Reading the Bible across contexts
Book Description
How does our economic situation shape the way we understand sacred texts? Esa Autero tackles this profound question by examining how different social classes interpret the Bible's teachings on wealth and poverty.
This scholarly exploration focuses specifically on Luke's Gospel and its passages about economic justice. Rather than offering another theoretical analysis, Autero grounds his research in real-world experience by studying two Bible reading groups in Latin America. One group consists of economically disadvantaged readers, while the other includes more affluent participants. Through this comparative approach, he reveals how socioeconomic background profoundly influences biblical interpretation.
The book weaves together historical scholarship with contemporary field research, creating a dialogue between ancient texts and modern readers. Autero's investigation uncovers surprising insights about how our material circumstances color our understanding of spiritual teachings about money, possessions, and social responsibility.
Beyond documenting these differences, the author critically evaluates a key claim within liberation theology: that economically marginalized people possess special insight when interpreting scripture. This examination challenges readers to consider whose voices carry authority in biblical interpretation and why.
For anyone interested in how social context shapes spiritual understanding, this work offers valuable perspectives on the intersection of faith, economics, and hermeneutics. Autero's research demonstrates that reading sacred texts is never a neutral act, but one deeply influenced by our lived experiences and social position.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~12 hours)
📄 Length: 418 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Poverty
- ✓ Explore Hermeneutics
- ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
- ✓ Explore Bible
- ✓ Explore Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., n. t. gospels
- ✓ Explore Theologie der Befreiung
- ✓ Explore Biblical teaching
