S5 E16 | Dr. Jerry Hwang | Challenging The Honor-Shame Narrative In Biblical Scholarship

The Alabaster Jar

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. Jerry Hwang to discuss his journey from IT consultant to pastor to theological educator. He delves into the constructs of honor and shame in cultural studies, particularly in relation to biblical scholarship. Dr. Hwang also critiques the oversimplified categorization of cultures and argues that the Old Testament presents a countercultural stance against honor-shame dynamics, particularly regarding gender roles and power. He also explores specific biblical texts, including Deuteronomy 22 and the narratives of Bathsheba and Lady Wisdom, highlighting the complexities of consent, victimhood, and the portrayal of women in Scripture.

Resources Mentioned:
Does God Really Command Women to Marry Their Rapists? A Study of Deuteronomic Law by Dr. Sandra Richter (Article)
The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 by Dr. J. Richard Middleton
Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought by Dr. Joshua A. Berman
The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Episode Sponsor:
The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.