Book Review: 'James - An honor and shame paraphrase

Once again, we have a guest post from our co-worker Kenosi Molato on some of his thoughts on the newest book in the series of honor-shame paraphrases of books of the bible - James:

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This paraphrase of the book of James is one of the honor-shame paraphrase series, which gives us a fresh perspective of honor-shame nuances within James, and also provides a tool for applying honor-shame frameworks to cultures which have strong honor-shame dynamics.  As an African living and ministering in a worldview which is predominantly honor-shame this paraphrase of the book of James aids me, and liberates the biblical text which has been enmeshed in worldviews, translations and interpretations which are guilt oriented.  Moreover it provides a fresh look at the book of James in a way which resonates with my own honor-shame oriented heart and outlook on life. 

The author views the main thrust of the book of James as persevering in loyalty to God. He asserts that the first chapter is a prologue and the rest of the book from 2:1 to 5:6 revisits the theme from chapter one and develops it more (pg. 11).

Daniel Eng knows his intended audience and the web of shame and honor, which controls their worldview.

He is to be highly commended on the narrative style of writing in this paraphrase. Like a good teacher, he does not only reveal the honor-shame dynamics but he also captures the narrative sense, which the original readers would have been most familiar with. Unlike the modern translations, which submerge the text into dynamic equivalence, Eng skillfully employs vivid pictures, which capture the scenes. For example in Chapter 2:1-4 he uses words such as "disheveled, with dirty clothes and filthy fingernails, lacking in social graces." He takes the reader by the hand and invites him/her to the historical setting and like a time machine makes the reader listen to the heartbeat of the Apostle James. However, I feel like sometimes Daniel Eng is hesitant to employ honor and shame terms to drive words into the heart of the reader. E.g. on page 16 he uses the word "rubbish" in condemning the deeds done by the recipients of the letter and I wished he could have used a phrase such as "shame on you", as it would have resonated with my heart more than "rubbish". But that might just be a personal preference based on my own cultural vocabulary.

Honor and shame cultures are community and relationship-based and this paraphrase captures these concepts well. Words such as 'family members' used in Chapter 3:1 captures this motif, therefore, the readers feel a sense of belonging and feel related to the one who is addressing them (Pg. 17,18 &19). In my African honor-shame culture, people who belong to your clan are important therefore their advice is to be fully accepted, as compared with a stranger's advice, which has to be received with a grain of salt. In page 18, Eng picks up the community-based rhetoric in relation to the concept of disputes and fights in the community structure. Living in a culture which traditionally defines sin as anything that disturbs the harmony of the community, I find Daniel Eng's paraphrase reaches to the heart, and addresses the motive of the problem just as the original author intended. Note the phrases he utilizes: "My family members, don't speak slander about each other. The person who badmouths or condemns a family member also badmouths and condemns the royal decrees of God."

Unlike many translations which insert the word 'guilt' to James 4:17, the word  "ἁμαρτία"  (harmartia - sin) is better paraphrased by Eng as 'failure in God's eyes'. The context of 'not doing something you know you should do' clearly directs the meaning as a failure to do what is required, while in contrast, guilt has to do with crossing a boundary and 'doing what you know you should not do'.

Daniel Eng has chosen that the theme of the Book of James is persevering in loyalty to God. Subsequently he then chooses to refer to God as a "benefactor" (pg. 10). Unfortunately, the cultural idea of a Benefactor in my part of Africa implies someone who dispenses some gifts 'with strings attached'. Additionally, in my context whereby there's excessive prosperity gospel which is driven by a mis-placed honor-shame ethos, it will not be wise to use Benefactor to refer to God, without significant clarification, as it will water the soil of the prosperity Gospel.

This paraphrase of the book of James will remain as a valuable tool both to the teachers and the students of the word of God in an honor-shame culture and Daniel Eng has done an honorable job in writing this valuable work.