Many marginalized communities have been victims of the weaponization of Scripture to uphold oppressive systems. For the African American community, the Bible was used to uphold slavery and to require obedience to their masters as to God. Still, a glance at many African American liberation movements shows the same Bible being used to support emancipation and civil rights. How is this possible? How can a community wounded through interpretations of the text reclaim its message of liberation? In African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation, Lisa M. Bowens uses a historical, theological, and biblical lens to survey how the African American community has interpreted the Pauline epistles through the centuries. Bowens emphasizes the idea of reception history, which denotes that the context in which Scripture is being interpreted must be considered just as much as the historical background and setting of the text. Bowens’ review of this reception history demonstrates that “the powerful ways in which African Americans ‘rescue’ Paul from the clutches of white supremacy speak in profound ways to the power of black faith, the ability of black resilience, and the fortitude of black intelligentsia.”

We recommend this book to everyone desiring to widen their readings of Paul by learning from centuries of African American interpretation. We believe that the voices of those who have reclaimed the true faith their oppressors previously corrupted are essential companions for those seeking to reconstruct a liberative Christian faith.