Truth Speaks to Power: The Countercultural Nature of Scripture

by Walter Brueggemann

World-renowned biblical interpreter Walter Brueggemann invites readers to take a closer look at the subversive messages found within the Old Testament. Brueggemann asserts that the Bible presents a "sustained contestation" over truth, in which established institutions of power do not always prevail. But this is not always obvious at first glance. A closer look reveals that the text actually contradicts the apparent meaning of an innocent, face-value reading. Brueggemann invites the reader into this thick complexity of the textual reading, where the authority of power is undermined in cunning and compelling ways. He insists that we are--as readers and interpreters--always contestants for truth, whether we recognize ourselves as such or not.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Faith

176 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2013

About the author

Walter Brueggemann was an American Christian scholar and theologian who is widely considered an influential Old Testament scholar. His work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition and the sociopolitical imagination of the Church. He argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

To some, it may be surprising to realize that the Bible provides a counter cultural narrative in which those in power are brought down by the truth-speaking of those on the bottom. It seems to me that a toxic form of Christianity - Christian Nationalism - is running rampant in American evangelical culture. In the eyes of those with no Christian commitment, it is easy to imagine such Christian Nationalism simply IS Christianity.

This version of Christianity is all about getting and keeping power - it thus elevates those who play the game and win the crown. Its a union of preachers/theologians (Sean Feucht, Eric Metaxas and Al Mohler, just to name two) with politicians (Margery Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Trump…pretty much the entire Republican Party) along with talking heads (Charlie Kirk) all with the goal of taking over the government to enforce their form of faith. They think they will create a God-blessed country and they think this is what God desires.

Its blasphemy.

They should read theologians like Bruggeman, though I suspect they’d say he’s just some kind of socialist. I mean, all this talk of power from below?

I am glad I was exposed to the work of folks like Bruggeman 15 years ago, and his Prophetic Imagination is one of my favorite books. This book covers similar ground. Its a short read, less than 150 pages. There is a lot packed in that 150 pages. Were more Christians to learn from Bruggeman, and others like him, we might have a much better witness in the world.


“That truth is not a cognitive package; it is a deep practical awareness that the force of emancipation will not be resisted (Moses); the hunger of many vulnerable folk will be heard and honored, the royal famine notwithstanding (Elisha); the bureaucratic power of visible authority cannot be maintained in the face of agitation from below (Solomon); and the dread sanctions of Torah cannot be elided or outflanked (Josiah)” (152).

Just a taste of the good stuff in this book.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read that Walter Brueggemann is considered a world-renown Bible Scholar and an expert on the Old Testament. I was looking forward to reading “Truth Speaks to Power” and learning more about the Old Testament. I am sad to say that I have some serious issues with this book.

As I understand it, the “truth” spoken of in the book refers to Christian principles regarding treatment of the underclass and the “power” is the ruling class or government. He seems to say the Old Testament and the New Testament teach redistribution of wealth, distributive justice, and social justice. While I agree that these behaviors should be expected of Christians as something they practice willingly, I do not agree that it should be expected in the public arena and forced on citizens by the government. A few quotes from the book:

• …the church is, in my judgment, called to its public vocation to practice neighborliness in a way that includes both support of policies of distributive justice and practices of face-to-face restorative generosity.

• Indeed, it is not a stretch to say that Deuteronomy, in it context, became a charter for what we now call liberation theology, namely, the insistence that faith concerns the sustained enactment of public economic justice.

• The Book of Deuteronomy commends the “quadrilateral” of the vulnerable in the community: the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and the poor… The argument is that the body politic must protect and sustain the vulnerable that have no guarantee of protection and sustenance.

These are responsibilities of the church, not the government. The Bible teaches “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31). It teaches in many places how we are expected to treat our fellow humans. However, I don’t see where God or Jesus is particularly interested in the governments of this world. Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things which are God’s”. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
The main purpose Jesus came to earth was to regain what Adam lost. “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). God is Holy and can not stand to look on sin. Once Adam sinned, his relationship with God was lost. Adam couldn’t go back in time and change what he did. God sent His son to take our place and pay the penalty for our willful disobedience (sin). That’s like the judge paying our fine for us and setting us free. That’s what the Bible is about. The Old Testament looked forward to Christ with the law and the animal sacrifice. No one could keep the law perfectly and the animal sacrifice was a place holder for the perfect sacrifice (Jesus). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The discussion of “truth” and “power” in the book did not include this information.

Liberation theology, distributive justice, and all this type of social/political equity has been tried before. It is called socialism and it has failed miserably. I can’t find in scripture one instance where God says “Take from those according to their ability and give it to those according to their need”.

Several times in the book the author expresses doubt that certain historic events actually happened and that some Biblical figures were total myths. When I was much younger in years and younger in my Christian walk, I wondered about some of these things. I wondered about scientists and historians who expressed doubt about the accuracy of the Bible. But now I am older and have observed life for many years. I have seen so many instances where scientists have given us information as “fact” and then changed their minds – “oops, we need to correct what we told you” and historians who gave us the “facts” of history but when new discoveries or information came to light, they “changed” their previous version of history. In short, they don’t know everything. But all this time, the Bible hasn’t changed. I am amazed at Biblical scholars who don’t believe the Bible! I have wondered at the sad state of churches in America today. Now I understand. The preachers are attending seminaries where they are fed this line. God help us.

