AbstractThis is a message preached by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Pastor E. A. Adeboye. God bless you as you watch.

AbstractThe essay reflects on the contemporary debate within postmodernity on the subjective nature of all texts (including the biblical text) and their interpretation, and the appropriate warrants for appeal to Scripture and tradition in the African context. From a Reformed perspective, it is argued that a constant hermeneutical point be established for contemporary African theologies. The Sola Scriptura conviction is suggested as a hermeneutical point for contemporary African theological argumentation.

AbstractKwame Bediako of the Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture based in Akropong-Akwapim in Ghana, was a stalwart in the field of African Christianity and Theology. He was called home to glory in June 2008 at the age of 63 years. Converted from atheism whilst studying for a doctorate degree in French and African literature at the University of Bordeaux in France, Bediako embraced a conservative evangelical faith. He went on to do a second PhD in Theology under the tutelage of Andrew F. Walls in Aberdeen. Bediako returned to Ghana in 1984 to found the then Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Center for Mission Research and Applied Theology. Through that initiative, now a fully accredited tertiary theological educational institute, Bediako pioneered a new way of doing theology through his emphasis on mother-tongue hermeneutics, oral or grassroots theology, and the study of primal religions as the sub-structure of Christian expression in the majority Two Thirds World. These ideas are outlined in his major publications, Theology and Identity, Christianity in Africa, Jesus of Africa, and the many forceful and insightful articles scattered in local and international journals in religion and theology. For many years to come, although living in glory, Bediako's evangelical intellectual heritage will continue as a leading reference point for all those seeking to understand Africa's place in the history of world Christianity.

AbstractIntroduction: Engaging religion and reconstruction / Elias Kifon Bongmba -- Texts of affirmation rather than negation : Jesse N.K. Mugambi and African Biblical studies / Knut Holter -- The life of King David as a model of reconstruction / David Tuesday Adamo -- Worshipping God the spirit "in spirit and truth" in Africa : one African woman's reflections on John 4:19-24 / Madipoane Masenya (Ngwan'a Mphahlele) -- Olódùmarè : the hidden but relevant god in the Yoruba religious imagination / Enoch Olujide Gbadegesin -- Destiny and eschatology in Jesse Mugambi's writings / John Fischer -- The Church of the future : dialogue on the ecclesiology of Mugambi / Elias Kifon Bongmba -- Christian councils in Africa : Whence? Whither? : impressions / Harold Miller -- Postcolonial positions - Jesse Mugambi and the Christian responsibility in the socio-political sphere / Mika Vähäkangas -- Relating peace in African religion to theologies of liberation and reconstruction / John S. Mbiti -- Re-orientation : theology of reconstruction and intercultural theology / Franz Gmainer-Pranzl -- Reconstruction theology in action : exploring the significance of J.N.K. Mugambi's theological contribution through a case study of Nairobi Chapel/Mavuno Church in Nairobi, Kenya / Diane Stinton -- Theology of reconstruction : a paradigm for reflection on revitalization in African Christianity / Kyama Mugambi -- "Then towards the rebuilding of our societies now in ruins" / Ntozakhe Simon Cezula -- Reconstructing mission : the Church in Africa in the service of justice, peace and reconciliation / Philomena Njeri Mwaura -- The reality of African religio-cultural identity in the context of globalization / Peter Mutuku Mumo -- Integrity of mission in light of the Gospel in Africa : a perspective from an African in diaspora / Tite Tiéno -- On freedom : risking a (faithful) reinterpretation / James R. Cochrane -- The challenge facing the next generation of African theologians / Laurenti Magesa -- Narratives of the future in African history : advancing aspirations for liberation and reconstruction in Africa / Loreen Maseno -- African theology and African literature : rediscovering a daring intellectual project / Abraham Waigi Ng'ang'a -- Theological education in Africa : concerns and contribution of Professor Jesse N.K. Mugambi / Dickson Nkonge Kagema -- Missions and money revisited / Jonathan Bonk -- Managing religious diversity in Tanzania : Islamic revivalism and modes of governance / Frans Wijsen

AbstractHow would ordinary African Christians interpret the figure and book of Job--the quintessential biblical book on suffering--from contexts of extreme poverty, tropical disease, and rampant suffering? How do African Christians culturally understand issues of theodicy and the nature of evil? What role does the devil play in African Pentecostalism? How does the biblical lament empower faith and foster hope for people living with HIV/AIDS? In what way does a theology of (eschatological) hope inform the spirituality and prayers of ordinary African believers in the midst of suffering? Inside the Whirlwind offers insight on these fascinating questions. Based upon the perspectives of Fang Christians in Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea (Central Africa), the thematic and theological reflections on evil, suffering, and hope emerging from sermons and Bible studies on the book of Job offer a remarkable window to view the main theological issues shaping grassroots African Christianity in the twenty-first century.

AbstractContextual Biblical hermeneutics in Africa is Biblical interpretation undertaken from the perspective of the African world view and culture and that makes African social, cultural, political and economic contexts a subject of interpretation. There are various methods of Biblical interpretation in Africa - e.g. the 'African comparative approach', the 'liberational approach', the 'Bible as power approach' - all addressing one specific context. This paper examines factors that are responsible for the emergence of contextual Biblical hermeneutics in Africa and, particularly, looks at its importance for a vibrant evangelical tradition in Africa. In conclusion, the paper makes suggestions for new strategies of interpreting the Bible that should be devised by evangelical Biblical scholars and teachers in Africa in order to make the Bible come alive in African people's religious and social consciousness.

AbstractIt is appropriate for a conference on African Initiatives in Christian Mission to reflect briefly on the prominent, if not overriding, role of Western churches as the agents of mission in Africa. A common trend through much of the previous century was the inclination of western missionising agencies to consider their white personnel engaged� in thel so-called ""mission-field"" as missionaries. By contrast Black Africans were invariably looked upon as recipients of the good news proclaimed by white missionaries.

