The Faith of the Outsider: Exclusion and Inclusion in the Biblical Story

by Frank Anthony Spina

This book offers a probing, insightful look at the "outsider" motif running through the Bible. The biblical story about God's covenant with "insiders" -- with Israel as the chosen people -- is scandalous in today's cultural climate of inclusivity. But, as Frank Anthony Spina shows, God's exclusive election actually has an inclusive purpose.

Looking carefully at the biblical narrative, Spina highlights in bold relief seven remarkable stories that treat nonelect people positively and, even more, as strategically important participants in God's plan of salvation. The stories of Esau, Tamar, Rahab, Naaman, Jonah, Ruth, and the woman at the well come alive in new ways as Spina discusses and examines them from an outsider-insider point of view.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Biblical Studies

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2005

Reviews

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Anthony Spina’s The Faith of the Outsider is a favourite book in my library. I first picked it up in 2006 and the impression the book left has lasted to this day. His unique examination of the Faith of those who are not officially part of God’s chosen people demonstrates the supremacy of faith in Yahweh across both testaments. For me, it was the stories of Esau and Tamar that especially resonated. And, as I’m in the midst of preaching on Genesis 34 and 38 — and their connections to John 4 — I picked the book up again and found myself just as struck by the insights as I was twenty years ago. A must have on any biblical theology shelf. Great companions to this book include Miroslav Volf’s Exclusion and Embrace, as well as Bob Ekblad’s Reading the Bible with the Damned.

[Fred Eisenhut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book currently being used at Barrington United Methodist Church in Illinopis. Several groups are reading it and have entered into many excellect discusssions. Using several figures from the Hebrew Bible such as Ruth, Esau,Tamar, Rahab, Naaman, Jonah, and one from the New Testament, The woman at the well, we see how outside people, (Non Jews) affected the Nation of Israel and Christianity. It is an important way of looking at scripture. Perhaps we are all outsiders. But our story is important too. This is well worth your time

[DJ Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. I love how the author presents the outsider-insider motif through the biblical stories. The one thing I did not like is that there was no conclusion to the book. He just left the reader high and dry.

[Nika Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. It’s kind, well researched, and encouraging. I built a theology class around his content. You’ll start seeing insiders vs outsiders as you read the scriptures.

[Clare Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting points but it could have pushed the boundaries more.

[L.L. Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book. "Unique" insight into these biblical figures mostly from a close reading of the texts - observational points that are easy to miss.

[Matthew Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Spina looks at seven characters from Biblical narrative, Esau, Tamar, Rahad, Naaman, Jonah, Ruth, and the woman at the well in John 4, through the lens of outsiders and insiders. He employs close readings of the narratives to mine important and interesting insights that may escape the hasty reader. The book is very accessible to the English Bible reader yet still engages those will knowledge of Hebrew. Some of the chapters did not add a great deal to my understanding because I had already been exposed to close readings of these narratives in Seminary, but I enjoyed the analysis nonetheless. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Esau, Tamar, Rahab, and Naaman (Esau and Naaman were the most enlightening). Recommended for anyone who reads the Bible. Knowledge of Hebrew helpful but not at all necessary to enjoy it.