Global Perspectives on the Bible, 1st edition

Published by Pearson (July 14, 2021) © 2014

  • Mark Roncace
  • Joseph Weaver

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ISBN-13: 9780137614363 (2021 update)
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A revolutionary title for and by the global community

This exciting first edition of Global Perspectives on the Bible, edited by Mark Roncace and Joseph Weaver, collects writings from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, political, economic, and religious settings. The book features forty chapters, each comprised of four short, accessible essays on a specific biblical text. This design creates a focused, dynamic conversation of perspectives, which will in turn prompt engaging conversations in the classroom. Students will learn about themselves and their own particular context as they explore the ideas and contexts of other biblical interpreters from around the globe.

In addition to presenting truly fresh interpretations of the Bible—this is no predictable compendium of scholarly essays—the book features discussion questions at the end of each chapter, as well as many additional questions in the Instructor’s Resource Manual.

This text is available in a variety of formats — digital and print. Pearson offers its titles on the devices students love through Pearson’s MyLab products, CourseSmart, Amazon, and more. To learn more about our programs, pricing options and customization, click the Choices tab.

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.

Brief Table of Contents

  1. Text: Genesis 1-3
  2. Text: Genesis 1-3
  3. Text: Genesis 12-21
  4. Text: Genesis 22
  5. Text: Genesis 25-3
  6. Text: Genesis 37-50
  7. Text: Exodus 1-15
  8. Text: Exodus 20
  9. Text: Numbers 22-24, 32, 36
  10. Text: Deuteronomy 6, 10, 16, 24
  11. Text: Joshua 1-11
  12. Text: 1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 21
  13. Text: Isaiah 40-55
  14. Text: Ezekiel 1-24
  15. Text: Jonah
  16. Text: Micah 3 and 6
  17. Text: Psalm 22, 23, 42, 148
  18. Text: Psalm 137
  19. Text: Proverbs 31
  20. Text: Job
  21. Text: Song of Songs
  22. Text: Ruth
  23. Text: Lamentations
  24. Text: Ezra and Nehemiah
  25. Text: Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2
  26. Text: Matthew 5-7; Luke 6
  27. Text: Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 25:1-13
  28. Text: Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 25:14-30; Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21; Matthew 13:1-23
  29. Text: Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 15:4-9; Mark 12:38-44; Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28
  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
  31. Text: Matthew 9:27-30; Mark 4:35-5:1; Matthew 8:5-13
  32. Text: John 1-10; 16
  33. Text: Gospel of John
  34. Text: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 19-20
  35. Text: Acts 2
  36. Text: Romans
  37. Text: Ephesians
  38. Text: Philippians 2
  39. Text: Revelation
  40. Text: Revelation

Detailed Table of Contents

  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)
  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)

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