AbstractThis volume foregrounds biblical interpretation within the African history of colonial contact, from North Atlantic slavery to the current era of globalization. It reads of the prolonged struggle for justice and of hybrid identities from multifaceted contexts, where the Bible co-exists with African Indigenous Religions, Islam, and other religions. Showcasing the dynamic and creative approaches of an emerging and thriving community of biblical scholarship from the African continent and African diaspora, the volume critically examines the interaction of biblical texts with African people and their cultures within a postcolonial framework. While employing feminist/womanist, postcolonial, Afrocentric, social engagement, creative writing, reconstruction, and HIV/AIDS perspectives, the authors all engage with empire in their own ways: in specific times, forms, and geography. This volume is an important addition to postcolonial and empires studies in biblical scholarship. The contributors are David Tuesday Adamo, Lynn Darden, H. J. M. (Hans) van Deventer, Musa W. Dube, John D. K. Ekem, Ernest M. Ezeogu, Elelwani B. Farisani, Sylvester A. Johnson, Emmanuel Katongole, Malebogo Kgalemang, Temba L. J. Mafico, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), Andrew M. Mbuvi, Sarojini Nadar, Elivered Nasambu-Mulongo, Jeremy Punt, Gerrie Snyman, Lovemore Togarasei, Sam Tshehla, Robert Wafawanaka, Robert Wafula, Gerald West, Alice Y. Yafeh-Deigh, and Gosnell L. Yorke.

AbstractThis paper holds that historical imperialisms and the role of Christian texts necessitates a post-colonial feminist biblical interpretation. It holds that Christian texts point beyond their origin, inviting their readers to act them out in history and cross-culturally. Hence, the paper proposes a post-colonial feminist reading strategy that strives to understand how the ideology of various ancient imperial settings informed biblical texts; that scrutinizes the power relations propounded by mission texts in their constructions of different cultures and people; that takes up an open space as a framework of reading for decolonization and liberating interdependence between women of different cultures in the world.

AbstractThis volume foregrounds biblical interpretation within the African history of colonial contact, from North Atlantic slavery to the current era of globalization. It reads of the prolonged struggle for justice and of hybrid identities from multifaceted contexts, where the Bible co-exists with African Indigenous Religions, Islam, and other religions. Showcasing the dynamic and creative approaches of an emerging and thriving community of biblical scholarship from the African continent and African diaspora, the volume critically examines the interaction of biblical texts with African people and their cultures within a postcolonial framework. While employing feminist/womanist, postcolonial, Afrocentric, social engagement, creative writing, reconstruction, and HIV/AIDS perspectives, the authors all engage with empire in their own ways: in specific times, forms, and geography. This volume is an important addition to postcolonial and empires studies in biblical scholarship. The contributors are David Tuesday Adamo, Lynn Darden, H. J. M. (Hans) van Deventer, Musa W. Dube, John D. K. Ekem, Ernest M. Ezeogu, Elelwani B. Farisani, Sylvester A. Johnson, Emmanuel Katongole, Malebogo Kgalemang, Temba L. J. Mafico, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), Andrew M. Mbuvi, Sarojini Nadar, Elivered Nasambu-Mulongo, Jeremy Punt, Gerrie Snyman, Lovemore Togarasei, Sam Tshehla, Robert Wafawanaka, Robert Wafula, Gerald West, Alice Y. Yafeh-Deigh, and Gosnell L. Yorke.

AbstractThis study of Rom 3:25a and the concept of ilasterion seeks to illustrate the importance of biblical interpretation in a multicultural context by generating a dialogue between the Greek text, which reflects a blend of Palestinian and Hellenistic worldviews, and translations into some European and Ghanaian languages that carry their own sociological, linguistic, and theological perspectives. It concludes with comments on the implications of the findings for the production of study Bibles, commentaries, and other Scripture-engagement materials for African audiences.--C.R.M. Abstract Number: NTA52-2008-2-1093

AbstractThis volume foregrounds biblical interpretation within the African history of colonial contact, from North Atlantic slavery to the current era of globalization. It reads of the prolonged struggle for justice and of hybrid identities from multifaceted contexts, where the Bible co-exists with African Indigenous Religions, Islam, and other religions. Showcasing the dynamic and creative approaches of an emerging and thriving community of biblical scholarship from the African continent and African diaspora, the volume critically examines the interaction of biblical texts with African people and their cultures within a postcolonial framework. While employing feminist/womanist, postcolonial, Afrocentric, social engagement, creative writing, reconstruction, and HIV/AIDS perspectives, the authors all engage with empire in their own ways: in specific times, forms, and geography. This volume is an important addition to postcolonial and empires studies in biblical scholarship. The contributors are David Tuesday Adamo, Lynn Darden, H. J. M. (Hans) van Deventer, Musa W. Dube, John D. K. Ekem, Ernest M. Ezeogu, Elelwani B. Farisani, Sylvester A. Johnson, Emmanuel Katongole, Malebogo Kgalemang, Temba L. J. Mafico, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), Andrew M. Mbuvi, Sarojini Nadar, Elivered Nasambu-Mulongo, Jeremy Punt, Gerrie Snyman, Lovemore Togarasei, Sam Tshehla, Robert Wafawanaka, Robert Wafula, Gerald West, Alice Y. Yafeh-Deigh, and Gosnell L. Yorke.

AbstractThe book, in the main, discusses issues relating to mission, ecumenism, and theological education and is presented in four sections. The first segment discusses works on ecumenical and theological education and assesses the relevance of the World Council of Churches. Other issues discussed in this segment relate to the interrelationships that exist between academic theology, ecumenism, and Christianity. The World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910, which set the agenda for world-wide mission in a promising manner in the 1920s, is also assessed in this section of the work. 0The second segment, which covers Religion and Public Space, discusses works that examine the relationships between religion and power, religion and development, religion and traditional religious beliefs, and religion and practices in Africa. The third segment of the book treats Religion and Cultural Practices in African and how all these work out in couching out an African theology and African Christianity. Some of the issues discussed in this section related to African traditional philosophy, spiritism, and the interrelationships that exist between African Christianity and African Traditional Religion.0The last segment of the book discusses the issue of African biblical hermeneutics and specifically looks at contemporary hermeneutical approaches to biblical interpretations in Africa.

