Contextualising biblical exegesis : what is the African biblical hermeneutic approach?
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Date
Authors
Nyiawung, Mbengu David
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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.