The Bible in Politics: How to Read the Bible Politically

by Richard Bauckham

This second edition of Bauckham's wonderful work is essential reading for understanding the relationship between the Bible and politics. The enduring value of The Bible in Politics is that it teaches the reader how to read the Bible politically and to gain an understanding of the social relevance of the Bible that is more disciplined, more informed, more imaginative, and more politically fruitful than many interpreters--past and present--have achieved.

Genres: Politics, Theology, Biblical Studies, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Cultural

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Richard Bauckham (PhD, University of Cambridge) is senior scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge University, in Cambridge, England, where he teaches for the Cambridge Federation of Theological Colleges. He is also a visiting professor at St. Mellitus College, London, and emeritus professor of New Testament at the University of St. Andrews. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and the author of numerous books.

Reviews

[Xavier Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bauckham aims to contribute towards the gargantuan task of putting forward a Biblical political hermeneutic, and within the span of a mere 150 pages at that. He begins the book with a chapter on hermeneutical issues and principles, covering the need to consider the Old Testament (while recognising the issues of dispensational differences and selectivity of passages that has traditionally been used in Christian political discourse), a hermeneutic that covers both personal and political ethics (rather than confining passages like Matt 5:38-42 only within the sphere of personal morality), and a need to pay attention to the culturally specific context of the Bible as well as the literary and linguistic context of the Biblical text (and this includes a consciousness of how our contemporary context can cause use to manipulate and bring our preconceived attitudes to the text, and therefore prevents the Bible from "challeng[ing] and chang[ing] our political attitudes"). The Bible hardly allows a 'plug-and-play' approach. While it sometimes provides general principles, it often provides models of God's purposes at work in particular situations which are highly specific, but which can also inspire thinking about politics today, even if the text on its face is of little relevance to contemporary society.

While I personally found the first chapter a little abstract (a reader coming to this book expecting Bauckham to lay out a 3-step hermeneutic for interpreting Scripture politically will be sorely disappointed), Bauckham goes on to spend the next 5 chapters offering examples of political exegesis of specific Biblical passages.

Chapter 2 goes through Leviticus 19, beginning by pointing out that the theme of the chapter is the holiness of the people of God (rather than lay down an exhaustive judicial code, considering the canonical context of the chapter and elements of the text such as the lack of punishment accompanying contravention), consisting in both cultic holiness and moral holiness. Bauckham also points out that 9 out of the 10 commandments appear in some form in Lev 19, illustrating the way the principles in the Decalogue can appear both as general principles and as specific illustrations. The relevance of specific laws such as the law concerning cleaning in 19:9-10 can thus "be discovered only by discerning the principles at work in it." Of course, biblical interpretation requires that a specific text be read in the context of the entire biblical corpus, and thus the way Jesus interprets Leviticus 9 in Matthew 5:33-37, 44-47 and 22:39-40 is also highly relevant in our interpretation of Lev 19 for today. With texts such as 19:20-22 (concerning slavery), there is also a need to bear in mind that the Old Testament law is not necessarily a perfect representation of God's will (cf. Matt 19:8). "Rather, we have to measure the laws of the Old Testament against the whole thrust of the biblical revelation of God's will." Considering the whole thrust of biblical revelation concerning freedom, service, and liberation (cf. Chapter 7 of this book; see below), "slavery then emerges as inconsistent with God's fundamental will."

Chapter 3 goes through Proverbs 31:1-9 and its instructions for a monarch in the ancient near east, which formed the Jewish political messianic expectation, and which finds its culmination in Jesus' radical kingship (Luke 22:24-27). Chapter 4 concerns Psalms 10 and 126, and God's heart for the oppressed, and how they have been appropriated by peoples in political oppression. Ultimately, the hope expressed in the text find its fulfilment in Christ and His coming kingdom, and this hope is used also to push for political change against oppression, an example being Martin Luther King's Civil Rights Movement and his "I have a dream" speech (cf. Psalm 126).