AbstractThe collection of priceless manuscripts in Ethiopia's premiere research institute is in danger. This project will help preserve the collection and make images available for research by: 1) digitising the 3,391 un-digitised items in the collection; 2) producing a database of metadata on the items; 3) generating backups of the digital images (in RAW,

AbstractThis project aims to digitise the andemta (Ge'ez - Amharic commentary) manuscripts of biblical and patristic commentaries made according to the lay bet exegetical tradition. The formerly famous exegetical school of thought known as lay bet has survived only in the much endangered codices which are kept mostly in private

AbstractThis volume foregrounds biblical interpretation within the African history of colonial contact, from North Atlantic slavery to the current era of globalization. It reads of the prolonged struggle for justice and of hybrid identities from multifaceted contexts, where the Bible co-exists with African Indigenous Religions, Islam, and other religions. Showcasing the dynamic and creative approaches of an emerging and thriving community of biblical scholarship from the African continent and African diaspora, the volume critically examines the interaction of biblical texts with African people and their cultures within a postcolonial framework. While employing feminist/womanist, postcolonial, Afrocentric, social engagement, creative writing, reconstruction, and HIV/AIDS perspectives, the authors all engage with empire in their own ways: in specific times, forms, and geography. This volume is an important addition to postcolonial and empires studies in biblical scholarship. The contributors are David Tuesday Adamo, Lynn Darden, H. J. M. (Hans) van Deventer, Musa W. Dube, John D. K. Ekem, Ernest M. Ezeogu, Elelwani B. Farisani, Sylvester A. Johnson, Emmanuel Katongole, Malebogo Kgalemang, Temba L. J. Mafico, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), Andrew M. Mbuvi, Sarojini Nadar, Elivered Nasambu-Mulongo, Jeremy Punt, Gerrie Snyman, Lovemore Togarasei, Sam Tshehla, Robert Wafawanaka, Robert Wafula, Gerald West, Alice Y. Yafeh-Deigh, and Gosnell L. Yorke.

AbstractEthiopian biblical commentaries are a corpus of ancient, traditional teaching that comment on all books of the Bible following a relatively uniform methodology. This Ethiopian tradition is an heir of the traditional branches of Antiochene and Alexandrian Eastern Christianity.The existence of these exegetical commentaries is practically unknown outside the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose mission has been to keep and faithfully transmit them from generation to generation. Most of the commentaries still are in the form of privately owned parchment manuscripts. These have been handed down from masters to disciples until today.This volume presents a critical edition of nine manuscripts containing commentaries on prophet Micah. It also provides an English translation of the originals written in the Gecez and Amharic languages as well as a study of the literary form of these commentaries.

AbstractThe article sets out to demonstrate, through a historical survey, the "practical" nature of African theology of reconstruction. By practical, it means that it is an all-inclusive theology for all, which is pastorally sensitive to the plight of the "other" - in the post-colonial Africa. In its methodology, the article surveys the Biblical and historical background of the Jewish people who are metaphorically compared with the African peoples. It then analyses cold war and its implication for reconstruction in the Africa of the 21st century. Seen from a comparative analysis, the article attempts to show that in both Jewish and African context, the "post-exilic" people of God have to build on the framework of inclusivity as opposed to exclusivity - as we undertake the all-important task of rebuilding the society; as pre-exilic injuries can only be "treated" holistically and pastorally. In post-apartheid or post-colonial Africa, a theology of reconstruction provides this opportunity for healing. As a pastoral duty, Africa now has a chance to reconstruct herself holistically.

AbstractThe article sets out to demonstrate African reconstructive Christology as the seventh Christological trend in African Christianity. Considering that African theology is kerygmatically universal, but theologically provincial, the study shows that Christology in our contemporary Africa can be best understood by retracing it from the early Christological controversies through to the present times. Certainly, African Christology in the 21st century is dominated by calls for contextualisation, indigenisation, rebirth, inculturation, renewal, rejuvenation, renaissance and reconstruction. To this end, the article endeavours to demonstrate that Christ, the ideal reconstructionist, the one who broke the cultural codes of his time in order to reconstruct the society, is the relevant model to our contemporary world. The article draws its theoretical framework from the works of Jesse Mugambi, Kä Mana, and Wachege, amongst other proponents of reconstructive motif in African theology. In its methodology, the article first attempts to identify some early Christological developments through to the contemporary trends. It subsequently attempts a survey of the six Christological trends of the 20th century; that is a Christological trend that commits itself to interpreting and adapting Christology to modern mentality and situation; Christologies geared exclusively to the historical Jesus; Christology that tends to uphold the Trinitarian theology; Christologies based on the proclaimed Christ and the historical Jesus; Asian Christologies of inculturation and liberation; and African Christologies of inculturation and liberation. Afterwards, it analyses Christological trends of the 21st century where a seventh dimension, African reconstructive Christology, has become the norm. In so doing, the article builds on the premise that the primary task of African Christology today is restoration.

AbstractContent: Introduction / Mary N. Getui and Emmanuel A. Obeng. -- Healing the groaning creation in Africa / Emmanuel Adow Obeng. -- Creative stewardship for a new earth / Margaret G. Gecaga. -- Towards an African environment theology / J.J. Ongong'a. -- Urumwe spirituality and the environment / Eugene Wangiri. -- Liberation of the African woman / Hazel O. Ayanga. -- Women's theological education in Kenya / Ruth Muthei James. -- Women in the Seventh Day Adventist church / Pacifica Okemwa. -- Muslim women and politics in Kenya / Newton Kahumbi Maina. -- Child abuse and neglect in Kenya / Constance R.A. Shisanya. -- Churches and AIDS in Kenya / Zakaria Wanakacha Samita. -- The churches' responses to AIDS in Africa / Josephine Gitome. -- The food crisis in Kenya / Grace N. Wamue. -- The food crisis in Africa / Mary N. Getui. -- Poverty in Africa / Matthew Theuri. -- Political pluralism in Africa / Adam K.A. Chepkwony. -- Towards the recovery of African identity / Nahashon Ndung'u.

AbstractDaneel has provided us with a fascinating essay, richly informative and characterised by the lucidity of argumentation to which we have grown accustomed in his writings. The paper has certainly stimulated my thinking. Though I find myself in agreement with much of the content, there are a number ofpoints which I would like to comment on or raise questions about.