I do not recommend this book. I do thank Westminster John Knox Press for providing the book free of charge for review.

I was provided a free copy of this book for review from Westminster John Knox Press. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book on God's power and ways vs the power and ways of the world. One of the best books I have read!

[Michael Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-known biblical scholar and interpreter Walter Brueggemann in rare form. Made me present to how much the Bible leans toward economic justice. Definitely worth a read.

[Rob Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, immersive, powerful, useful, and satisfying. Brueggemann formulates that OT biblical narratives show the ultimate futility of rulers in the face of God's divinity. Further, he notes that humans tend more towards secular citizenship than in discipleship of the divine.

Though Brueggemann disavows this book is about political parties, evidence in our present era of corruption, distruths, and sliding movements toward "totalism" in the US and world stage would suggest otherwise. The nature of governments has not changed. The nature of people has not changed. However, the inability to understand ageless parallels is perilous folly. For Christians - as for all God's people - it is willful return to slavery.

Truth needs to be preached. Brueggemann does not disappoint.

Here are several sample quotes.

Brueggemann wrote:

"The occupants of power are, of necessity, always seeking out versions of truth that are compatible with present power arrangements. Conversely, outsiders to present power arrangements are always proposing a counter-truth that will permit and legitimate counter arrangements of power." P. 4

"[I]f you have seen one pharaoh, you have seen them all. They all act the same way in their greedy, uncaring, violent self-sufficiency. Whatever we are to say of his identity as a historical character, pharaoh is clearly a metaphor. He embodies and represents raw, absolute, worldly power." P. 17

"The slaves are the ones who will make the continuing food monopoly of the Pharaoh possible; they do not benefit at all from their hard labor because they're assigned purpose is to produce security and happiness for Pharaoh." P. 21

"...the map of power and truth is complex and multidimensional." P. 36

"[W]e dare to imagine the church:
1. Sounding the cry
2. Contesting for the alternative
3. Acting out the alternative
4. Dancing out beyond slavery"

A governmental "system [such as that of the Pharaoh of Exodus] has such a grip on us that we stay fixed on endless quotas of exploitation, quotas of production and consumption." P. 38-39

"We have seen enough through the 20th century of rapacious ideologies and posturing rulers in their strutting absolutism not to accept such posturing at face value. ... Thus a discerning reader who asks about how truth impinges on power does not incline to take the reports of power at face value but seeks to look beneath for hints of truth that jeopardize such blanket the claims of power. We are aware that the Solomon text of 1 Kings: 3-11 is not simply reportage, but it is an artistic act of interpretive imagination." P. 47-48

"The achievement through deception is followed by consolidation through violence." P. 52

"The narratives of Elisha place an accent on truth that simply disregards power." P. 87

"The surge of the Spirit generates social upheavals that entrenched power cannot negate and social possibility but entrenched power cannot halt. Thus the case builds for the tense interface of power and truth." P. 107

"The tradition of Deuteronomy may be read, instead of repugnant primitivism, as an insistence that the world is morally coherent, that deeds and policies of consequences, and that future possibilities for community growth out of present choices and policy decisions. The rhetoric of divine judgment is an insistence that there is a deep and non-negotiable answerability to the public process." P. 127

"Truth is not disposed of, even when resisted by power." P. 140

"The praxis of justice, seen as concern for the marginal in society, rather than cult or creed, constitutes true religion, which is not limited to those who confess Jesus as "Lord." Quoting John Donahue p. 144

"Thus these several narratives concerning power and the truth in the Old Testament run toward the New Testament...There are no easy or obvious connections to our time, place, and circumstance. But of course the question cannot be avoided. We do well, in the wake of these narratives, to reflect on power and truth in our present context of faith. We live, I propose, in a totalizing environment. The huge concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small number of predators - reinforced by a government that is responsive to that concentration of wealth and power and very much legitimated by establishment religion - has created an environment that contains all the socio-economic possibilities and yields and ideology of conformity that is expressed as consumerism and supported by the mantras of militarism. It becomes, in such a context, exceedingly difficult to sustain action (or even thought!) outside of that totality. for current thought or action is, for the most part, skillfully co-opted for the totality." P. 158-159

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 4 out of 5]

God bless Walter Brueggemann! There is no one who can out "Brueggemann" him -- which is to say, he excels at speaking a timely and prophetic word to the church through his scholarship of the Old Testament.
By the same token, if you have read one of Brueggemann's books, you will begin to get the essence of all of our his other works -- they all revolve around similar themes. Still, any time I find a used copy of his works, I can't help but purchase it and absorb it.
I thought his chapters on Moses and Elijah/Elisha were especially compelling. Classic Brueggemann.

