Cain Hope Felder (1943–2019)

This is a splendid collection of 11 essays by African American biblical scholars; the introduction puts the essays, and the consultation out of which they grew, into context. The essays consider biblical authority, African American sources for enhancing biblical interpretation, and the issue of race in the Bible. They also offer reinterpretation of specific biblical texts, while revealing the role blacks played within the Bible. These essays are important for both scholars and general show more readers, making the book essential for many libraries.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This is an awesome book! It's amazing how most American Christian theologians try to deny the impact of culture and society while promoting a staunch Eurocentric view that whitewashes the bible and which seeks to deny Africans, Asians, and Women their place in the Gospel. They just sustain the economic and political structures that oppress. This goes against the kingdom of God and all its prophets! Look at the current ethnic makeup in the movie, "The Passion of Christ!" Jesus never set foot in Europe and lived in Africa and Asia. Yet, some Christians are busy touting the historical accuracy of the movie!! . When the gospel reached Europe the work on the cross was done and Pentecost has already started! show less

This volume marks the emergence of a critical mass of black Biblical scholars. They combine sophisticated exegesis with special sensitivity to issues of race, class, and gender.

Dr. Felder is Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Howard University. According to the introduction, this book grew out of articles and papers he originally wrote for various audiences and occasions and subsequently expanded or revised. He looks at the oft-ignored Black African people found in the Bible; he studies the themes of race, class, and family as found in the Bible, looking beyond the dominant culture's reading of the text and toward how the texts speak to people in show more the Black church today.

This is not a book for the general reader; it is designed for those with a background in historical-critical Biblical exegesis and at least a passing familiarity with Biblical languages. These are scholarly articles; as is often the case, they are not particularly engaging reading at times. Some of the chapters are much more interesting than others. Felder notes a number of interpretations and conclusions with which other scholars may take issue.

The final chapter relating to the Church and the nuclear threat is in some respects outdated; since the fall of the old Soviet Union, today's threats are different from those in the 1980's. (No longer do two "superpowers" hold all the nuclear arms.) show less

129 minutes, not rated.
A 5-part video Bible study designed to be of interest to people who are seeking ways to understand, from a biblical perspective, the complex dynamics of our culturally diverse society. The 5 program titles are: The Liberating Power of the Bible, In the Beginning - One Race - The Human Race, Biblical Responses to Racism, The Importance of Justice and Peace, and God's Message of Community.