AbstractThis article explores hermeneutical and methodological factors that contribute to the complexity of, and the 'heat' created by, endeavours to find Africa in the Old Testament. The first section deals with hermeneutical frameworks that guide explorations of attempts to find Africa in the Old Testament. Special attention is given to postcolonial criticism. The focus then shifts to the complexities we have to deal with when we use the terms 'Old Testament' and 'Africa'. The third section focuses on the cultural dimension of biblical interpretation. The fourth section deals with eight metaphors that sharpen our awareness of social, linguistic, and discursive factors that leave their imprints on the interpretation process. Finally, a number of conclusions regarding the issue of finding Africa in the Old Testament are drawn.

AbstractBook by

AbstractIn Biblical Interpretation and African Traditional Religion, Helen C. John juxtaposes grassroots biblical interpretations from Owamboland, Namibia, with professional interpretations of selected New Testament texts, effectively demonstrating the capacity of grassroots interpretations to destabilise, challenge and nuance dominant professional interpretations. John uses a cross-cultural and dialogical approach – ‘Cross-Cultural Biblical Interpretation Groups’ – to explore the relationship between African Traditional Religion (ATR), Christianity and biblical interpretation in Owamboland, Namibia. She contextualises the grassroots Owambo interpretations using fieldwork experiences and ethnographic literature, thus heightening the cross-cultural encounter. In particular, John reflects on Western epistemologies and the Eurocentric interpretative trends that are brought into relief by the African interpretations gathered in Owamboland.

Abstract" Dogme et inculturation en Afrique est un ouvrage original qui mérite toute notre attention, bien au-delà du public africain. Il a l'avantage de nous montrer que les problèmes brûlants posés aujourd'hui par l'inculturation du langage chrétien dans la diversité des cultures nous renvoient aux questions radicales sur la notion de dogme, posées par les modernistes, il y a déjà un siècle. (...) Quel système philosophique peut être assumé par le langage dogmatique ? Comment faire en sorte que la vérité dogmatique soit une vérité vivifiante ? Comment voir dans la pratique chrétienne elle-même un lieu de sens et favoriser une réinterprétation créatrice du message chrétien ? Quel est le lien entre le véhicule culturel d'une époque et le contenu objectif des énoncés de la foi ? C'est sur la base d'une connaissance approfondie des questions complexes soulevées par les représentants du Modernisme, surtout par E. Le Roy, que L. Santedi Kinkupu propose sa vision de l'inculturation du christianisme en Afrique, ce qu'il appelle volontiers une théologie de l'invention. Parmi tous les travaux déjà existants sur l'inculturation, c'est ce qui fait le prix et l'originalité de sa contribution. (...) On lira les propositions nuancées du théologien de Kinshasa. À partir de la réalité complexe de l'Afrique qu'il habite intellectuellement et existentiellement, il a élaboré une théologie de l'inculturation qui a une portée universelle pour toute l'Eglise au seuil du troisième millénaire. Il a le mérite de traiter avec rigueur la question délicate de l'inculturation du dogme. " C. Geffré, in Préface de l'ouvrage.

AbstractThis paper makes a case for a methodology for doing African Biblical Hermeneutics. It builds on the ideas of earlier scholars of Biblical Hermeneutics in Africa who focused on continuity between the Old and New Testaments with reference to their hermeneutical and personal uses in Africa as follows: during social interactions, expressions of courtesies, expression of sympathy and support for the oppressed, the marginalised and the “common person”. Also in criticism of Western scholarship in African theological hermeneutics, feminist exegesis of the Bible, ecumenical and gender issues in Africa. This work argues that current state of Biblical Hermeneutics in Africa is about interpreting the Bible from the perspective of African languages because God speaks into the African context in African idioms. The author proposes a methodology for doing Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics which is lacking in the works of earlier scholars.

AbstractTel.: +233 (0) 244 564 079 +233 (0) 208 093 350 ABSTRACT Biblical Studies is an academic discipline in the sense that it involves a rigorous scientific study of the Bible that leads to a systematic evolution of new knowledge criticized by academic departments or faculties in universities and colleges, and in academic journals where such researches are published. Over the past few centuries have been categorised into three broad areas. First, there are those that locate the meaning of the text in the world behind the text; second, those that locate the meaning of the text in the world within the text; and third, those that locate the meaning of the given text in world in front of the text. The third category which is the newest is oriented towards the reader(s) or reading community and the part they play in the communication process. The readers bring their own points of view and concerns to the text and so may end up with different meanings. This third category has created space for African Biblical Studies, with one of its offshoots being Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics. In this paper, the author discusses how Biblical Studies have been done over the centuries, and gives a step-by-step approach to how Mother-tongue Biblical Hermeneutics is carried out.

AbstractBiblical Studies is the study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. It seeks to determine the meaning of the biblical books or given passages, especially as intended by the biblical writers for their addressees. Biblical Studies over the past few centuries have been categorized into three broad areas. First, there are those that locate the meaning of the text in the world behind the text; second, those that locate the meaning of the text in the world within the text; and third, those that locate the meaning of the given text in world in front of the text. The third method has opened the way for Biblical Studies to be undertaken, using the mother-tongue translations of the Bible. In the paper, the writer has argued scholarly that, the mother-tongue Bibles in Ghana have enough problems that call for academic engagement. The significance of this study is that, it has added another dimension to the already existing methodologies for Biblical Studies. Scholars and readers of this paper will be exposed to this methodology which they may want to use in the academic study of the Bible. The author recommends the mother-tongue biblical hermeneutics approach to the Departments of Religious Studies in Universities and Theological Seminaries in Africa, for, it will in no doubt add to biblical scholarship worldwide.

AbstractThe rapid growth of Christianity in the global South is not just a demographic shift--it is transforming the faith itself. The Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South traces both the history and the contemporary themes of Christianity in more than 150 countries and regions. It includes maps, images, and a detailed timeline of key events.