Chapter 5 goes through Mark 12:13-17 and Matthew 17:24-27 to cover the issue of taxation Beginning with the latter, Bauckham opines that Jesus was objecting to the temple tax itself, and this (with his overturning of the tables of the money-changers) is a further objection to the broader state of God's rule being represented as being too similar with kingdoms of the Gentiles, with the people (especially the poor) being economically oppressed in God's name. However, with his comment on paying tribute to Caesar, Jesus gives an anti-zealot answer, accepting the legitimacy of civil taxation (which reoccurs in Paul's writing as well (Romans 13:6-7)). The reconciliation of these two passages, therefore, lies in the recognition that human governments cannot be the rule of God, and good governance requires recognition of fallible human limits. An absolutising state must thus "be countered by stressing, as Jesus did, the contrasts between the ways of God and the empirical facts of actual human governments." In the meantime, while living under limited human government, while Christians cannot abolish taxation, they can get closer to "to an ideal situation in which those who pay taxes do so willingly, as a fair contribution to the common good."

Lastly, Chapter 6 goes through Revelation 18 and the backdrop of the Pax Romana, built upon both economic exploitation and corrupting influence of state religion. Applied to today's context, while "the way in which Rome fed her own luxurious tastes [...] is not paralleled in our post-colonial world[,] this must warn us against any simplistic transference of judgement from the one case to the other" as we look at how the First World exploits the Third World, which can be "exposed by serious economic analysis", and condemned and countered. Indeed, MNCs, the advertising industry, and the arms trade (among others, though Bauckham only lists these 3 examples) can be said to contribute to modern Western society and "its worship of the idol of its own ever-increasing material prosperity".

Chapter 7 then puts forward a slightly different approach towards the Biblical material by tracing a particular theme through the Bible – that of freedom, service, and liberation (Exodus). The Israelites, after the Exodus, were deemed to be God's (Lev 25:42), running against contemporary definitions of liberation which almost exclusively define it in terms of negative freedom. The New Testament also holds true to this principle, stating that the church exists only in the form of service and mutual submission by all to all (2 Cor 4:5, Eph 5:21). This principle can then be carried forward – because all the Israelites were God's, liberated by Him in equal measure, they are thus equal – even if the civil institutions and laws do not yet reflect that the full amplitude of the principle.

Chapters 8 to 9 end the book with two examples of how Old Testament passages can be re-read in the light of new situations: the Book of Esther and the Jewish Holocaust, and the Genesis Flood and the Nuclear Holocaust. Due to lack of space, I do not summarise them here, but I found these two chapters very interesting and insightful.

Overall, I found this book a good read on establishing a biblical hermeneutic for politics, but I wonder if it lays down a sufficiently concrete hermeneutic to be of utility for the global church. Bauckham does a good job in outlining certain pitfalls that we ought to beware of, but I wonder if his hermeneutic is so vague that readers might even argue that it was applied incorrectly in the chapters in which he seeks to demonstrate how the hermeneutic operates. Then again, perhaps that is the point, since Bauckham opines in the Introduction that biblical interpretation is "more of an art than an exact science." Still, as Bauckham recognises, "Like all art it has its rules and requires considerable discipline", and I wonder if the rules Bauckham lays down are sufficient. Still, a pretty good read overall.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 2016 and no one in America is unaware of the presidential election cycle. With all that as background noise, both in our minds and on the so-called airwaves, a book titled, "The Bible in Politics; How to Read the Bible Politically," might seem just another addition to the noise. That idea; however, would be way off base. The first chapter in this slim volume (162pp.) considers the hermeneutical process necessary for understanding, from the perspective of politics, what scripture has to offer. Eight subsequent chapters make application of this from specific biblical passages. Bauckham mines some amazing stuff. The concluding chapter is a powerful reflection on the political nature of the Christ. This might be just the tonic for thoughtful Christian readers in these noisy days.

[Michael Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really solid read. Rather than a thesis or driving point, Bauckham seeks to model well different ways God's Word applies to politics.

Part model, part method, part interpretation, and application this book is a great book to stretch your thinking. If you think the Bible is rather unconcerned with political statements, this book will loosen you up and challenge that limitation. For those that see political messaging all over the Bible, Bauckham will force you to reckon with historical setting, bring you back to Kingdom-of-God thinking, and bring needed restraint.

