Snippet: A Master Class on Bible Interpretation

Snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

This video of Wheaton New Testament Professor Esau McCaulley addressing the subject of slavery in the New Testament is outstanding…and a masterclass in Bible interpretation. This is very much worth watching the whole thing, but here’s a snippet from the very beginning:

“I always take my cues from…my Christian ancestors who had to answer this question while enslaved. ...they actually didn't start with the Pauline passages…they spoke about…how the whole of the Bible and the Christian vision of society speaks against slavery.

…When I see God creating the world, does it seem like God created a world in which he intended people to be enslaved? And when the answer to that question is no, well then. where does slavery come from? Slavery is a product of the fall. It’s a manifestation of human evil…”

There’s more in this video on this important issue. But regarding interpretation, McCaulley repeatedly demonstrates how individual verses need to be read in the context of the entire redemptive story.

It’s also a great illustration of how we can all learn from each other and the diverse experiences we bring to our reading. Part of McCaulley’s response is built on a letter written by slaves to the House of Representatives in Connecticut. They brought a perspective that was not only based on a sound interpretive process but was also likely unique because of their life experiences. In other words, they looked at the same Bible and saw what’s there that most of us would miss because of blindspots created by our life experiences.