February 2023 | WESTMONT, IL— The Academy of Parish Clergy, Inc. has chosen Reading the Bible Around the World: A Student’s Guide to Global Hermeneutics as one of its Top Five Reference Books as part of its Book of the Year Awards.
“Reading the Bible Around the World is a bold invitation to engage the biblical text with a posture of epistemic humility and hermeneutical generosity, however unfinished,” said Oscar García-Johnson, professor of theology and Latino/a studies at Fuller Seminary and author of Spirit Outside the Gate. “Each chapter helps us develop different levels of intercultural competence through interpretive routines that guide us toward mutual belonging and co-reading the Bible. Ultimately, this work is an introduction for how to re-form our racial-patriarchal reading habits, forged through centuries of inhabiting colonial modernity spaces and identities that have formed us into self-sufficient entrepreneurs of single truths. This is a text highly recommended for the global Christian of today and tomorrow.”
In Reading the Bible Around the World, a crosscultural team of scholars describes and workshops global readings in biblical interpretation, focusing on passages in both the Old and New Testaments. By presenting a range of readings from different regions and people groups, with particular attention to marginalized groups, the authors demonstrate the importance of contextually sensitive approaches. They help us build up key values for reading Scripture in the twenty-first century: self-awareness, other-awareness, and true dialogue.
The authors of Reading the Bible Around the World are:
- Federico Alfredo Roth (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in biblical and religious studies and practical theology.
- Justin Marc Smith (PhD, University of St Andrews) is on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in biblical and religious studies and practical theology.
- Kirsten Sonkyo Oh (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in biblical and religious studies and practical theology.
- Alice Yafeh-Deigh (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in biblical and religious studies and practical theology.
- Kay Higuera Smith (PhD, Claremont Graduate University) is professor of religion and chair of the department of Biblical Studies at Azusa Pacific University. Her specialization is in the New Testament and early Judaism.
Joanne Rodríguez, executive director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, said, “Wow, finally a book that explores different interpretations of Old and New Testament readings from the perspectives of marginalized communities. To think that the invisible and voiceless can widen our lens of these readings! I can tell you that Reading the Bible Around the World will surprise you at every turn. Since technology has made our world smaller, this is a must-read for scholars, ministers, laity, and chaplains who are ready to embrace a deeper understanding of how diverse constituencies read, interpret, and live out their understanding of the Bible.”
The Academy of Parish Clergy, an inclusive community of professional religious leaders, supports and promotes excellence in spiritual, scholarly, and relational ministry.
For a complete list of IVP award winners, visit ivpress.com/award-winners.
Contact: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com
