Professor Contributes to "The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary"
Aug. 21, 2024
Daniel K. Eng, PhD, assistant professor of New Testament language and literature at Western Seminary, contributed the James commentary in The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary, which was just released this month by IVP Academic.
Eng shared about his experiences working on this unique project, and how he hopes the new commentary will be a blessing to the church:
Why were you excited to join in this project?
I was thrilled to join this project because of the company I would have. The editors and the other authors are skilled Bible scholars, but they also love the church. Also, writing a commentary is a special opportunity, since it will impact sermons, Bible studies, and the classroom. It’s been a blessing to work with the folks at InterVarsity Press, an organization who also loves the church.
How is this commentary series a unique contribution to New Testament studies?
No one stands on neutral ground. Every person is embodied with experiences that shape the way we view the biblical text. Biblical studies materials are largely written by male authors from the majority culture. Therefore, we already have a wealth of resources from a particular perspective. "The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary" offers a much-needed contribution. We are a team of underrepresented voices: either ethnic minorities or women. This book gives access to a diverse group of voices, all in one volume.
Why is it important for Christians to listen to scholars from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities?
The global church is called to be a people of the Word. The goal of Christ-followers is to seek to know God and how we fit into his plan. Studying the Bible was always meant to be done in community. As minority scholars reading biblical studies materials, we often detect gaps and blind spots. InterVarsity Press offers this volume to take a big step towards filling in the gaps. As we seek to understand the Bible together, the particular eyes and words of the authors offer valuable insights to the community. For example, my contribution to this book is the commentary on James. In writing to the “twelve tribes” who are scattered abroad (Greek: diaspora, 1:1), James addresses an audience of Christ-followers who are minorities. They are minorities in their homes because of their Jewish ethnicity and culture, and they are minorities because they follow Jesus. As an ethnic minority American, my commentary speaks about the minority experience so that we understand the situation of James’s hearers. I invite readers to consider the original hearers’ marginalized social status when reading about their trials in 1:2 and 1:12, or their desire to show favoritism to the rich (those of high social status) in 2:1-10.
How can this be a helpful resource to those in ministry?
There are many ways this book can be helpful, but I’ll focus on two major ones. First, the commentary helps us in the interpretation stage. Again, we all read the Bible from where we are standing. For many readers, the minority authors offer a needed perspective that can fill in the gaps and blind spots. In reading this commentary, there will be times when each of us would think, “Wow, I didn’t think of it that way.” Second, the commentary helps us in the communication stage, as we facilitate the biblical message to different people. In ministry, we exposit the text and encourage others to act on it. In this exposition process, reading these authors can help us consider how different kinds of people hear the word of God. If there is a message for a particular demographic (like women, the poor, the powerful), they are called to respond in a particular way. But those outside that group also hear the message, and it lands differently for them. They are also called to respond, but in different ways. Reading the perspectives of a diverse group of authors helps us to contextualize our messages to our differing audiences, just like the New Testament authors do.
You have now written several commentaries on James. How has your understanding of this book changed as you have studied it more?
As I continue to study James, I have a greater appreciation for his writing. James’s letter is a masterfully written document, with consistency and particularity. His Spirit-inspired words were tailored for effectiveness to his audience: the Twelve Tribes scattered in the diaspora. But we modern readers are the secondary audience; his words are a treasure to our discipleship as well. James gives a view into following Christ when our earthly circumstances are unfavorable. James gives us hope that we who persevere in faithfulness will make it to the end and receive the crown of life (James 1:12).