Handbook of Biblical Social Values, Third Edition

Values are culturally specific. This handbook explains select biblical social values in their Mediterranean cultural contexts. Some examples of values are altruism, freedom, family-centeredness, obedience, parenting, and power. Though the English words for the values described here would be familiar to readers (e.g., altruism) the meanings of such words differ between cultures. In the Mediterranean world, for instance, altruism is a duty incumbent upon anyone who has surplus. It is interpersonal and group specific. In the West, especially in the United States, altruism is impersonal and universally oriented generosity that operates in a highly organized context. This handbook not only presents the Mediterranean meanings of these value words but also contrasts those meanings with Western ones.

John J. Pilch has been a visiting professor in the Odyssey Program at Johns Hopkins University since 2011. Previously he was professorial lecturer of biblical studies at Georgetown University. He is the author of many articles and books on the culture of the Bible, including The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible (1999), A Cultural Handbook to the Bible (2012), and The Cultural Life Setting of the Proverbs (2016).

Bruce J. Malina is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Creighton University. He is the author, coauthor, and editor of numerous influential books on the New Testament. These include The Social Gospel of Jesus (2001), The New Testament World (3rd ed., 2001), and Social-Science Models for Interpreting the Bible (edited with John J. Pilch, 2007).