Reading While Black PDF Free Download

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Reading While Black – African American Biblical Interpretation As An Exercise In Hope PDF Free Download, Summary, Review, Study Guide, Quotes, Audiobook, Amazon, Chapter 4 Summary.

Reading While Black PDF

Programme For The Christian Book Award (Foreword) Finalist For Outreach Resources Of The Year In The Indies Book Of The Year Book Of The Year By Christianity Today The Emerging Public Intellectual Award Presented By The Gospel Coalition Esau Mccaulley, Who Grew Up In The American South, Had Intimate Knowledge Of The Constant Conflict Between Hopelessness And Despondency That Certain African Americans Experience In Their Daily Existence.

He Realised That The Tradition Of Bible Reading And Interpretation That Originates From Traditional Black Churches Has Always Been A Crucial Component In The Struggle For Hope. Although A Large Portion Of The Larger Church And Academia Sometimes Dismiss Or View This Ecclesial Heritage With Scepticism, It Has Something Important To Say.

A Personal And Academic Testimony To The Strength And Optimism Of Black Biblical Interpretation May Be Found In Reading While Black. New Testament Scholar Mccaulley Contends That Reading Scripture From The Perspective Of Black Church Tradition Is Invaluable For Connecting With A Rich Faith History And Addressing The Pressing Issues Of Our Times At A Time When Some Within The African American Community Are Questioning The Role Of The Christian Faith In The Fight For Justice.

He Supports An Approach To Interpretation That Involves An Ongoing Dialogue Between The Bible And The Collective Black Experience, Where The Specific Concerns Of Black Communities Are Given Prominence And The Bible Is Given Room To Respond By Reiterating, Challenging, And, Occasionally, Reshaping Black Issues.

Mccaulley Uses Research On How Scripture Speaks To Subjects Like Ethnicity, Political Protest, Police, And Slavery—subjects Often Ignored By White Interpreters—to Illustrate This Concept.

Mccaulley Urges Christians Of All Origins To Participate In A Dynamic Theological Debate With Scripture That Takes Into Account Both Their Own Social Context And Other People’s Cultures. The Discussion Progresses Thanks To Reading While Black.

Reading While Black Summary

Read Esau Mccaulley’s Article While Black Is A Thorough Examination Of African American Biblical Interpretation As It Manifests In Traditional Ecclesial Life And Structure. The Traditional Black Church, Which Saw In The Bible A Liberating God Who Affirmed The Inherent Dignity And Worth Of Black People And Used The Scriptures As An Unending Source In The Struggle For Justice And Liberation, Is Highlighted By Mccaulley For Its Deep Complexity And Rich Historical Legacies. Black Ecclesial Theology, Or Black Ecclesial Interpretation, As It Is Described Here, Takes Seriously God’s Omnipotent Ability To Free The Oppressed From Slavery As Demonstrated In The Exodus Narrative, While Also Remaining Faithful In The Face Of Oppression And Believing That Black Suffering Will Not Have The Last Word Because Of A Collective Hope In The Resurrection. According To Mccaulley, This Tradition Fills The Need For Black Christians Who Want To Be Unabashedly Black And “Orthodox” In Their Theology, While Still Giving The Global Church And Modern Society A Pertinent Voice (P. 21). He Lists Five Essential Components Of This Interpretive Tradition: (1) It Is Canonical And Theological; (2) It Is Socially Situated Or Contextual; (3) It Is Open To Hearing From Scripture And How It Might Address And Refocus Black Life And Concerns; (4) It Is Open To Being Patient With The Text, Reading It “Carefully And Sympathetically In Order To Receive A Blessing”; And (5) It Is Open To Hearing From And Participating In Critical Dialogue About The B According To Mccaulley, This Model Offers An Alternative Method For Interpreting The Bible That Recognises The Value Of The Text Itself And Affirms The Cultural Concerns That Every Ethnic Group Brings To The Text Of Scripture While Preventing Cultural Specificities From Defining Biblical Interpretation As A Whole (P. 22). This Does Not, However, Negate The Distinctive Testimony That Black Biblical Interpretation (Hereinafter Bei) Offers For The Whole Church.