AbstractThe palimpsest of Ethiopian Christianity reveals the possible impact and influence of several hands: Judaic, Egyptian, and Syrian. This book investigates the influence of Syrian Christianity upon the trajectory of Ethiopian Christianity, proposing that many of the so-called 'Judaic' practices may have arisen through interaction with Judaeo-Christian Syriac Christianity, rather than from an Old Testament context, exploring Ethiopic and Syrian literary links using Ge'ez, Amharic and Syriac sources to show how Syrian and Ethiopic traditions relate. The symbolic motifs of the Ark and the Cross, as well as the perception of Paradise are explored in Ethiopic hymnody or 'Deggwa' of St Yared, the 'andemta' Bible commentaries, and the national epic, the 'Kebrä Nägäst', compared with Syriac works of the fourth century Syriac theologian-poet Ephrem, his later devotee Jacob of Serugh, and the earlier Syriac 'Odes to Solomon'. The material common to Ethiopic and Syriac literature demonstrates the complexity of the Judaeo-Christian thought-worlds from which they derived, implying more nuanced influences than have previously been postulated.

AbstractThe role that Africa has played in the history of Bible translation since the event of the LXX is impressive. Yet, there is still a lot that Africa can contribute to Bible translation theory and practice. Following a previous study on this topic (Loba- Mkole 2008), this paper attempts to articulate how African theology of reconstruction can contribute to enhance new ways of understanding and doing Bible translation in Africa. Jesse N. K. Mugambi remains one of the most known proponents of reconstruction theology in Africa. The first section of the present study seeks to appreciate Mugambi's contribution in the light of other similar writings, especially those from Kinshasa school of theology and Charles Villa-Vicencio from South Africa. Generally speaking, reconstruction paradigm is meant to rebuild all sectors of life in Africa, including Church ministries of which Bible translation constitutes an integral part. The second part will point out areas in which reconstruction paradigm is able to contribute specifically in the field of Bible translation.

AbstractChristian canonical Scriptures may include books from Tanakh, Septuagint and New Testament. Several theories have guided the translation of those books into different languages within the canonical boundaries of Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant churches. Those theories have mostly been more recently inspired by Nida’s functional equivalence theory. However, the Skopos or functionalist theory, as championed by Nord, is now emerging as a new approach without necessarily rejecting all the achievements of functional equivalence. This article aims to show how an intercultural approach goes beyond functional and functionalist theories to integrate canonical insights into the production of the Bible translations.

AbstractThe relationship between Saint Paul and the continent of Africa has never been a significant point of discussion in the New Testament studies. The same can be observed about other continents, even if the study of the Pauline corpus touches on some countries of Europe and the Middle East. The present article was triggered by the invitation of the Catholic Church to celebrate the 3rd millennium of Paul’s birthday during the period of June 2008 – June 2009, which was declared as the Year of Paul all over the world. It raises and discusses the question of relevance of Paul to Africa and vice versa in the light of intercultural exegesis.

AbstractThis article traces the rise and development of intercultural Biblical exegesis in Africa, especially with regard to New Testament interpretations. Different trends of Biblical exegesis practiced in Africa are explored, whereafter the different phases of intercultural exegesis are discussed. The focus falls on inculturation hermeneutic as an important method of interpreting the Bible in an African context. The different proponents of this method are discussed and differences in approach are noted and appraised as a healthy tension.

AbstractTHIS is the REAL YouTube page for Pastor Alph Lukau, it has over 647 000 (647K) SUBSCRIBERS - ALWAYS CHECK as there are many FAKE ACCOUNTS going live with his name. Our Official Website www.alleluiaministries.com

Abstract"Two major strands of theology have developed in Africa - inculturation and liberation - each in response to different needs. Emmanuel Martey's African Theology provides a clear, scholarly examination of these two basic approaches, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his first-hand knowledge of Africa."--BOOK JACKET. "Martey first examines the historical background of each of these theological developments, especially relating to cultural and political movements enveloping the continent in the 1970s. In sub-Saharan Africa, struggles for independence from colonizers have resulted in inculturation theology. The defining aspect of this theology is that it pushes its roots firmly in African culture and traditions. In South Africa, on the other hand, Black Africans struggling against the oppressive systems of apartheid have turned to liberation theology."--BOOK JACKET. "Martey shows how the real hope for African theology lies in the dialectical encounter between these two approaches and in their potential for convergence. "The two foci (of liberation and inculturation)," Martey says, "are not contradictory, but complement each other." African Theology concludes by challenging African theologians to weld together the praxis of inculturation with that of liberation, in order to achieve an integrative vision for the continent."--BOOK JACKET.

AbstractThe paper focuses on Black feminist hermeneutics. Principles for a feminist hermeneutics are discussed. The situation of Black women in South Africa is discussed.  As the most marginalized of all people, with patriarchy as a most serious enemy, particularly as it manifests itself in the Bible, these women need appropriate approaches to the reading of the Bible in order to achieve their liberation.

AbstractThe observation that the Christian Bible has historically played an important role, either for good or for evil, in differing African contexts, be it on the continent or in the Diaspora, cannot be disputed. The reality is that the Bible continues to play a crucial role in the lives of many African Christian believers. Notwithstanding the popularity of the Bible in our contexts, its use, particularly by those in power, has not always been helpful. As a matter of fact, in many of our church contexts, the womenfolk who come to church, overwhelmed by the pressures of everyday life, find some of our biblical interpretations more ‘wounding’ than healing. Yet many of our churches are mostly populated by women and girls. Statistics have shown that women, particularly those of African descent (both on the continent and in the Diaspora), are the hardest hit by the pandemic of our time: HIV/AIDS. The present text seeks to answer the following question: How should the plight of our day, one which hits the womenfolk the most, impact on our biblical hermeneutics as scholars, theologians, pastors and laity alike, in a way that will benefit all persons, but particularly those on the margins of our societies?

Abstract"This collection interrogates and engages the biblical text, colonial and postcolonial subjectivities and cultural assumptions, as well as lived experiences that encompass varying Africana contexts and Diasporas. In order to do this, it deploys methodologies, exegetical analyses and critical and constructive communal epistemologies. Framed by historical, literary, cultural and theological engagements of issues around wealth and power, gender, sexualities and masculinities, HIV and AIDS, as well as the crises of war and mass violence, the book will be very useful for students, academics, clergy and laity committed to Africana-conscious epistemologies and methodologies, and the impact on biblical studies."--.

