Deconstructing the past : behind the text, in the text, confronted by the text

Abstract

This article, taking the Faculty’s centenary celebration slogan of ‘Gateway to’ as cue, reflects on the contributions made by lecturers in the Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, that ‘opened the gates’ for the disadvantaged, excluded and marginalised. How did these scholars envisage inclusive believing communities and an open society with equal opportunities for all? It is argued that because of a historical, critical and close reading of the texts of the New Testament, many scholars belonging to the Department during the past 100 years were able to hear the texts of the New Testament in their original socio-historical settings (what it meant for its original readers), and therefore were able to apply these meanings in ever-changing new contexts (what it means).