Through A Number Of Thought-provoking Issues That Are Pertinent To The Present, Mccaulley Illustrates For The Reader The Concept And Methodology Of Bei. He Examines The Nuances Of Topics Like Protest And Injustice, The Church And Politics, Policing And Police Brutality, Ethnicity And Black Identity, Black Pain And Wrath, And Lastly The Bible And Slavery In Six Chapters. His Chapter On Policing Opens With The Question, “How Does One Encounter The Police, And Live?” That Many Black Americans Grapple With. In Order To Illustrate How Black People Live In A Liminal Place Of Constant Dread And A Desperate Desire For Unrestricted Freedom, Mccaulley Uses A Personal Incident From An Unexpected Police Stop To Narrate A Portion Of His Own Life. So What Does The New Testament Say About Law Enforcement? By Providing An Exegetical Interpretation Of Romans 13:1–7 And A Historical Overview Of Roman Authority, Mccaulley Builds His Case. He Contends That Romans 9:17, In Which Paul Accepts God’s Judgement Over Earthly Rulers And Regimes Like Pharaoh In Egypt, Must Be Viewed In Light Of Paul’s Theology Of Subordination To The State. This Complexity Is Recognised By A Genuine Reading Of Paul When God Frees Israel From Slavery And Connects The Right Worship Of Yahweh To A Changed Country (Ex. 3:1-22) (P. 33). In The Ministry Of Moses, Who Opposed Evil Leadership On Behalf Of God’s People, Public Opposition To Authorities And Institutions Is Foreseen. According To Mcculley, The Additional Context Of Romans 13 Clarifies For The Christian The Required Process Of Deciding Whether And When To Submit To Or Reject Governmental Authority While Acknowledging God’s Judgement And Control Over All Governmental Structures On Earth (P. 33). By Comparing The Experiences Of Being Subjected To A Corrupt Police System Under The Empire With Black Life In America, Mccaulley Also Draws Connections Between African Americans In The U.s. And Christians In Rome (P. 38). According To Him, In Order To Maintain A Society In Which Black Bodies Are Free And Not Unfairly Policed, We Must Not Only Evaluate The Individual Behaviour Of Police Officers But Also Restructure Power Structures So That The Government Does Not Support A Harmful Policing Culture (P. 41).

He Assembles A Biblical Picture Of Political Theology In His Chapter On The Black Church And Politics In Light Of Jesus’ Messianic Kingdom And The Church’s Outward Witness. By Connecting The Message Of Justice To The Very Life, Teaching, And Ministry Of Jesus, Mccaulley Makes The Gospel Message Inextricably Political, As Evidenced In The Abolition Of Fredrick Douglass Or The Civil Disobedience Of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (P. 55). Care For The Underprivileged Is Intimately Related To Jesus’ Kingly Position And Sonship; The Prophesied King Of Israel, The New David, Would Establish Justice And Righteousness On Earth (P. 67). The Commentary On The Beatitudes, Which Sees Spiritual Grieving As Both A Yearning For The Fullness Of God’s Kingdom To Be Fully Apparent On Earth And As An Intrinsically Political Act, Is One Of The Section’s Most Moving Observations.

Reading While Black Review

“Although The African American Christian Experience Is Not Monolithic, We Have Generally Sought To Understand The Bible And Live According To Its Teachings. Along The Way, Many Of Us Have Rejected White Supremacist Readings Of The Bible While Clinging To The God Of The Bible. In Reading While Black, Mccaulley Does Careful Exegetical And Historical Analysis, Explaining And Illustrating How Interpretations Of Scripture By Black People Can Bolster Faith In A Liberating God. Mccaulley Gives Us More Than A Theoretical Methodology; He Demonstrates How We Can Approach And Apply Texts―even Ones That Were Previously Used Against Us―without Jettisoning Our Faith Or Succumbing To Oppressive Readings. Reading While Black Is A Welcome Addition To The Study Of African American Hermeneutics.”