If there is one thing that flows through the entire book it is Bauckham's desire to demonstrate that whatever your view of politics--Jesus and His Kingdom have ushered in a reign that lifts up the oppressed where He rules as a loving father. Everywhere the Bible shows that at the core of God's ideal Kingdom it is one that supports the less-thans and works for their good.

I found his claims and applications persuasive, nuanced, and particular.

Well worth the time but certainly not a "how-to" primer in bringing the Bible into politics as a whole.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting primer on the topic for a variety of reasons. Ch 8's reading of Esther in light of the Holocaust was particularly profound, as well as Ch 10's depiction of Jesus as a political figure. Worth the read!

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book thinking through how to relate the Bible to the politics of today. Bauckham raises lots of issues of theological interpretation both in his updated introduction but also in the way he uses the Bible, but these are good questions that all Christians need to think through.

Particularly important are the calls to identify with and care for the suffering and marginalised of this world. There are also good sustained reflections on ancient issues and their corollaries today (such as slavery) but also modern issues and the way God speaks to them (such as the threat of a nuclear holocaust).

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Bauckham, who is widely respected for his scholarly works. I'll admit that it was probably not the best place to start when reading Bauckham. The introduction to the Second Edition made it clear what side of the political spectrum the author is coming from with little to no justification for his conclusions or room for disagreement. Fortunately it does get better from there, bringing scholarly insights and engaging exegesis of selected texts.

The 10 chapters are an eclectic mix of topics, but he seems to have roughly organized it into three triads after a chapter on interpretation. The opening chapter was nearly as frustrating as the introduction, with some strange statements that seemed to leave some parts of the Bible in the dust. For example, he claims that politics in the Bible cannot be traced to Creation or the Fall, when in fact there is a lot of political language, ideas, and imagery in the three opening chapters of the Bible (perhaps the most obvious example is that humans are charged to "rule and reign"). He also makes assumptions and otherwise starts with faulty premises that he does not spend enough time supporting, such as a brief paragraph on how more modern, complex societies require bigger government. While this statement might sound reasonable on the surface, it is fairly unimaginative and simplistic. However, he does well in pointing out how much politics is in the Bible. Many pastors and teachers I've come across seem uncomfortable with politics in the Bible and often gloss over political language.

The first triad of chapters focuses on three political groups in the Scriptures (the powerful, the powerless, and the chosen people), and the next triad loosely addresses the relationship between the state and the people of God with topics such as taxation and freedom. Although I didn't agree with all of Bauckham's conclusions, he does bring a wealth of knowledge and insights to the relevant texts. From this perspective, the final triad was by far the most disappointing, as he used the stories of Esther, the Flood, and the Cross to make points about the Jewish Holocaust, nuclear weapons, and the victims of society.

Overall, my hopes for the book were not fulfilled, as Bauckham seems to have both a narrow definition of politics yet a broad view of what secular government should do. To me, this does not take into account a holistic reading of the Bible's political story. He often ends up in the right place, but too often it feels as if we're missing the bigger picture: that is, of Christ's government overthrowing all others.

[Steven H · Rating 3 out of 5]

SOME "HERMENEUTICAL" REFLECTIONS ON INTERPRETING THE BIBLE POLITICALLY

Richard Bauckham (born 1946) is currently a Senior Scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He wrote in the Introduction to this 1989 book, "The aim of this book is to help the reader towards an understanding of the political relevance of the Bible which will be both more disciplined and more imaginative than some current attempts to read the Bible politically. It offers neither a summary of the political teaching of the Bible nor a programme for Christian political action, but a prerequisite for those things: a course in political hermeneutics. In other words... it is for those who want to know HOW to interpret the Bible politically."

