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Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis
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Average Rating:  out of 16 Reviews
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Price: $26.00
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Sale: $16.27
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Manufacturer: InterVarsity Press
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780830815616
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: William J. Webb
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Publisher: InterVarsity Press
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Dewey Decimal Number: 220.601
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Publication Date: 2001-05
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Reading Level: 301
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Description: In Slaves, Women and Homosexuals William J. Webb tackles some of the most complex and controversial issues that have challenged the Christian church--and still do. He leads you through the maze of interpretation that has historically surrounded understanding of slaves, women and homosexuals, and he evaluates various approaches to these and other biblical-ethical teachings. Throughout, Webb attempts to "work out the hermeneutics involved in distinguishing that which is merely cultural in Scripture from that which is timeless" (Craig A. Evans). By the conclusion, Webb has introduced and developed a "redemptive hermeneutic" that can be applied to many issues that cause similar dilemmas. Darrel L. Bock writes in the foreword to Webb's work, "His goal is not only to discuss how these groups are to be seen in light of Scriptures but to make a case for a specific hermeneutical approach to reading these texts. . . . This book not only advances a discussion of the topics, but it also takes a markedly new direction toward establishing common ground where possible, potentially breaking down certain walls of hostility within the evangelical community."
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Boy! Oh Boy! |
Date: 2007-05-29 |
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Details: Awfully confronting. Asks real questions. Throws down terrifying challenges. Do we really now see as though through a glass, darkly? This book will make you scratch your head and ask why you believe what you (thought you) believed.
Get this book. And with all your getting, get wisdom. |
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Review Summary: Couldn't keep his horse in the furrow |
Date: 2007-03-08 |
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Details: Webb has some gold that he mined out... with the redemptive movement thought. However, the book was left wanting. He sets uo the "rules" by which scripture is examined and lo and behold when he goes to scripture he find things that make his point. When scripture conflicts with where he is going then it is merely background noise... not something significant.
He goes to the Bible and finds it to say exactly what he desires it to say rather than letting the living scripture speak. It was a massive struggle to finish the book. |
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Review Summary: A Fascinating Contribution to Women and Homosexuals in the Church |
Date: 2007-02-27 |
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Details: The goal of most who study the Bible is to dig out those timeless concepts that provide the truth and wisdom necessary to live a holy, joyful and obedient life in the eyes of God. Most of these concepts are easy to discern, however, there are some "borderline" concepts that have been the basis of disagreement among theologians. These disagreements usually center around whether a particular issue described in Scripture is culturally based, (meaning it applied to the culture in which it was written exclusively and therefore, no longer applicable to today's Christian,) or transcultural (meaning it applies at all times in all locations in any culture.) Christians have separated and established new denominations based on these disagreements - such as the Seventh-Day Adventist's insistence on Saturday worship and the Brethren Church's elevation of foot-washing to a sacrament. How can the typical Christian determine what aspects of Scripture are cultural and which are timeless?
William J. Webb's "Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermenuetics of Cultural Analysis" attempts to answer this very question. In this systematic and logically-tight text, Webb presents his argument for what he describes as a "redemptive hermeneutic" using 18 different criteria to determine the directional "redemptive flow" of Scripture on any given topic, thereby being able to determine what aspects are culturally-based and which are transcultural.
For each criterion, Webb uses what he describes as "neutral" issues (issues that have been settled in the Church, such as slavery,) as examples of how the criterion works. He then applies it to two issues still in contention today - women's place in the Church and the legitimacy of homosexuality. He divides these 18 criteria into four groups - persuasive, moderately persuasive, inconclusive and persuasive extrascriptural.
I have never been a seminary student, but I was still able to understand Webb's argument based on the criteria he used. It was convincing to me (though I always get nervous when anyone attempts to use extrabiblical sources, since I believe the Bible is contextually self-sufficient.) I did, however, approach this text already agreeing with his conclusions on women and homosexuals.
This is a fascinating text for those who want to take the time and the mental energy to learn more about the arguments surrounding the two controversies addressed in this book. Whatever your stance, you are bound to have your mind expanded by tackling the criteria used in Webb's argument.
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Review Summary: Thought provoking book but misses the mark. |
Date: 2007-02-25 |
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Details: Major points of Webbs work Slaves, Women and Homosexuals a Cultural Analysis
Webb is exploring the hermeneutics of cultural analysis. His desire is to be more culture oriented in our understanding of the biblical texts and more culture oriented in our 21st century application. His premise is that in the evangelical community there needs to be greater understanding of the Biblical documents in light of their real life application in their context. Unless we do so we are at odds as to how to clearly interpret the scriptures and apply them in our day.
The Major features of his particular hermeneutic are to embrace a "redemptive movement hermeneutic". This is '"Moving the contemporary appropriation of the text beyond its original application framing." " Sometimes doing the text "living out the Bible's literal words in our modern context fails to fulfill its redemptive spirit."" For example if we were to live out the spoils of war ethic today we would fall far short of the redemptive element. We are far beyond needing a spoils of war ethic in today's world. "This movement is beyond the original application of the text in the ancient world." We must distinguish between Kingdom values and Cultural values.
