What Goes Without Being Said - Week 2

If we read the Bible exclusively from our Western individualist point of view, we may miss or misunderstand cultural values everybody in the ancient Mediterranean world understood. As this week’s guest, Randy Richards, ( https://www.pba.edu/directory/randy-richards/ ) reminds us, the values of kinship, patronage, and brokerage, which focus on the family or group dynamic instead of an individual, are found throughout Scripture. We also find examples of honor, shame, and boundaries in the Old and New Testaments that are used as tools to help enforce and strengthen these cultural values.

Understanding the ancient Mediterranean culture that the Bible is set in can enrich our understanding of some Scripture passages.

How has discovering some of the cultural backdrop of the Bible helped you gain a deeper understanding of Scripture and how the Bible applies to your life?

What next step could you take toward learning more about the cultural context of the Old and New Testament?

Reflect
* Why were the Pharisees trying to shame Jesus in Matthew 9:11 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%209%3A11&version=NIV )?
* How was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive sense in 1 Corinthians 15:34 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A34&version=NIV )?
* In 1 Timothy 2:9 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%202%3A9&version=NIV ), how was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive way to encourage women to stand up against the culture’s way of dressing?
* Based on Romans 1:1 ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201%3A1&version=NIV ), what was the role with the highest honor for the apostle Paul?
* How were the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders trying to have an honor contest with Jesus in Luke 20:1–8 (