Asian-American Biblical Interpretation: Evangelical Voices

  Sponsors: Max Lee and Milton Eng

Asian American Biblical Interpretation (AABI) has come of age in recent years. Publications continue apace with works as recent as the encyclopedic T&T Clark Handbook of Asian American Biblical Hermeneutics (2019). In addition, Asian American biblical scholars have now attained the highest and most visible positions in the academy including presidents and deans of seminaries, the presidency of the Association of Theological Schools and even most recently the highest office in our premier guild, President of the SBL.

Yet, most of such scholarship and representation has come from non-evangelical or mainline theological schools. Evangelicals are less represented (see Chloe Sun, “Recent Research on Asian and Asian American Hermeneutics Related to the Hebrew Bible” CBR 17(3): 258 [238–65]). This new research group provides a space for Asian American evangelical scholars to engage with, critique, integrate and indeed pave new ground in current approaches in Asian American Biblical Interpretation. The fact that the majority of Asian American Protestants are evangelical makes their voices even more imperative. “Asian American” includes but is not limited to the Confucian-belt countries of origin.

Asian American biblical interpretation by its very nature is interdisciplinary. Thus, invited guests will include theologians, historians, sociologists and scholars from other disciplines to inform our research. For further information, please contact Milton Eng ([email protected]) or Max Lee  ([email protected])


Fri Nov 22
3:30 - 5:30 PM
Indigo 204A (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront

This year our research group will focus on biblical interpretation from non-East Asian cultural contexts focusing in particular on South and Southeast Asia. The program will consist of invited papers which will expound a biblical text from such social locations speaking to their locations and the wider world. Presentations will include some reflection on methodology and those characteristics which distinguish South and Southeast Asian biblical interpretation. Two respondents, one East Asian, as well as discussion from the floor will be included. Questions can be directed to Milton Eng ([email protected]) or Max Lee ([email protected]).

Max Lee, North Park Theological Seminary, Presiding (5 min)

Boaz Johnson, North Park University
Reading the Creation of Humankind in Gen. 1 and 2 in the Context of South Asian Aboriginal, Slave, and Outcaste Creation Poems (20 min)

Philip P. Chia, Australian College of Theology, CTCA, Respondent (5 min)

David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary
Reading Hebrews in a Sri Lankan Context (20 min)

Joyce del Rosario, Seattle Pacific University, Respondent (5 min)

Break (5 min)

Chakrita M. Saulina, University of Cambridge
Empowering Place and Expanding Eden: An Indonesian Batak Reading of the Theology of the Land in the Book of Acts (20 min)

Philip P. Chia, Australian College of Theology, CTCA, Respondent (5 min)

Ekaputra Tupamahu, Portland Seminary
Reading Romans 8:15 in an Interreligious Context of Indonesia (20 min)

Joyce del Rosario, Seattle Pacific University, Respondent (5 min)

Discussion (10 min)