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Black Biblical Studies: Biblical and Theological Issues on the Black Presence in the Bible : An Anthology of Charles B. Copher

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Black Biblical Studies is one of the most important works on the historical/theological significance of the role and presence of Blacks in the Holy Scriptures.

The primary strength of Copher's work is the breadth of topics covered in this concise book. While being small in size, it is big on highlighting the important issues and interests that most readers and researchers are looking for. Dr. Copher's exquisite scholarship is evident, and his many years as an eminent Old Testament scholar add much texture and depth to these articles.

As an African American seminary professor, I am always seeking works that clearly articulate difficult issues for students. I especially appreciate his chapters on "Three Thousand Years of Biblical Interpretation with Reference to Black People" and "Racial Myths and Biblical Scholarship." His footnotes were very helpful in pointing me to additional sources that offered additional quality sources of information.

There is no attempt here by Copher to tell it all; this text does get one started in the right direction in one's quest for the truth. It provides a clear path for those who desire to push further.

I highly recommend this text.

Dr. Charles B. Copher is professor-emeritus of Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and a leading authority the historical analysis of Blacks in the Bible.

He wrote in the Preface to this 1993 book, "In the course of my presentation of lectures on the subject 'Black Peoples and Personalities in and of the Bible,' several individuals and groups have requested copies of articles, lectures and papers that I have written during the past twenty-five years. It now appears that a good way to respond to the requests is through a collection of some of the writings into a book. This I have done in the present volume by bringing together a few of the writings as they for the most part have been published in journals and anthologies. Two have not heretofore appeared in print."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"There are for instance, in addition to Moses' Cushite wife, the Cushite in the story of Absalom's revolt (2 Samuel 18); Cushi, the father of the prophet Zephaniah... and Ebed-Melech the eunuch was possibly as a governmental official came to the rescue of Jeremiah. And in the New Testament there is the Ethiopian eunuch who was converted to the Christian faith by Philip; and Symeon, called Niger, who was among the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1)." (Pg. 14)
"Joseph married an Egyptian wife to whom were born two of the more important Hebrew tribes, Ephriam and Manasseh." (Pg. 37)
"The Greek and Latin terms are used to translate the Hebrew word Cush and related terms in the Old Testament; the latin term 'niger' is used to translate the corresponding word in the New Testament. In treating the identification of Black persons and peoples, the use of words is limited to include primarily Cush and related terms in the Old Testament (disregarding Kedar, Ham, and even Phinehas, which for now over a hundred years has been stated to mean 'the Negro'); and Ethiopia and Niger in the New Testament." (Pg. 98)
"One may note that Moses is not identified as a Hebrew, but as an Egyptian by the daughers of Jethro (Exodus 2:19), which identity ... Moses did not deny." (Pg. 139)
"As a book, Jeremiah is a treasure trove of references to the African Experience... it contains 62 references to Egypt as a country, apart from references to Ethiopia and other African lands... Moreover, the book contains historical accounts about persons of both immediate and remote African descent... there are the accounts of Ebed-melech the Ethiopian ... who was instrumental in saving Jeremiah's life, and was afterwards blessed by the prophet (Jeremiah 38:7-13, 39:15-18) ... there is Jeremiah's impartial analogy between Judah's inability to alter her wicked ways and the Ethiopian's powerlessness to change the color of his skin (Jeremiah 13;23)." (Pg. 145-146)