Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
An Overview of Te-Li Lau’s Defending Shame

An Overview of Te-Li Lau’s Defending Shame

Last updated on: May 14, 2020 at 2:01 am by Brad Vaughn

An Overview of Te-Li Lau’s Defending Shame 2020-05-14T02:01:46-07:00 Brad Vaughn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I might have found my new favorite honor-shame book. The title of Te-Li Lau’s new book is Defending Shame: The Formative Power in Paul’s Letter. However, he does far more than defend shame as a topic worthy of consideration; he demonstrates the pervasive presence and influence of shame in Paul’s writings.

This first post introduces you to the book. The coming articles will highlight a few of Lau’s key ideas and observations.

How Does Lau Defend Shame’s Honor?

What does Lau attempt to accomplish? He explores several important questions throughout this book. For instance,

What is the relationship between shame and moral formation?
How does Paul envision his shaming rhetoric to function?
How do Paul’s religious convictions affect his use of shame?

He summarizes his project in this way:

My interest lies in the ethical significance of shame, not so much in the phenomenology, sociology, or psychology of shame. These other approaches will be examined only insofar as it helps elucidate the rationale underlying Paul’s use of shame for Christic formation. I examine not only how Paul uses the category of shame to inculcate a Christian identity and ethos but also how and why he shames others when they fail to conduct their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel” (p 10).

Most books relating honor, shame, and ethics come from philosophers and historians; this is the most extensive treatment by a theologian on the work of Paul.

What’s in the book?

Foreword by Luke Timothy Johnson
Introduction: A Fractured Understanding of Shame

Part 1: Framework
1. Definitional Background
2. Greco-Roman Backgrounds
3. Jewish Backgrounds

Part 2: Exegesis
4. Paul’s Use of Retrospective Shame
5. Paul’s Use of Prospective Shame
6. Constructing Paul’s Use of Shame

Part 3: Cultural Engagement
7. Contemporary Contribution
8. Contemporary Challenges

Defending Shame divides into three sections. In Part 1, he outlines the framework and background for the discussion. This includes key definitions, presuppositions, and historical background. When I jumped into this section, I expected to be bored, having already studied so much previous concerning honor and shame. Wow, was I wrong!

In Part 2, Lau engages Paul’s letters. He specifically focuses on interpreting 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon, though he touches on other letters here and there. In Part 3, he compares and contrasts Pauline shaming with contemporary and ancient voices. These include researchers like Brene Brown and John Braithwaite as well as Chinese philosophers like Confucius and Mencius.

Who is this book for?

Lau has written a scholarly book. It is not so technical so as only to be helpful for a select few scholars. Still, it’s not a fast read simply because of its density. I found myself having to stop again and again because I could not cram another idea into my brain. I needed to let them simmer in my mind. Defending Shame is not terribly long. He does not waste one of its 233 pages.

Unfortunately, I suspect that many readers won’t get past the first section. It will likely scare off some readers who are uninterested in history or theoretical background. Others will wonder whether one needs to spend such time on Greco-Roman and Jewish background. As I mentioned, even I was tempted to skip it. I’m so glad I did not. Though not quick or easy at times, Part 1 illuminates so much of the underlying logic of shame. That lens opens mental doors when we turn to Paul’s letters.

What about Lau’s presentation? He provides helpful summaries and clearly identifies his key ideas. In certain chapters, a few graphs and charts capture the essence of his thinking. His vocabulary is rich, though some people will prefer he use simpler terms in places. Stylistic preferences aside, Defending Shame is a substantive treatment on a long-neglected subject.

In the coming posts, I will highlight several key ideas and quotes from the book, one section at a time. In the meantime, here’s an excerpt of Defending Shame.

Previous Post

April 9, 2020

Coronavirus Exposes the Cost of Individualistic Christianity

Next Post

April 15, 2020 Does the cross mean we should "grin and bear it"?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atonement Biblical Theology Book Reviews China Chinese Church Chinese Culture Chinese Language Collectivism Contextualization Culture (General) Ecclesiology Evangelism Gospel Honor & Shame (Face) Interpretation/Exegesis Justification/Righteousness Missiology Mission Methods One Gospel for All Nations Other Practical Contextualization Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes Resources Romans Salvation (General) Saving God's Face Seeking God's Face The Cross in Context Theological Contextualization Theological Education Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul James John Peter

Books by This Author Books by Brad Vaughn

See All Titles »