The Bible and Immigration: A Critical and Empirical Reassessment

by Markus Zehnder

Publisher:

Pickwick Publications

, 2021

Overview

Questions relating to (im)migration are among the most heated topics on both sides of the Atlantic. Western societies have changed dramatically because of large-scale immigration in the last decades. Christians are also engaged in the discussion, attempting to find direction from the biblical texts. Overwhelmingly, persons in leading positions (both in the secular world and in churches and faith-based organizations) support the concept of "welcoming the stranger." The Bible is seen by them as urging us to open the borders as wide as we can. In the broader population, however, reservations remain. This book, written by a Bible professor who has witnessed mass-migration first-hand, both in Europe and in the U.S., and who has been a migrant himself for over twenty years, attempts to step back and look at the whole of the complex biblical witness, instead of cherry-picking passages that further a specific agenda. It also looks at the salient data on the ground, in the fields of psychology, demography, economy, and security--data that can no longer be ignored when trying to apply the Bible in a responsible way. The book demonstrates the shortcomings of the vast majority of biblical and theological publications on the issue of (im)migration and presents a comprehensive argument for the use of wisdom and caution, and against short-sighted and emotionally driven policies supporting open borders.

Praise for The Bible and Immigration

“Few issues in contemporary, especially Western, society engender as much impassioned debate as immigration. In this biblically assessed and nuanced accounting, Markus Zehnder provides a needed corrective to all one-sided and overly generalized treatments of the foreign ‘other.’ His analysis is clarifying, courageous, and contrarian. Readers appreciative of an alternative point of view will find this book comprehensive in scope, compelling in force, and circumspect in application.”

—David L. Matson, Hope International University



“Markus Zehnder is a cherished colleague, a top-tier, careful scholar, and a biblically faithful, fair-minded exegete. It is hard to overestimate the importance of his new book, The Bible and Immigration. It is never healthy for discussion of a significant cultural issue, especially one that engages God’s people, to be dominated by one side. So it is especially important for a person of Zehnder’s stature to provide a rigorous case for a position that is underrepresented. After reading this book, it is hard not to agree with Zehnder’s case. But for those who hold the dominant position, intellectual integrity now demands that they interact with Zehnder. I highly recommend this work.”

—J. P. Moreland, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University



“The Bible and Immigration is an indispensable, rich resource which provides a solid basis for informed discussion around the contentious and complex issue of immigration. This excellent, comprehensive study not only deals with the biblical data but also applies any relevant extra-biblical principles to the present debate in a very nuanced, careful, and sensitive way. Zehnder avoids simplistic analysis and conclusions and challenges many current assumptions. This well-researched and perceptive work is highly recommended!”

—Cornelis Van Dam, author of God and Government



“This is a very discerning book written by a scholar with longstanding interest and serious previous work in the field of immigration/migration. Markus Zehnder has managed to sort out the various biblical, social, and ethical issues raised in the complex discussion of immigration and migration today. He distinguishes between justice and compassion for those immigrants who have been admitted as opposed to public policies that require open admission at the borders. The Bible supports the former, but not the latter. Zehnder pushes back against the selective use of Scripture used by many to support their position without serious consideration of all that the Bible teaches on the matter in its ancient context. This is a badly needed and important contribution the discussion of the immigration issues we are facing today in the USA and around the world.”

—Richard E. Averbeck, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Product Details

• Title: The Bible and Immigration: A Critical and Empirical Reassessment
• Author: Markus Zehnder
• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781725298002, 9781725297982, 9781725297999, 1725298007, 1725297981, 172529799X
• Resource ID: LLS:9781725298002
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T20:30:45Z

About the Author

Markus Zehnder is Professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology, Professor of Old Testament at ETF Leuven (Belgium), and Professor of Biblical Studies at Ansgar Theological Seminary (Norway). He is the author of many publications on migration and on a vast range of other biblical and ethical topics.