Contextualising biblical exegesis : what is the African biblical hermeneutic approach?

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Authors

Nyiawung, Mbengu David

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

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Publisher

AOSIS Open Journals

Abstract

This article responded to the question about the right methodology needed for the reconstruction of a viable African Christian theology. It equally contributed an answer to earlier concerns by Appiah-Kubi, Stinton and Nyiawung, who had grappled with an African response to the question of Jesus’ identity: ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Lk 9:20). It also attended to Aben’s remark that Africans contribute minimally to biblical theology especially in the domain of biblical exegesis. Finally, it proposed an African biblical hermeneutic approach, a shift of paradigm from the text, its author as well as its context to the context of the subject of exegesis as a contextual approach of biblical criticism. Three main conclusions emerged from the article, namely, (1) the African context contains enormous potentials that can enhance the understanding and interpretation of biblical texts; (2) from the perspective of biblical interpretation, there is no superior context or culture; and (3) the African biblical hermeneutic approach is a possible route to the development of an authentic African Christian theology.

Description

This article is an extensive reworking of an article published in the nonaccredited Journal of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary Kumba, Voices from Kumba, 2013, Volume 4, 144−168.

Keywords

Reconstruction, African Christian theology, Jesus, Biblical exegesis

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Nyiawung, M.D., 2013, ‘Contextualising biblical exegesis: What is the African biblical hermeneutic approach?’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 69(1), Art. #2011, 9 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v69i1.2011.