ProveText 1464. Honor, Shame, and the World of Jesus | Cultural Keys to Reading the New Testament
Jan 9, 2026
In this discussion, T. Michael W. Halcomb, a scholar affiliated with GlossaHouse, delves into the ancient honor-shame culture that shaped the New Testament. He reveals how this lens transforms our understanding of key figures like Jesus and the Pharisees, illustrating that Jesus embraced social risks by associating with sinners. Halcomb vividly illustrates how crucifixion served as public humiliation and explores the prodigal son's narrative as a story of honor restoration. He draws intriguing parallels between ancient social dynamics and modern-day honor-seeking behaviors.
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Honor And Shame Frame Biblical Culture
- The biblical world is shaped by honor and shame, not guilt and innocence.
- Honor functions as social capital that people compete for and can be publicly lost or gained.
Jesus Reorders Social Status
- Jesus' actions challenge social status rather than merely teaching moral rules.
- Eating with tax collectors and answering Pharisees' public tests risked and reclaimed honor in social settings.
The Cross As Public Humiliation
- Crucifixion communicated public humiliation as much as physical death.
- Hebrews frames Jesus as enduring and despising the shame of the cross to absorb disgrace and restore honor.