AbstractAfrican Biblical Studies (ABS) can be characterized both as innovative and reactionary : Innovative, because it refuses to be confined by the methodologies, ancient concerns, and principles that govern biblical studies in the ‘west’ (used throughout this article to refer to the majority Euro-American scholars while recognizing the presence of other groups), and instead charts a course that is more interested in making biblical interpretation relevant to present realities. Reactionary, because its driving force is partly a critique of the inadequacy of western biblical studies in providing meaningful responses to concerns that are pertinent to African communities. A genuine ABS is therefore an amalgamation of multiple interpretive methods, approaches and foci that reflect a creative engagement of the African cosmological reality and the Bible.

Abstract"The first edition of this work, published in 1983, helped to establish the significance of new sociological and political approaches to the Bible. Now, ten years later, this new edition of The Bible and Liberation broadens the work, reflecting the dramatic advances made in this area in the past decade."--BOOK JACKET. "Socio-political treatments of the Bible have flourished, particularly with the rising influence of feminist, third-world, and other liberationist perspectives. At the same time, these approaches have served to critique and redirect earlier sociological and political methods. Editors Norman K. Gottwald and Richard A. Horsley have brought together essays from a wide spectrum of theologians whose investigations into the social location of biblical texts are joined with attention to the social context of the reader."--BOOK JACKET. "After an Introduction by the editors that surveys and summarizes developments and the current state of socio-political interpretations, The Bible and Liberation begins with essays that outline various approaches to the Bible from Asia, Latin America, South Africa, and North America. It then continues with treatments of specific issues in both the Hebrew Bible and the Second Testament."--BOOK JACKET. "Critical notes and introductions make The Bible and Liberation an essential work both for students and scholars, as well as for church, group, and individual Bible study."--BOOK JACKET.

AbstractThis book argues that when re-read from an African liberationist perspective and in the context of the land redistribution and socio-economic justice discourse, Leviticus 25:8-55 can contribute positively to the redress of inequality and consequently to poverty alleviation in South Africa.

Abstract"Essays in honour of Professor J.N.K. Mugambi, Ph. D." The author of Globalisation and churches is Margaret G. Gecaga. Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references. Content: Theology of reconstruction / J.N.K. Mugambi -- Remarks of SNTS president 1999-2000 / Hans-Dieter Betz -- Remarks of SNTS president 1998-1999 / Peder Borgen -- Reconstructing Paul's teaching / Daniel M. Patte -- Post-liberation theology : a critical appreciation / Julius M. Gathogo -- The reconstruction paradigm in Mugambi's theology / Valentin Dedji -- Bible translation and reconstruction hermeneutics / Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole -- African religious scholarship as the context of Mugambi's works / Isaac M.T. Mwase -- The post-exile motif in Mugambi's theology of reconstruction / Elelwani B. Farisani -- Ethiopian identity in light of liberation thinking / Mohammed Girma -- Church-state relations in theology of reconstruction / Mika Vähäkangas -- From religious to interreligious studies in East Aftica / Frans Wijsen -- African perspectives on the "whole household of God" (oikos) / Ernst Conradie -- Gender empowerment in Africa / Eunice K. Kamaara -- Globalisation and churches / Margaret M. Gecaga -- Secularisation: the case of Eldoret / Hazel Anyanga -- God's basic needs strategy / Christoph Stückelberger -- A personal appreciation / Michael R. Guy -- Creation and salvation in the theologies of liberation and reconstruction / J.N.K. Mugambi.

Abstract"Nash explains how race has been debunked as a biological category even as Western culture has used race as a theological, political, and economic weapon. Here he briefly traces the historical misinterpretation of scripture and shows that reading the Bible via genealogy, geography, anthropology, and theology can accentuate its Afro-Asian connections. Ultimately, he maintains, the histories of Israel and Judah cannot be separated from their African roots."--Jacket.

AbstractCette étude constitue un pari, à savoir rendre manifestes, pour en tirer parti en théologie, les convergences qui ont émergé depuis une trentaine d'années, à partir des champs de la philosophie contemporaine (Paul Ricoeur notamment), de l'exégèse biblique, de l'anthropologie historique et politique afro-africaine, au sujet de la narrativité. Il s'agit ici d'articuler les différents apports de ces domaines et de montrer effectivement, moyennant une relecture dans une perspective théologique, les vecteurs d'une théologie symbolico-narrative. Pareille entreprise fait " l'état des lieux ", situe les apports et les limites d'une théologie dite narrative, en propose un nouvel horizon en termes d'innovation sémantique. La confession de foi christologique et l'horizon d'une inculturation du dogme chrétien en Afrique engagent toutes les ressources de l'intelligence de la foi, à partir de l'Ecriture et de la Tradition de l'Eglise, en intégrant la vie et les pratiques des communautés ecclésiales locales.

AbstractWhat is distinctive about Pentecostals' reading of the Bible? In what way do Pentecostal people read the Bible so that they reach different conclusions than believers of other denominations? Is it possible to speak of a Pentecostal hermeneutics? In what way does it differ from the hermeneutics found in other theological traditions, such as the Catholic, Eastern and Reformed traditions? And how does their hermeneutics inform Pentecostals' practice? These questions are discussed and some preliminary conclusions reached. Pentecostals' religious consciousness expects an experience or encounter between God and human beings through his Spirit. This is supposed to happen in the worship service and also in the practice of Bible reading, whether individually or collectively. The presupposition is that the Word is revealed in the Bible only when people experience God, and the existential precondition leads to a Pentecostal emphasis of narratives describing such encounters in the Bible.

AbstractMost of the early twentieth-century Pentecostal denominations were peace churches that encouraged a stance of conscientious objection. However, since the Second World War Pentecostals have largely abandoned their pacifist viewpoint as they have taken on a more literal Biblical hermeneutic from their interaction with Evangelical denominations. This book traces the history of nonviolence in Pentecostalism and suggests that a new hermeneutic of the Bible is needed by today{u2019}s Pentecostals in order for them to rediscover their pacifist roots and effect positive social change.