[Rick Folker · Rating 5 out of 5]

vintage brueggemann

[Terry Feix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The insight one expects of Brueggeman. Not everyone will agree with his reading at all points, nor do I, but the ideas are powerful and stimulating

[Benedict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and taught a class at my church from it. I've probably taught three or four dozen different short classes since becoming ordained, and this has become my favorite!

Brueggemann has great focus and insight, and lays out lenses for thinking about how God's call to "moral neighborliness" should be lived out by the leaders of human communities. Moving from Pharaoh to Solomon to the kings Elijah and Elisha faced, and finally a commentary on Josiah (as a sort of Camelot-builder), the book brings to life Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) figures to show how God's Truth and human Power interact. Brueggemann sketches brief parallels to the lessons of Jesus, which lay the groundwork for much-needed Christian curiosity about how Jesus stands on the teachings of the earlier scriptures and prophets.

The book is easy to read, and members of my class loved having real formulas to work with in thinking about human power (for example: scarcity -> anxiety -> accumulation -> monopoly -> violence, while in the opposite direction, "abundance" instead of "accumulation" pushes back, easing scarcity and therefore anxiety). We also spent a lot of time talking about Brueggemann's early point that there are "Four Characters" in every struggle between earthly power and God's Truth: Pharaoh, the Hebrew Peasants, Moses, and YHWH. This became a great set of metaphors for talking about the other examples in the Bible ("Can a scroll be a truth-bearer like Moses?") and challenging ourselves ("Are we more like Pilate or Jesus today?").

The book is easy to read -- especially if you take a minute to mark a Bible with the passage he's talking about in each brief chapter, or pull up the text online -- and people who are neither Jewish nor Christian could get a lot out of the lessons about how these faith traditions talk about how people ought to treat each other, and how we fall short of that. I'd easily recommend this to any Christian or Jewish reader who wants a great resource for thinking through how political power, economics, and faith meet.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book on an airplane and immediately decided only a short way into the first chapter, that when I picked it up again, I wanted it to be when I had a Bible handy.

This was largely because what I was reading felt like such a radically different interpretation from what I had ever heard the story told in within my white Evangelical background, that I wanted to review scriptures in context and not just accept what was being told.

As I've grown in my faith, I've come to realize that there is a deep push for justice in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, and Bruggemann is one of the author's that has given me words for that, listening into Rabbi Ruttenberg on Twitter, is another place that this has been clear. Bruggeman cautions against drawing directly from the Bible to any particular current policy, but it's difficult to read this book and not consider the ways in which Evangelicism and political power and wealth have been aligned in this country, and to consider the statements in Jeremiah 9:23-24 as having a good deal of relevance today.

This is the second of Bruggemann's books that I've read, and I really appreciate the way he makes me consider a different perspective, and the frequency with which I end up turning to the Bible to reread an old story in a new light.

Addendum on second read 4/25, theology like this makes Christianity feel relevant to me whereas much of what passes for current Christian Dogma feels like the irrelevant kings Elijah and Elisha operate against.

[Jordan Varey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The theological crisis in the church - that shows up in preaching and in worship as elsewhere- is that the church has largely colluded with the totalism of the National Security State. Or more broadly, has uncritically colluded with Enlightenment reason that stands behind the National Security State that makes preaching Easter an epistemological impossibility. Unlike Paul, the church is in such a posture that is not likely to be bold or unhindered; that is, it is not likely to be unintimidated..." (165)

Brueggemann acts as a compelling tour guide through well known vignettes in the first testament of the Bible. the most compelling argument, and perhaps the most surprising, was his reading of the story of Solomon. Unlike common interpretations, Brueggmann suggests that the authors were practicing a subtle critique of Solomon's ambition for power and accumulation of goods. He ties this interpretation to Jesus' well known comparison of Solomon's splendour to that of birds. The implication seems to be that Jesus read between the lines.

The book was really enjoyable. It felt like doing a Bible study on Justice with a really knowledgeable friend. Brueggemanns style is accessible. He speaks in simple terms and takes time to explain more difficult and/or new concepts. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in issues of justice and power.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Although the Bible may not endorse any particular political agenda, it places in question any agenda that protects the privilege of some at the expense of others." (from the Foreward). In this short book (167pp) which emerged from a series of conference lectures, the author, an acclaimed Old Testament scholar, examines the biblical stories of Moses, Solomon, Elisha and Josiah to reveal that "power that has been founded on something other than truth (e.g. deception, violence) is exposed as fraudulent, delegitimized." What I found most valuable about this book is Walter Brueggemann's reading of scripture which is at once surprising, enlightening and challenging of the naive, flat reading of scripture in which I was discipled and which is most common (when scripture is, in fact, read) in/by the church. Though not presented as such, this book is a fitting companion to Brueggemann's more recent "Reality, Grief, and Hope; Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks."

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Lost one star for extremely poor editing (several typos, incorrect biblical references, etc.).

[Russeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thinking by a great thinker. Clear, concise, a short book that leads to much contemplation and consideration.

[Anna Wedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.