Dr. Esau McCaulley, “How to Read the Book That Sets You Free”
While the Declaration of Independence declares that such foundational rights as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident, many scholars argue these “self-evident” truths are not as evident today as they once were. Behind these truths, these scholars argue, lies a biblical worldview, especially the ideas of a single, rational Creator and the inherent dignity of humans as bearers of the imago Dei, the “image of God.”
Join us for The Bible and America 250: These Truths Are Not Self-Evident Lecture Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. This thought-provoking event brings together a host of renowned scholars and historians to explore the profound influence of the Bible on America's founding principles, values, and institutions.
In this lecture, Dr. Esau McCaulley will examine how Scripture was used in debates over slavery and abolition in the 19th century, highlighting the abolitionists’ use of the gospel narratives.
Nov 9, 2026 - Nov 9, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Floor 5R
Free Admission (Event Ticket Required)
In Person Event
Virtual Event
Abstract
This lecture will examine the use of Scripture in the theological debates around slavery and abolition in the 19th century. It will challenge the common scholarly claim that the abolitionist party lacked a strong, exegetically robust, and theologically compelling case for the liberation of the enslaved. In fact, at the center of the pro-slavery side was not mere exegesis, but often racism. Rather than examine how this debate raged across the canon, we will pay particular attention to how the pro-slavery and the abolitionist parties used the gospel narratives. What we witness from the abolitionists in these debates is public theology at its finest. They are teaching us how to read the book that sets us free.
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Schedule
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1:30 p.m. | Welcome & Check In
1:30–2:00 p.m. | Refreshments
2:00–3:00 p.m. | Lecture
3:00–3:30 p.m. | Panel Q&A
3:30–5:00 p.m. | Self-Guided Tour of the Bible in America Gallery
Lecturer
Dr. Esau McCaulley
Esau McCaulley, PhD, is The Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College, focusing on New Testament exegesis, African American biblical interpretation, and public theology. He is the award-winning author of Reading While Black and has written widely for both academic and popular audiences, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Christianity Today. His recent memoir, How Far to the Promised Land, was named a top five nonfiction book of 2023 by Amazon, and he is also a children’s author, podcast host, and senior editor for Holy Post Media.
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