— Dennis R. Edwards, Associate Professor Of New Testament At North Park University

“I’m Extremely Grateful To Have A Voice In My Time To Speak With Nuance, Grace, And Cultural Awareness. Esau Has Given Us A Healthy Marriage For Understanding Theology And Blackness. This Is A Must-read!”

— Lecrae, Hip Hop Recording Artist

“It Is Enlightening, Moving, And Galvanizing To Overhear These Notes Of Appreciation And Reciprocated Encouragement From A Son Of The Black Church To The Black Ecclesial Interpreters Who Nurtured And Continue To Nourish Him. From Here On Out, This Book Will Be Required Reading In Any Course On Biblical Hermeneutics That I Teach.”

— Wesley Hill, Associate Professor Of Biblical Studies, Trinity School For Ministry

“When I Was A Student, I Was Explicitly And Implicitly Trained To Focus Exclusively On The Ancient Context Of Scripture And Read ‘objectively.’ Bible Study Could Easily Become A Disembodied Experience. Mccaulley Makes A Compelling Case, In This Engagement With African American Biblical Interpretation, That Not Only Is The Reader’s Culture And Experience Not A Hindrance To Interpretation Per Se But Can Enrich It Greatly. Reading While Black Is A Unique And Successful Blend Of Biblical Hermeneutics, Autobiography, Black History And Spirituality, Incisive Cultural Commentary On Race Matters In America, And Insightful Exegesis Of Select New Testament Texts.”

— Nijay K. Gupta, Professor Of New Testament At Northern Seminary

“Throughout History The Church, As It Strives To Be Faithful In Particular Times And Places, Has Had To Bring The Core Cultural Concerns Of Their Neighbors To Scripture For Answers. This Is The Work Of Loving Our Neighbors Well. What Does God Have To Say About The Animating Issues Of Our Lives And Communities? In Reading While Black, Rev. Dr. Esau Mccaulley Puts In Bold Relief Before Us The Historic And Present Concerns Of The African American Community. Does God Have A Word For Us About Policing? Is There Any Guidance From On High About Black Identity, Justice, Righteous Anger, Slavery, And Oppression? With Sound Exegetical Method, Deep Cultural Insight, And Skillful Application He Brings Us Into The Heart Of God On These Issues. Know, However, That This Is Not Just A Book For Black People. Far From It. Anyone Who Desires To Engage These Questions With Gospel Hope Should Take Up And Read.”

— Irwyn L. Ince Jr., Director Of The Gracedc Institute For Cross-cultural Mission And Author Of The Beautiful Community

“What Does The Bible Have To Say To Black Christians Seeking Justice? By Looking At Well-known, Overlooked, Underinterpreted, And Misinterpreted Texts, Esau Mccaulley Tells Us That A Faithful Reading Of Scripture As The Word Of God Summons Black Christians (And Others) To A Cluster Of Practices. These Include Naming And Protesting Evil, Expressing Anger, And Pursuing Freedom And Justice, But Also Promoting Reconciliation, Practicing Forgiveness, And Living In Hope―all As Aspects Of Proclaiming The Gospel Of The God Revealed In Jesus. An Important Book.”

— Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Chair In Biblical Studies And Theology At St. Mary’s Seminary And University, Baltimore

“In Reading While Black, Dr. Esau Mccaulley Combines His Training In New Testament Scholarship With His Love For The Black Church Tradition. The Result Of His Labor Is A Fresh And Accessible Contribution To African American Reception History Of The Bible. Even When Readers Disagree With His Arguments And Conclusions, They Will Learn How Some African Americans Interpreted Scripture In Diverse Contexts. Mccaulley Argues In These Pages That African American Christian Ecclesial Readings Of Scripture Were An Exercise Of Hope.”

