Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women: Case Issues in Biblical Interpretation

by Willard M. Swartley

Publisher:

Herald Press

, 1983

Overview

The Bible appears to give mixed and even conflicting signals on four contentious issues: slavery, the Sabbath, war, and God’s charge for women. In Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women, New Testament scholar Willard Swartley seeks, in a spirit of unity and dialogue, to clarify the interpretive difficulties surrounding these topics. A predecessor to his 2003 publication, Homosexuality, this book presents a thorough, spirit-filled discussion of some of the most nuanced and sensitive issues facing the church today.

The Logos digital edition of Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women, comes packed with the Logos features you’ve come to love. With every Bible reference hyperlinked for instant access and with every cross-reference networked across your resource library, Passage Guide, and other Bible study tools, Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women takes you deeper into today’s most pressing church issues.

Key Features

• Consideration and discussion of mainstream answers to each controversy
• Thorough and careful scriptural analysis
• Comprehensive footnotes, bibliographies, and indexes

Contents

• Chapter 1: The Bible and Slavery
• Chapter 2: The Bible and Sabbath: Sabbath, Sabbath-Sunday, or Lord’s Day?
• Chapter 3: The Bible and War
• Chapter 4: The Bible and Women: Male and Female Role Relationships
• Chapter 5: How Then Shall We Use and Interpret the Bible?
• Conclusion: Summary of Learnings

Top Highlights

“Biblical truth is concrete, shaped usually by specific contexts, needs, and opportunities. Interpretation should affirm and celebrate this feature of divine revelation, communicated through many different writers in different linguistic, cultural, and political contexts. The variety itself becomes the missionary’s textbook. The biblical text spoke God’s Word in a variety of cultural, economic, political, and social settings.” (Page 188)

“The teaching calls us away from ‘letter-use’ to ‘spirit-use,’ hearing its main intentions and not using specific verses—even clear directives (e.g., Lev. 25:44–45)—to mitigate and silence the clear moral and theological imperatives of biblical faith.” (Pages 61–62)

“Mennonite approach to the problem. Rather than using the Bible to speak directly to slavery, the basic biblical value structure had so informed their thinking and practice so as to put slavery at odds with their way of life.” (Page 54)

“These should carry greater weight than specific statements on a given topic even though the statements speak expressly to the topic under discussion.” (Page 61)

“Canaan includes all of Ham’s posterity, then Assyrians, some Persians, and all Grecians and Romans should be slaves.^{54” (Page 39)}

Praise for the Print Edition

This book admirably demonstrates the importance of hermeneutical issues by grounding them concretely in four practical areas of biblical interpretation. This book contributes positively to the ongoing hermeneutical discussion.

—Anthony Thiselton, University of Sheffield

In a fair and judicious manner the author presents the problems of the role of the Bible in dispute over important theological questions. The serious student will find here a powerful stimulus toward clarification and critical examination of the principles and methods of interpretation he or she uses.

—Paul D. Hanson, Harvard School of Divinity

Swartley takes seriously the diversity of Scripture, its varied historical contexts, and its location within the life of believing communities. Clearly written, the book can be used with profit by students, teachers, ministers, and lay people.

—Phyllis Trible, Union Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women
• Author: Willard M. Swartley
• Publisher: Herald Press
• Publication Date: 1983
• Pages: 368

About Willard M. Swartley

Willard Swartley served at AMBS from 1978 to 2004. In addition to teaching, he served as dean from 1979 to 1981 and 1995 to 2000, as director of summer school, and as director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies. His long list of published works testifies to his strong scholarship as well as his interests — New Testament studies, particularly the gospel of Mark, and peace and nonviolence. Willard served as New Testament editor for the Believers Church Bible Commentary series and as co-editor of the Study of Peace and Scripture series. Following his retirement, Willard continued to write both scholarly books and materials to encourage use of Scripture in devotional life. His publications include the volume on John in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series and a companion book, Living Gift: John’s Jesus in Meditation and Poetry, Art and Song; and Health, Healing and the Church’s Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities. Willard continued to be a regular presence on the AMBS campus until his death of natural causes on Nov. 6, 2019. His last book was Jesus, Deliver Us: Evil, Exorcism and Exousiai (Cascade, 2019).

Sample Pages from Slavery, Sabbath, War, and Women: Case Issues in Biblical Interpretation