What was clear to the original readers of Scripture is not always clear to us. Because of the cultural distance between the biblical world and our contemporary setting, we often bring modern Western biases to the text. For example: When Western readers hear Paul exhorting women to "dress modestly," we automatically think in terms of sexual modesty. But most women in that culture would never wear racy clothing. The context suggests that Paul is likely more concerned about economic modesty--that Christian women not flaunt their wealth through expensive clothes, braided hair and gold jewelry....

The apostle Paul was kind of a jerk.

Historian O'Brien unveils the untold story of religious liberty in America. Between theocracy and secularism, Baptist pastor Isaac Backus contended for a third way--religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all Americans, regardless of belief. Backus' theological ideas impacted his era and give insights into how people of faith today can navigate political debates and work for the common good.good.