— Jarvis J. Williams, Associate Professor Of New Testament Interpretation At The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“How Can The Church Today Effectively Address The Racial Tensions That Plague Our Nation? Esau Mccaulley Has Convinced Me That The Black Church Tradition Holds The Key―maintaining Fidelity To The Scriptures While Fully Engaging In The Struggle For Justice. This Book Is An Excellent Starting Point For Those Who Want To Listen And Learn A New Way Forward. Esau’s Prophetic Voice Is Rooted In Scripture And Full Of Hope. Highly Recommended!”

— Carmen Joy Imes, Associate Professor Of Old Testament At Prairie College In Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, And Author Of Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

“Esau Mccaulley’s Voice Is One We Urgently Need To Hear. This Book Is Prophetic, Biblical, Measured, Wise, Friendly, And Well-reasoned―and Thus All The More Hard-hitting. A Powerful Word For Our Times.”

— N. T. Wright, Professor Of New Testament At The University Of St Andrews, Senior Research Fellow At Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

“In Reading While Black, Esau Mccaulley Is Unapologetically Black, Christian, And Committed To Reading The Bible As Scripture And As Relevant To The Experience Of Black Folks. Mccaulley Demonstrates How The Intuition And Habits Of Black Biblical Interpretation And The Black Ecclesial Tradition Can Help All Readers Connect The Bible And Theology With The Pressing Issues Of The Day. His Book Is A Must-read For Any Pastor, Undergraduate Student, Seminarian, Or Student Of The Bible Who Is Ready To Reckon With And Be Awakened By Mccaulley’s Fresh And Constructive Readings Of Scripture. With Interpretations That Are Rooted In The Tradition Of His Ancestors, Mccaulley Is Undeterred In Calling Out Racist Assumptions, Engaged In Dialogue With Other Interpretive Traditions, And Guided By A Hermeneutic Of Trust. Those Who Grab Hold Of This Book And Wrestle With It Will Be Blessed.”

— Janette H. Ok, Associate Professor Of New Testament At Fuller Theological Seminary

“This Is A Must-read For Pastors, College Students, Seminarians, And Anyone Interested In Learning About How African American Bible Interpretation Can Speak A Word Of Hope To Us In Our Day. It Addresses Questions Black Christians Have Been Asking About Issues Such As Policing, Black Identity, Political Protest, And The Pursuit Of Justice From A Perspective That Takes The Bible And Its Critics Seriously.”

— Lisa Fields, Founder And President Of The Jude 3 Project

“Esau Mccaulley Is A Tremendous New Testament Scholar; He Has The Rare Gift Of Taking The Complex And Making It Accessible And Practical Without Losing Theological Substance. Reading While Black Will Provide You With Insights Into The Gospel That Will Transform Your Life, Regardless Of Your Ethnicity. The Horizons Of Your Spiritual Formation Will Expand As A Result Of Reading This Book; You Will Read And Return To It Over And Over.”

— Derwin L. Gray, Lead Pastor Of Transformation Church In South Carolina, Author Of The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches About Finding True Happiness

“I Don’t Know If I Realized How Much I Needed This Book Until It Landed In My Hands. Reading While Black Is Scholarly Yet Reads Clearly, Communicating What Many Black Christians Have Been Saying For Decades. Everyone Would Do Well To Listen Up, Lest They Miss God In The Process.”

— Jackie Hill-perry, Bible Teacher And Poet, Author Of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story Of Who I Was, And Who God Has Always Been

“In Reading While Black, Esau Mccaulley Has Given The African American Church A Gift―how To Read The Scriptures In A Way That Is Faithful To Those Scriptures. And The Beauty Of His Book Is That It Rightfully Insists That Reading The Bible Well Does Not Mean Abandoning One’s Ethnicity. Instead, One Must Read Precisely From One’s Location While At The Same Time Allowing The Bible To Broaden Our Horizons. This Is A Book That African American Pastors And Scholars Need To Consider Carefully. In Fact, It Is A Book That Church Leaders From Every Race In North America Need To Ponder. I Recommend This Book Heartily!”

