Abstract:
The Bible plays an important role in South African society. The interpretation
of this book within or outside the Christian community has
become an increaslingly major source of debate. It has been used and
misused in several spheres of society. This article does not intend
providing an extensive and composite picture of the problems and character
of biblical hermeneutics. Nor will it attempt to elaborate on or
explain the origins, development and influences of all the different hermeneutical
approaches. Rather, it poses to be an introduction to a few
of the problem(s) encountered in the attempt to understand the Bible,
especially in terms of the 'new' South Africa. Within the framework of
this scope, remarks will be made regarding the challenges involved in interpreting
the Bible, the role of the interpreter in the interpretation process,
the varied forms of literature to be found in Scripture, and in the
last instance, to take cognisance of a few methodological approaches to
the text analysis of the Bible.
