Episode What Goes Without Being Said | Week 2
Ever wonder about the cultural norms left unsaid in the Bible? Discovering the collectivist perspective will help you better understand Scripture.
Chapter 6
The concept of honor doesn’t come up very often in our Western culture. But in Jesus’ day, in His Eastern culture, honor and shame were a big deal—so much so that Jesus was killed over it! In this episode of Discover the Word, Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder, Daniel Ryan Day, and special guest Randy Richards discuss how the idea of an Eastern honor/shame culture differs from ours in the West, and plays a major role in Scripture.
Chapter 7
You’ve heard of baking contests and talent contests. But have you ever heard of an honor contest? Join the Discover the Word group of Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder, Daniel Ryan Day, and special guest Randy Richards as they explore the meaning of “honor contests” in the ancient world of the Bible, and in Eastern cultures today . . . and discuss how they influence our reading of Scripture.
Chapter 8
When we do something wrong, we might feel ashamed of our actions. But in Jesus’ time, the idea of shame was much more complex. In this edition of Discover the Word, Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder, Daniel Ryan Day, and special guest Randy Richards explore the ancient Near East’s concept of shame, and how it was an assumed part of that culture.
Chapter 9
In our culture, we view shame as a negative thing . . . and do everything we can to avoid it. But are there times when feeling shame can actually be beneficial? Pull your chair up to the Discover the Word table with Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder, Daniel Ryan Day, and special guest Randy Richards as they discuss how the idea of shame appears in Scripture as part of their eastern honor/shame culture.
Chapter 10
Psychologists tell us that healthy relationships require boundaries. So, is that something new? Be part of this Discover the Word conversation as Elisa Morgan, Bill Crowder, Daniel Ryan Day, and special guest Randy Richards discuss that even in ancient times, people understood the role of boundaries in forming healthy communities. Don’t miss the conclusion of the series called, “What Goes Without Being Said.”
About This Episode
- Show Notes
Receive
If we read the Bible exclusively from our Western individualist point of view, we may miss or misunderstand cultural values everybody in the ancient Mediterranean world understood. As this week’s guest, Randy Richards, reminds us, the values of kinship, patronage, and brokerage, which focus on the family or group dynamic instead of an individual, are found throughout Scripture. We also find examples of honor, shame, and boundaries in the Old and New Testaments that are used as tools to help enforce and strengthen these cultural values.
Understanding the ancient Mediterranean culture that the Bible is set in can enrich our understanding of some Scripture passages.
How has discovering some of the cultural backdrop of the Bible helped you gain a deeper understanding of Scripture and how the Bible applies to your life?
What next step could you take toward learning more about the cultural context of the Old and New Testament?
Reflect
- Why were the Pharisees trying to shame Jesus in Matthew 9:11?
- How was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive sense in 1 Corinthians 15:34?
- In 1 Timothy 2:9, how was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive way to encourage women to stand up against the culture’s way of dressing?
- Based on Romans 1:1, what was the role with the highest honor for the apostle Paul?
- How were the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders trying to have an honor contest with Jesus in Luke 20:1–8?
- Why did Jesus tell the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9–14 to those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else?
- Why is the apostle Paul setting a boundary in 1 Corinthians 10:27 –28?
Respond
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)
“Dear God, thank You that as I grow in my knowledge of Scripture, I can grow deeper in my love and understanding of You! Help me to dive deeper into Your Word, so my relationship with You can grow stronger. Help me to gain wisdom that I can apply to my life.”
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources
Mentioned in this episode:
Listen:
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes (with guest Randy Richards))
Read:
Watch:
This Week's Featured Resource
Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes
After exploring how our Western/individualistic perspective limits our understanding of the Bible, Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Richard James will help you dive deeper into this topic. Discover unspoken social structures and values of the ancient Mediterranean that biblical authors lived in and that lie below the surface of each text.