He asserts, "the Bible's political teaching is in some degree CONDITIONED by the social and political context in which it arose. But it seems to me we must recognize this as part of the real humanity of Scripture." (Pg. 13) He argues, "Leviticus 19:9-10 is a CULTURALLY SPECIFIC law. It was an effective means of provision for the poor in the economic circumstances of ancient Israel, but would not be ... where... most people are not farmers, and... the majority of the poor, who live in the inner cities, will not be much helped by the food they could gather on country rambles." (Pg. 27)

He observes, "Jesus' solidarity with the helpless reminds us of the limitations of politics, important though politics is." (Pg. 52) Later, he adds, "Thus Jesus' objection is to THEOCRATIC taxation, taxing God's people in God's name, because it is inconsistent with the way Jesus understands the rule of God." (Pg. 75)

This book has some thought-provoking observations on Christianity and politics, and may be of interest to persons studying such matters

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bible in Politics was first published in 1989 which now seems an impossibly long time ago. This is the second edition but aside from a new forward I'm not sure whether the text itself has been changed. At one point it is clearly written on the understanding that apartheid is a continuing blight in South Africa. This doesn't matter from the point of view of the quality of the writing or of the exegesis contained therein. If Richard Bauckham was to write it now I am sure that there would be much more on the climate crisis (a gap which he acknowledges in the introduction and which he has written about more recently) and perhaps a discussion on globalisation and populism.

That notwithstanding the material in The Bible and Politics is very interesting and accessible. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Proverbs 31:1-9, a passage that I don't think I have ever seen dealt with before. His linkage between the wine given to the poor to drown their sorrows (in contrast to the prince) and Jesus being offered, and refusing, the analgesic wine at the crucifixion was very imaginative. The chapter on Revelation 18 was also well done and provided good food for thought and for appropriate contextual use. His chapter on Exodus I recognise from the material later reused in his book on the Bible and Freedom.

I appreciate Richard Bauckham's writing because he makes a good leap between solid Biblical exegesis, doctrine and contemporary issues. He provides us with a very good pattern for expressing Scripture in relevant ways.

[Bob Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest weaknesses of the Church today is our extremely shallow reading of Scripture. We simply do not know how to read the Bible and help it to illuminate the struggles of the modern world. We either engage in a sort of hypo literalism and so fall into the error of Theonomy or we treat it as a 'magic' book complete with spells and incanations as the New Apostolic Reformation teaches us.

That is why this small book written by Richard Bauckham is important. Bauckman's The Bible in Politics helps the reader understand the challenges, strengths and limitations that are faced by today's Bible readers especially when it comes to addressing contemporary issues.

After providing an introductory chapter to the issues surrounding the hermeneutics of reading the OlD Testament, Bauckham provides sample chapters on how to read the Bible. Sampling sections of the Bible such as the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospels and Revelation, Bauckham demonstrates the broad swaths of political theology.

This short book is engaging. His writing can be dense at times but is not highly technical.

Even if you disagree with his conclusions, I think this book is a helpful guide for Christians who are seeking to understand how to apply the Bible to today's issues.

I highly recommend this book to all Christians.

Grade: A

[Joel Wentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bauckham is becoming one of my go-to writers in terms of insight-per-page count. He packs so much into slim books like this one, which is refreshing in the world of biblical studies & theology publishing, in which tomes can sprawl out to hundreds and hundreds of pages. Yes, this one feels more like a "primer" than a full political theology text, but that's precisely why I love it. And he manages to include unexpected chapters (like the chapter on Esther, one of my favorites in the book) that would not be included, even in many longer books. He also ranges through both Testaments, and shows examples of reading multiple genres "politically," including wisdom and poetry literature. The chapter on Jesus' response to Roman taxation is also fantastic and enlightening.

In general, this is an outstanding book, and because of its high read-ability and short page count, one that is easy to reference and a go-to volume for anyone looking to incorporate a biblical theology of politics into their teaching or preaching.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is much good here, but overall I felt Bauckham assumed a particular political approach rather than argued for it.

I believe the starting place for political theology begins with Genesis 1-2 and with the creation of men and women in the image of God (anthropology). The debate between Robert Filmer and John Locke is crucial. Bauckham doesn't touch this.

His discussion of the Book of Esther is really wonderful.

[Josh Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bauckham demonstrates that a keen understanding of the totality of the Biblical witness is key to framing our minds when it comes to a Christ-centered approach to politics. Anything less is less than anything meaningful and impactful.

[Josh Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book. Bauckham makes some really sound contextual arguments on how to understand taxation, oppression, among others.

[Michelle Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a degree in Political Science but thought some of the ideas where uncomfortably stretched but it did challenge me to look at the bigger picture.

[Corey Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great - recommended.