We talk about theology, but we live in a social world of status, slights, and social media. How does the world of the New Testament jive with our modern world? What does it mean to live an honorable life according to our modern culture? Can success be a synonym? Is modern success equivalent to NT honor? Or is it something else? In our world, today, is honor or success going to a great school? Making a lot of money? Having a nice house and car? Where do sacrifice and self-denial fit in? How does that fit with how the Bible talks about honor? What did the social world of the New Testament look like?
If we are to fulfill the mission of God, we need to know how to apply the Scripture to our lives, and in order to do that effectively, it helps to understand the social world of the New Testament. When we do that, our understanding, appreciation, and application of Scriptural truth is expanded and strengthened, and we are able to have the Scripture speak to us in our everyday lives and where we really live.
Our guide in our journey into the social world of the New Testament is New Testament and Greek scholar Dr. David DeSilva. Travis and David discuss his book, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity: Unlocking the New Testament Culture, a book that has become a major influence in understanding the world of the New Testament and how it relates to many of our modern honor-shame cultures (cancel culture is all about honor and shame).
It’s a conversation that will enlighten, challenge, and encourage you to go deeper in your understanding and appreciation of the Bible and God’s plan for you.
Travis referenced a few episodes on today’s show:
#117 | Defending Shame, Pt. 1 | Te-Li Lau
#118 | Defending Shame, Pt. 2 | Te-Li Lau
#107: Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 1
#108: Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 2
#150 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 1 | Kevin Vanhoozer
#151 | Scriptural Illiteracy & Secular Imagination, Pt. 2 | Kevin Vanhoozer
#122 | Does God Still Do Biblical Miracles in The Modern World, Pt. 1 | Craig Keener
#123 | Does God Still Do Biblical Miracles in The Modern World, Pt. 2 | Craig Keener
Travis also referenced Kent and Barbara Hughes’s book, Liberating the Ministry from the Success Syndrome.
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