AbstractUn des faits marquant l'histoire de la theologie contemporaine est l'affirmation toujours forte des theologies issues du tiers monde. On voit ,ces vingt dernieres annees,naitre dans les eglises du tiers monde un mouvement de creativite theologique et pastorale et des pratiques ecclesiales plurielles. Dans un tiers monde pluriel,l'afrique noire a sans doute pris la tete du dialogue entre la foi chretienne et les cultures et traditions locales. Depuis 1976,bon nombre des theologiens africains,engages dans l'association oecumenique des theologiens du tiers monde,en sigle anglais e. A. T. W. O. T. (ecumenical association of third world theologians) en rupture epistemologique avec la maniere traditionnelle,classique de faire la theologie,pronent un christianisme inculture. La religion chretienne risque d'etre disqualifiee si elle ne parvient pas a tisser des connivences culturelles avec l'ensemble des structures mentales,symboliques et religieuses qui marquent l'existence des societes indigenes. La theologie africaine chretienne requiert un tel dialogue,mais doit aller plus loin et faire un effort de pour assumer sa fonction critique face auxrealites africaines. C'est une exigence d'une d'une reelle prise en compte,des aspirations des africains d'aujourd'hui. Notre reflexion qui concerne principalement l'afrique noire( entre le sahara et le kalahari)est menee a partir d'une analyse d'un corpus constitue des contributions des theologiens africains et des travaux de l'eatwot. La premiere partie de ce travail eplique l'origine de l'eatwot et trace l'itineraire de la theologie africaine a travers les travaux des colloques de l'eatwot et degage,des elements principaux qui caracterisent cette "hermeneutique theologique inedite"la deuxieme partie de ce travail montre la specificite de l'hermeneutique africaine par rapport aux autres theologies du tiers monde et le deplacement qu'elle a accompli par rapport a la tradition chretienne. Les theologiens africains,marquent leur difference et specificite en faisant de l'anthropologie culturelle africaine un lieu theologique privilegie. L'enjeu est fondamentalement culturel. La culture ici doit etre comprise dans une perspective holististe. L'orientation profonde est d'elaborer une theologie a partir de la vie concretec' est important pour les communautes africaines la dimension therapeutique de l'evangile porteur d'une puissance qui transform

AbstractThe study is a response to the call for papers that focus on African issues and it discusses the issue of atonement. The question which is raised is whether the Jewish and Luhya traditional concepts of atonement are similar or not. To answer this question, I have attempted to explain the understanding of the concept in Jewish tradition before comparing and contrasting this with the Luhya traditional concept of atonement. The study shows that there is a sense of harmony maintained or restored between worshippers and their objects of worship. Through a study of comparative religions, we find various depictions of atonement in different religious traditions. But the goal is the same—the attainment of forgiveness and reconciliation.

AbstractTHIS PAPER IS AN overview of the contemporary theological situation in Africa. Since the inception of Christianity on African soil, there has been a growing sense of the need to make the Christian faith African in its form and expression. The concern was to uphold the cardinal tenets of the Christian faith and yet express that core belief in a way that would reflect the life and thought of the African's religious experience. It is in this light that there was a call and need from both African politicians and Christian theologians to develop African Christian theology. This paper is a survey of this process and where we are today on that project.

AbstractThis magisterial volume is the seventh and last of Hughes Oliphant Old s history of preaching. Here Old takes up the story with the sixties and the Second Vatican Council and follows it all the way through to the house churches of China and the preaching of the Archbishop of Uganda, known as the Billy Graham of Africa. Along the way he looks at the engaging preaching found in Latin America, the rise of the modern megachurch, the role of Joan Alexandru s preaching in bringing down the house of Ceausescu, and other historically significant moments in preaching. / Full of surprising details and inspiring stories of ministry, this book is a fitting work to round out Old s monumental, comprehensive series written by a preacher for preachers on the history of preaching in the Christian church.

AbstractThe book, in the main, discusses issues relating to mission, ecumenism, and theological education and is presented in four sections. The first segment discusses works on ecumenical and theological education and assesses the relevance of the World Council of Churches. Other issues discussed in this segment relate to the interrelationships that exist between academic theology, ecumenism, and Christianity. The World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910, which set the agenda for world-wide mission in a promising manner in the 1920s, is also assessed in this section of the work. 0The second segment, which covers Religion and Public Space, discusses works that examine the relationships between religion and power, religion and development, religion and traditional religious beliefs, and religion and practices in Africa. The third segment of the book treats Religion and Cultural Practices in African and how all these work out in couching out an African theology and African Christianity. Some of the issues discussed in this section related to African traditional philosophy, spiritism, and the interrelationships that exist between African Christianity and African Traditional Religion.0The last segment of the book discusses the issue of African biblical hermeneutics and specifically looks at contemporary hermeneutical approaches to biblical interpretations in Africa.

AbstractI WAS BORN TO WORSHIP JESUS... JOIN ME IN THIS WORSHIP... JESUS DESERVES THE VERY BEST.

AbstractCalls within the African context for re-writing the Bible not only fail to address adequately the hermeneutical issues, but are balanced by other calls for rereading the Bible. Rather than investing in a new sacred scripture to replace the Bible, the crisis surrounding its interpretation in Africa needs to be addressed,with responsibility both towards the biblical texts and today's Bible reading communities. It is important to investigate how such rereading can be done to achieve the goal for which re-writing was (is) proposed: disentangling the Bible from patterns and practices of domination.