— Osvaldo Padilla, Professor Of Divinity At Beeson Divinity School

“Esau Mccaulley Is Untying The Gordian Knot That Has Kept Black Christians Bound To Theological Ultimatums. This Is A Book For Theologians Who Hope To Play Outside The Trite Sandboxes Of Their Seminaries And For The Practitioners Who Find Themselves In Need Of A Black Lexicon. His Anecdotes, Definitions, And Propositions Are Timely For A Society That Is Desperate To Reclaim Dignity In The ‘colorless’ Constructs That European Christianity Built.”

— Sho Baraka, Artist, Professor, And Cofounder Of The And Campaign

“Esau Mccaulley Faces The Urgent Question, What Does Christian Hope Mean When White Feet Seem Always To Be Pressed On Black Throats? Rather Than A Nihilist Rejection Of Hope Or A Watered-down Hope Stemming From The European Enlightenment, Mccaulley Points To A Hope Forged Through Generations Of Black Christians Searching Scripture For A Good God. As The Church Owns Up To Our Call To End Systemic Racism, Mccaulley Addresses Questions Of Police Violence, Black Anger, Colorblindness, Assimilation, And More. The Book Equips Readers In A Valuable Mode Of Scripture Reading Rooted In Black Tradition That Simultaneously Acknowledges Suffering And Turns To Jesus As Redeemer And Hope.”

— Christine Jeske, Professor Of Cultural Anthropology At Wheaton College, Author Of The Laziness Myth

“Mark My Words: Esau Mccaulley Is The Brightest Theological Mind Of This Generation. Reading While Black Is The Oasis In The Current Christian Academic Desert. As A Professor, I Can’t Wait To Assign It, And As A Pastor, I Can’t Wait To Employ It For Discipleship. The Black Student Of The Bible Instinctively Knows The Inherent Risk Of Oversold Lies And Cultural Mishaps At The Intersection Of Our Race And The Reading Of Scripture. In This Work, We Have A New Light To Walk The Path Straight.”

— Charlie Dates, Senior Pastor Of Progressive Baptist Church, Chicago

“Many Have Been Thrown Into A Crisis Of Faith Over The Ways That The Scriptures Have Been Used To Oppress And Denigrate Others, Especially Black Americans. How Can This Good News Of Jesus Actually Be Good News When It Has Been Wielded As A Weapon By Much Of The White American Church? Reading While Black Makes Clear How The Scriptures, Rightly Read, Are The Source Of Black Justice And Liberation, And How An Orthodox Belief In The Authority Of The Bible Bolsters The Dignity And Flourishing Of People Of Color In America. Theologically Profound Yet Eminently Accessible, Fr. Esau Mccaulley Masterfully Weaves A Dense And Gorgeous Tapestry Of His Personal Narrative, Insight Into The Black Church And American Culture, And Careful Exegesis. This Astounding Book Plumbs A Range Of Urgent Issues Like Just Policing, The Place Of Protest And Anger, And Slavery And White Supremacy. I Cannot Think Of A More Relevant, Pressing, Helpful, And Hopeful Book For Our Contemporary Moment.”

— Tish Harrison Warren, Anglican Priest And Author Of Liturgy Of The Ordinary: Sacred Practices In Everyday Life

“In Reading While Black, Dr. Esau Mccaulley Honors The Beautifully Rich Triumvirate Of Doxology, Orthodoxy, And Orthopraxy, Which Has Always Had Its Home In The Black Christian Tradition.”

— Ekemini Uwan, Writer And Cohost Of Truth’s Table Podcast

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