Abstract:
South African biblical scholars – particularly those who focus on the Old Testament – are
known for their engagement with themes that can be termed social ethical. This impulse is
used as starting point to investigate the relevance of social ethics in South Africa and its current
status. It is argued that social ethical reflection is of particular relevance for South Africa. This
thesis is investigated in two ways. Firstly, the applicability of social ethics as academic field is
examined and it is shown that post-apartheid South African political institutions, systems and
processes themselves are subjected to major changes and developments – a traditional area
of focus of social ethics. Secondly, the current status of social ethical reflection in theological
journals based in South Africa is investigated. The article concludes by showing that the
current status of social ethical reflection in South African academic theology does not reflect
the perceived need for social ethical reflection.
