Reading the Bible on Its Own Terms: Bridging the Cultural Gap Between Us and the New Testament
How our modern values—individualism, narcissism, personal fulfillment—affect the way we read Scripture without even realizing it. Mike and Andy dig into the deep waters of biblical context, revealing how understanding the world of the New Testament changes how we interpret its message today. This episode helps listeners move beyond a flat reading of Scripture by uncovering the massive cultural, linguistic, and worldview gaps between our modern assumptions and the Bible’s original context.
Drawing heavily from the book "Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes," Mike walks through six key “gaps” between our culture and the Bible: time, language, customs, geography, behaviors, and especially value systems. The goal? To inspire deeper study and culturally-contextual interpretation that leads us closer to the message Jesus and the authors of the Scriptures were actually communicating.
Key Takeaways: • Cultural Distance and Biblical Misunderstanding – Why a 2,000-year gap in time, language, customs, and geography must influence how we read Scripture. • The Individual vs. the Collective – North American readers often read "you" in the Bible as singular and personal—but in the Bible’s collectivist culture, it’s usually communal. • The Honor/Shame Framework – Unlike our guilt/innocence obsession, the biblical world operated on honor/shame dynamics, with profound implications for how we view sin, correction, and spiritual formation. • Patron-Client Relationships and Faith – The ancient relationship model that reshapes our understanding of grace (charis) and faith (pistis), moving us beyond transactional understandings of salvation. • How Narcissism Infects Interpretation – The danger of reading every verse as a personal promise and centering ourselves in the story rather than God or His people.
Resources Mentioned: • "Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes" by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien – [Link] • "The Patient Ferment of the Early Church" by Alan Kreider – [Link] • Ephesians 6: The Armor of God passage, discussed in a communal rather than individualistic framework – [Link] • 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – Rethinking personal ambition in light of community ethics – [Link]
Call to Action: Ready to read the Bible with fresh eyes? Share this episode with someone stuck in a modern lens and explore these ancient perspectives together. Subscribe, follow us on social, and email us at hello@voxpodcast.com with your questions or thoughts on how cultural context changes your faith journey.
As always, we encourage and welcome ongoing discussion. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford – https://www.timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy
As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy