Reading: Cultural Differences and Biblical Interpretation (Slides)

Cultural Differences and Biblical Interpretation
By David Feddes

Different cultures picture Jesus differently.

Jesus in African Art

Jesus in Chinese Art

Jesus in Native American Art

Jesus in European Art

Jesus As Middle Eastern Jew

Between Two Worlds

• Biblical exegesis involves understanding the original author's meaning within his original, ancient cultural setting.
• Biblical preaching involves making God's Word understandable and applicable for people in their cultural setting today.
• To proclaim God's Word, a sermon must be rooted in accurate exegesis of an ancient text and must connect with people in a very different setting today.

Translating the word God

You are a missionary in South India translating the Bible into Telugu. How will you translate the word "God”? (El in Hebrew, Theos in Greek)

Three choices:

• Deva
• Parameshwara
• Brahman

Deva

• The word for a god in general terms; devas are the highest of personal beings.
• A deva can come as an avatar to help people--but that's not Christian incarnation.
• Devas are not ultimate reality; they turn out to be illusion and will be absorbed into the ultimate reality of Brahman.
• Devas do both good and evil.

Parameshwara

• Highest of deities.
• Still too much like deva. Does not mean a supreme being who is the ultimate reality and creator of the universe.
• No concept in Telugu culture matches the idea of created reality as found in the Bible. This world is only a dream.

Brahman

• Ultimate reality, than which nothing is greater or more basic.
• A force, not a person.
• Heaven and earth are not creations that exist distinct from Brahman, but are simply dreams of Brahman.

In the beginning was the Word

• Hebrew: Yahweh created and commands all things by His dabar.
• Greek: The logos is the universal rational and moral structure behind all things.
• Hebrews and Greeks both would be shocked at the Word becoming flesh.
• Chinese: In the beginning was the Tao, and the Tao was with God, and the Tao was God. (John 1:1)

A fish or a snake?

• "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?" (Luke 11:11)
• One people group answered:  Every good father gives his child a snake, not a fish!

Behold, the lamb of God

Behold, the pig of God?

Should whole families, clans, and villages be baptized?

• Individualistic missionaries made little progress emphasizing individual conversion in group-oriented societies.
• Evangelists in a Thai village don't call for individual decisions right after a gospel presentation. They urge people to talk it over with their families and fellow villagers and let the evangelists know their decision.

Households and cities, not just individuals

"He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.” (Acts 11:14)

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. (Matt 11:23)

"Wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:5)

Football as religion
"Freud, Football, and the Marching Virgins" (Thomas Hornsby Ferril)

Obviously, football is a syndrome of religious rites symbolizing the struggle to preserve the egg of life through the rigors of impending winter. The rites begin at the autumnal equinox and culminate on the first day of the New Year with great festivals identified with bowls of plenty.

Cross-cultural communication

• Cross-cultural interpretation can be tricky.
• The Bible is a missionary book. In it God speaks through words originally addressed to cultures unlike ours in many ways.
• English is one language among many.
• My American mindset is just one of many cultural varieties. Local context differ much.
• How does my culture affect my exegesis?
• How are biblical and churchy words heard by people outside of my church culture?

Between Two Worlds

• Biblical exegesis involves understanding the original author's meaning within his original, ancient cultural setting.
• Biblical preaching involves making God's Word understandable and applicable for people in their cultural setting today.
• To proclaim God's Word, a sermon must be rooted in accurate exegesis of an ancient text and must connect with people in a very different setting today.