A redemptive movement hermeneutic has 5 components
1. Redemptive movement: Grants the principle that movement is what God initially wanted. This movement is to bring a more just, more equitable, more loving form. Look at the text in its social context. Is there movement? Example slaves are to be more fairly treated. Is the movement preliminary or absolute? Was fairer treatment of the slaves the end, which God had in mind or was actually the end of slavery what the ultimate ethic would lead us to? Without calling for the abolition of slavery the bible plants seeds which ultimately would bear fruit of its demise.
2. Multilevel ethic: Moses gave the certificate of divorce but a higher ethic was a loving relationship between husbands and wives. One ethic i.e. certificate of divorce was okay but one marriage with one husband and wife relationship was the higher and ultimate ethic.
3. Balanced perspective: The balance is Original Culture/Biblical Instruction/Kingdom Ethic. We are in process. What changes in the culture is the text addressing? "Don't beat your slaves." Kingdom Ethic: slavery should be abolished, as there is no slavery in the Kingdom of God.
4. Cultural/transcultural assessment. Is the Biblical text, dealing with cultural issues or transcultural issues? Gen. 3 "your husband will rule over you." Is this a cultural issue or one that transcends the culture. 1 Cor "women should cover their heads when praying". Is this an issue that goes beyond 1st century culture?
5. Underlying spirit within the text. What is the spirit internal to the text is it restrictive or is it pointing to more openess in the future?
Webb asserts the Bible is written in a pastoral manner. Paul was addressing problems in his time and in his culture. When studying 1 Corinthians 6-7 Paul is dealing with 2 different extremes," those who think that sex is as neutral as eating food and the other group who are ascetics." Paul is not dealing with healthy sexual beings so he deals with the extremes. The bible only wants to push the envelope as far as possible but no more as to be a burden on the hearers. The underlying spirit of the text will lead us into greater application later. The problems Paul dealt with in terms of slavery and women were to be more fully acted upon in the future.
Webb has constructed an elaborate system of 18 criteria by which to judge the major social questions of our day, the issue of women and their place in the church and homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. He approaches both questions and uses this grid to arrive at possible solutions. It is quite an impressive but laborious methodology.
He basically takes Biblical texts and classifies them by asking questions and interpreting according to the grid. Is the text providing movement in the culture? Are there seed ideas in the text, which one could anticipate further development at a future time, which would bring more social change? What is the basis for the need for some of these biblical instructions is it based in the creation narrative, is it based in the fall or curse narrative, really why is this spiritual condition addressed and what is its origin? Is the condition cultural or transcultural?
The major text he deals with is 1 Tim 2:12-15. He states that 2:13 may be transcultural and that 14 is definitely cultural. It was not Adam who was deceived but Eve. He sights modern evidences that woman are not more easily deceived then men. The weight of his argument leads him to conclude that this passage is cultural.
For verse 13 he sights Luther, Calvin, Augustine, Wesley, Chrysostom, J.N.D. Kelley, Guthrie, and at least 10 more theologians who argue the traditional view that the verse is transcultural. Webb concedes that the verse "may" be transcultural. He is willing to butt heads with some pretty big horns.
Verse 14 he again cites many examples of how the church interpreted that mans superiority over women is based on the fact that woman was deceived first. He then cites scientific evidence to show that women are not any more susceptible to deception than men therefore he concludes that verse 14 is a cultural value in light that in Paul's culture women were less educated and less exposed to their culture because of male domination in society. He concludes that Paul's reasoning in verse 14 is cultural and not a transcultural value.
After using his 18 criteria his bottom line assessment is that women should be allowed to teach in the church. Most of the male domination in both the Old and New Testament is base on cultural values rather than transcultural values. Concerning the issue of homosexuality he concludes that there is no redemptive hermeneutical movement, which would lead to an acceptance of homosexuality in the church. Most of the passages on this issue tend to be restrictive and leave very little room for future openess.
This book reminds me of an alcoholic who expounds the benefits of drinking. You want to believe him but the facts and evidence do not support his conclusions on the womens issue.
In addressing the womans issue my personal belief is that woman are equal to men as persons. They are in no way inferior and personally woman tend to be superior to men in many respects. That being said I have never really read a book that I felt was more "forced" in all my life. Webb talks about finding the underlying spirit of the text. I honestly don't think he does that at all. The underlying spirit of the text seems to be evident but the way Webb gets around it is that he tends to isolate every text like 1 Cor 11:2-16 or 1 Tim 2:13-15, or Gen 3, and attacks each one piecemeal without seeing the the weight of all those texts and many others together. But in many cases if you give Webb the perverbial inch and he takes a mile and actually he take much more than a mile. I think he reads a lot more into the text than what God actually intended.
On the homosexual issue I believe that homosexuals are loved by the Lord as much as heterosexuals are. Webb basically agrees with traditional interpretation. I agree with him as well. Even though I may not agree with the homosexual lifestyle as Christians we must love them unconditionally. |
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Review Summary: excellent thought provoking book |
Date: 2006-11-10 |
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Details: wow, I have a masters degree in Bible Exegesis and I had never encountered the thought patterns in this book. I do not agree with the extent to which they are taken but I was certianly forced to more throughly evaluate my own positions. Books like this, that force me to examine my positions, are more valuable than any publishers list price and I highly reccomend it to you if you want to learn to think more effectively for yourself. I wouldn't reccomend it if you are new to theological reading. |
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