Scripture, Our Comadre

“An immensely innovative textbook on how to study and apply Scripture through the framework of a Latina lens. Magallanes-Tsang winsomely weaves together foundational personal stories, culturally appropriate Spanish labels, and academic acumen to offer an accessible how-to guide for studying the Bible. She illustrates her method with close readings of biblical texts and helpfully provides lists of resources throughout. As a fellow Latino Old Testament scholar, I wholeheartedly say, '¡Felicidades y muchísimas gracias!”

M. Daniel Carroll R.

“Sophia Magallanes-Tsang has provided a delightful, whimsical introduction to inductive Bible study with a Latina edge. Using enchanting Spanglish words and phrases, Magallanes-Tsang finds chisme and comadrazgo in Bible stories and encourages inquiring students of the Bible to be 'metíches' (inquisitive people) and 'chismosos' (interlocutors). She challenges her readers to listen to the rhythms (oír los rítmos) of the text. Highly recommend for someone who wants to see new life breathed into la Biblia—our Comadre.”

Kay Higuera Smith

“Scripture, Our Comadre resonates with me because (through marriage to a Mexicana Americana) I, too, hear the rich voices of abuelitas (grandmothers), hijas (daughters), and nietas (granddaughters) animating the biblical words. I am also encouraged by how this work invites every reader—Latino or otherwise, female or male, younger or more mature, with whatever degrees of privilege—into a deeper interpersonal encounter with the Bible. Students of Scripture all across the spectrum, from those just arriving to established scholars, will be renewed in their efforts to read, hear, and comprehend the Word of God and to live into the redemptive winds of the Spirit that blow across the (Latin) Americas—even to the ends of the earth.”

Amos Yong

“After years as a pastor and a Bible scholar, I just learned a juicy chisme from Sophia Magallanes-Tsang: La Biblia is my comadre. ¡No me digas! And I'm a metíche for asking her too many questions? Wow! I love Magallanes-Tsang's approach to inductive biblical exegesis, especially the key role of the Holy Spirit in Scripture interpretation. This book is what my students need in order to grasp what contextual biblical exegesis is all about.”

Lydia Hernández-Marcial

“Magallanes-Tsang invites readers into a distinctly Latina way of reading Scripture—one shaped by story, culture, and engaging the biblical text through the social metaphors of the oyente, metíche, and chismosa. Through her personal narrative, she shows that biblical interpretation is never detached from identity but deeply rooted within it. This book models how to read Scripture through one's own cultural lens while attentively listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Accessible, compelling, and theologically rich, it offers a fresh and meaningful approach to the task of biblical exegesis. In reading it, I found myself learning not only how to interpret Scripture but also how to read as a member of a larger, interconnected family of faith.”

Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III

“In Scripture, Our Comadre, Sophia Magallanes-Tsang provides a thorough and engaging approach to biblical interpretation. She aptly describes the OIR (observing, investigating, retelling) inductive method of exegesis, invoking language and practice from Latina relational experiences of comadrazgo—mothers and co-mothers relating to one another and their children. Magallanes-Tsang details guidelines and examples for reading the biblical text (our 'Comadre') in ways that accurately interpret its historical and cultural backgrounds. Her study powerfully demonstrates how all readers can connect to the ancient texts in light of contemporary realities.”

Efrain Agosto

“For many students and readers, the prospect of critical biblical study can feel intimidating. In this accessible and encouraging guide, Magallanes-Tsang offers a personal, honest, and practical invitation into the world of academic biblical interpretation. Drawing from her experience as a Latina Pentecostal scholar, she demonstrates that the skills needed for faithful interpretation are often the very skills readers already use in navigating their everyday lives and communities. Yet this book is more than an introduction to exegesis. It is an invitation to approach Scripture with intellectual curiosity, spiritual openness, and deep trust in God's presence. Readers need not be Latina or Pentecostal to benefit from Magallanes-Tsang's distinctive perspective. All that is required is a love for Scripture, attentiveness to the Spirit, and a desire to hear God's voice speaking through the biblical text to both individuals and communities. Along the way, Scripture and Spirit emerge as trusted comadres (co-mothers), guiding readers into deeper understanding and faithful engagement with the Bible.”

Timothy J. Sandoval