskandar (China)
The Widow’s Offering and Dalit Theology: Johnson Thomaskutty (India)
Personal Reflections on the “Hybrid” Identity of the Phoenician Woman: Valarie Bridgeman (United States)
Chapter 30: Luke 20:20-26; Matthew 22:15-22 and Mark 12:13-17; Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:16-20; Matthew 12:33; Luke 13:6-9; Luke 18:18-30
“A Knife Behind a Smile” and the Interaction Between Jesus and Jewish Leaders: Ken Chan (China)
The Metaphor of the Fruit Tree and the Concept of Character: Bjorn Stærk (Norway)
Ukraine, the United States, and Jesus’ Interaction with the Rich Young Ruler: Vasyl Khokhla (Ukraine)
The Rich Young Ruler’s Imagined Self-Defense to a Contemporary Church in Argentina: Nestor O. Miguez (Argentina)
Chapter 31: Matthew 9:27-30; Mark 4:35-5: 1; Matthew 8:5-13
The Trouble with “Blind Faith”: Bjorn Staerk (Norway)
Reading the “Calming of the Sea” with Those Living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa: Gerald West and Bongi Zengele (South Africa)
A Comparison of Jesus’ Miracles in the Qur’an and the Gospels: F. Volker Greifenhagen (Canada)
Four Observations about Jesus’ Interaction with the Centurion: Robert Jager (Slovakia)
Chapter 32: John 1-10; 16
The Image of the Good Shepherd as Inspiration for a Prison Minister: Bilal Ansari (United States)
Jesus and John the Baptist in the Context of a Group-Oriented Society: Menghun Goh (Malaysia)
A Mother’s Perspective on the “Born Again” Theme and the Birthing Metaphor: The: Beth M. Stovell (United States)
Does God Really Love Everyone?: Shirley Phelps-Roper (United States)
Chapter 33: Gospel of John
An Ecological Reading of John 1 and Jesus as Gardener in His Encounter with Mary: Robert E. Shore-Goss (United States)
The Image of the Vine Against the Backdrop of Serbian Agrarian Culture: G. Kevin Steger (Serbia)
An Inclusivist Interpretation of John 14:6 through a Baha’i Lens: Michael Sours (United States
The Maori concept of Mana as a Vehicle for Understanding Doxa in John: Derek Tovey (New Zealand)
Chapter 34: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 19-20
Questioning the Historicity of the Resurrection Narratives: Oyvind Strommen (Norway)
Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Meal Through the Lens of Filipino Hospitality: Marilou S. Ibita (Philippines)
A Dalit Indian Reading of John’s Crucifixion and Resurrection Narrative: Joseph Prabhakar Dayam (India)
A Queer Reading of the Emmaus Story in Luke 24: Robert E. Shore-Goss (United States)
Chapter 35: Acts 2
Pentecost’s Diverse Languages from the View of Immigrant Communities: Margaret Aymer (United States)
The Influence of Acts 2 on Revolutionary Christian Movements in the Black Diaspora: Joseph L. Tucker Edmonds (United States)
The Unification Theme of Acts 2 in View of South Africa’s Experience with Apartheid: David T. Williams (South Africa)
Five Thoughts on Acts 2 Relating to Theology and Practice in the Pentecostal Movement: Lee Roy Martin (United States)
Chapter 36: Romans
Anti-Judaism As a Result of Misreading of Paul’s Theology in Romans: Fritz Voll (Canada)
Paul’s Inclusion of the Gentiles as an Opening for non-Christian Traditions: Erik Ranstrom (United States)
Paul’s Identity Against the Backdrop of the People of Hong Kong: Xiaxia (Esther) Xue (Hong Kong)
New Zealand’s Ethnic and Cultural Diversity and Paul’s Vision of Community: George Wieland (New Zealand)
Chapter 37: Ephesians
A Call for Koreans to Practice Right Relationships with God and Each Other: Johann D. Kim (Korea)
Ephesians 6:12 in an Ethiopian Context: Rich Hansen (Ethiopia)
The Supernatural in Ephesians and a Critique of Scientific Rationalism: J. Ayodeji Adewuya (United States/United Kingdom)
Comparing Ephesians and the Confucian Vision of Peace: Te-Li Lau (United States)
Chapter 38: Philippians 2
How to Read “Jesus Exalted Above All Others” in the Context of Inter-Religious Dialogue: Nicholas Alan Worssam (United Kingdom)
A Comparison of the Cosmic Being of Hinduism and the Christ of 2:6-8: John Shearer (United States)
A Baha’i Perspective on the Humility of Christ: Daniel Grolin (Denmark)
Jesus’ Humility and Selflessness in Opposition to Today’s Self-Centeredness: Paula Roberts (United States)
Chapter 39: Revelation
The Construction of Gender in Revelation: Shanell T. Smith (United States)
A Goth Reading of Revelation 19-21: Beth M. Stovell (United States)
Revelation As a Warming to Contemporary Churches: Brent Roper (United States)
A Literal Reading of Revelation: Chris Griffin (United States)
Chapter 40: Revelation
Interpreting Revelation in Largely Illiterate Churches in Africa: Onesimus A. Ngundu (Africa)
Ukraine and the Vision of Utopia in Revelation: Vasyl Khokhla (Ukraine)
A Critique of the Typical Interpretation of Revelation in Haiti: Ronald Charles (Haiti)
The “Lukewarm” Church of Laodicea and Morally Inconsistent Christians in the Philippines: R. G. dela Cruz (Philippines)
About the Author :
Mark Roncace (Ph.D. Emory University) is Associate Professor of Religion at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina, USA. He is the author of Jeremiah, Zedekiah, and The Fall of Jerusalem and the co-editor of Teaching the Bible: Practical Strategies for Classroom Instruction and Teaching the Bible Through Popular Culture and the Arts.
Joseph Weaver completed a M.A. at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is currently an instructor at Wingate University and is completing a Ph.D.
Review :
“I like the organization of the text as evident in the provided sample and table of contents. Presenting four disparate voices with minimal introduction from the editors allows the four proponents to speak for themselves, a profound virtue in a book intended for the classroom. The discussion questions provided by the editors greatly enhance the usefulness of the proposed volume in the classes that I teach.”
- Warren Johnson, East Texas Baptist University
“The writing is clear and interesting, and I think students would read it with engagement.”
- Wayne Brouwer, Hope College
“I am impressed with the quality of the coverage.”
- Steven Godby, Broward College- South Campus
“I applaud the authors on their idea, and their bravery to deal with such slippery problems. Biblical interpretation is most often narrow because it is done within a narrow community, both culturally and historically. Being confronted by rival readings is a way to break one out of one's community to other possibilities . . .”
- Jeff Tillman, Wayland Baptist University