AbstractDuring the last five decades of the 20th century, the African continent has systematically rid itself of the direct control of the colonial powers. Yet in (South) Africa and elsewhere on the continent, there has until now been very few attempts to introduce postcolonial biblical criticism as a credible hermeneutical approach for the subcontinent. In the South African theological context with its two dominant theological approaches, African and Black Theology, a variety of hermeneutical approaches is represented across a wide spectrum. However, the traditional approaches has until now largely carried the day, both in hermeneutical positioning and its application to and use for interpreting biblical texts. This is certainly true of the wider, popular and ecclesial arena where the Bible is used, but is also the case in the academy. Postcolonial criticism has not been seized upon as a productive method for reading and interpreting the Bible, although its use has obvious benefits also within South Africa's post-Apartheid society. Postcolonial biblical criticism is nevertheless eminently suitable for a context characterised by the lingering colonial legacy, the continuous threat of neo-colonialism, and the position of displaced persons and refugees. This article considers possible reasons for the failure of postcolonial criticism to impact upon biblical studies in (South) Africa on a large scale, when it offers such obvious hermeneutical potential, spin-offs, as well as the opportunity to approach the Bible from a different than the traditional vantage point.

AbstractHow have those engaged in the mission of God been challenged to reinterpret Scripture through their experience? In what ways were the missionaries in the Bible challenged to reevaluate Scripture in their own time? Redford attempts to give shape to the nature of missional hermeneutics by examining Scripture, present-day cultural values, historical struggles, and the experience of those who are engaged in the mission of God. In order for missionaries to overcome the scientific polarization in Western hermeneutics, they must be able to perceive and learn from the overarching missional and spiritual hermeneutics found throughout Scripture so that they can balance missional, spiritual, historical-critical, and even unforeseen hermeneutical paths, providing increased confidence in biblical interpretation.

AbstractThis article argues the importance of exegesis and hermeneutics in the African context. There is a need for bible translation to be exercised within the African context as opposed to the<br>Western context. The end-readers should become partners in the translation; as these partners. The example of name giving is cited as arguable case that can assist Bible translators to indigenize biblical names by translating them into indigenous meanings. These partners can use their worldviews, proverbs, and idiomatic expressions to make the text meaningful. Afro hermeneutics and exegesis integrates life and biblical narratives and life<br>experiences, are wrapped with indigenous knowledge, and exercises personal involvement of the reader of the text and the context. The paper proposes three influencers in African<br>hermeneutics and exegesis. These are liberation hermeneutics which acknowledges the importance of both the spiritual and the material with the emphasis on economic and the political dimensions of African life. Then inculturation hermeneutics, which basically means that the interpretive process should be informed by the worldview and experience within the cultural context. And finally, contextualisation whereby translation should aim at preparing and empowering translators to facilitate translation processes by involving communities instead of top-down decision making and implementation. This is overall the acknowledgement of the role of indigenous knowledge systems in text translation and interpretation.

AbstractIf Evangelicals are truly going to meet the many challenges of living authentically in Africa with primary motivation from Scripture, then a more developed hermeneutical methodology is required. This writer would thus propose an evangelical hermeneutical agenda that is methodologically multidimensional and African in its ethos and focus. The conclusion of this paper will, however, tentatlively, list some issus that may be employed in seeking to develop an African evangelical interpretative framework.

AbstractIn this article, postcolonial theory is presented as a tool for Biblical interpretation, in an attempt to find colonial intentions (be they political, cultural or economic) that informed and influenced the writer’s context. Although criticism has been levelled at the church and other religious institutions for having, consciously or unconsciously, facilitated colonial conquests and imperial establishment all over the world, postcolonial theory calls them to a constructive reading that enables readers to see the concerns of the universal mission of justice. Postcolonial theory, as a tool for Biblical interpretation, deals with the Bible as a “cultural product” in time and space. However, as part of socio-scientific method, postcolonial theory encounters some crucial translation problems such as ethnocentrism and anachronism. Nevertheless, whatever hermeneutical tool the reader uses, it must yield two important things from Scripture reading: discovering life and discovering faith.

AbstractThis innovative study moves briskly but comprehensively through three phases of the Third World's encounter with the Bible - precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial. It recounts the remarkable story of how an inaccessible and marginal book in the ancient churches of India, China and North Africa became an important tool in the hands of both coloniser and colonised; how it has been reclaimed in the postcolonial world; and how it is now being reread by various indigenes, Native Americans, dalits and women. Drawing on substantial exegetical examples, Sugirtharajah examines reading practices ranging from the vernacular to liberation and the newly-emerging postcolonial criticism. His study emphasises the often overlooked biblical reflections of people such as Equiano and Ramabai as well as better-known contemporaries like Gutiérrez and Tamez. Partly historical and partly hermeneutical, the volume will serve as an invaluable introduction to the Bible in the Third World for students and interested general readers.

AbstractIn their experience with the Bible, African Christians in the mainline churches are asking about the meaning and significance of the Jesus of the gospels for them; they are asking how the gospel message might be made to come alive in their communities and personal lives. This calls for a hermeneutics of inculturation

AbstractIn the past, biblical scholarship has neglected the hermeneutical contribution that an imaginal engagement with the text may make. The author’s aim in this article was to develop theological imagination as a hermeneutical device. This was done by briefly considering the concurrence in the hermeneutic contributions of three interpreters of biblical texts, with specific regard to their understanding of biblical imagination. These were Walter Brueggemann, Paul Ricoeur and Ignatius of Loyola. Their hermeneutical contributions concur in their understanding of a biblically informed imagination, and it is specifically this aspect of the concurrence of their thought that was explored. An illustration from Proverbs 14:27, which draws on the metaphor and biblical motif of the fountain or source of life, was put forward to demonstrate how the concurrence in the contributions of these biblical interpreters may influence an imaginal engagement with the text.Keywords: Old Testament; Proverbs; Hermeneutics; The fear of the Lord/Yahweh;  Walter Brueggemann; Paul Ricoeur;  Ignatius of Loyola; Imaginal engagement

AbstractThis volume foregrounds biblical interpretation within the African history of colonial contact, from North Atlantic slavery to the current era of globalization. It reads of the prolonged struggle for justice and of hybrid identities from multifaceted contexts, where the Bible co-exists with African Indigenous Religions, Islam, and other religions. Showcasing the dynamic and creative approaches of an emerging and thriving community of biblical scholarship from the African continent and African diaspora, the volume critically examines the interaction of biblical texts with African people and their cultures within a postcolonial framework. While employing feminist/womanist, postcolonial, Afrocentric, social engagement, creative writing, reconstruction, and HIV/AIDS perspectives, the authors all engage with empire in their own ways: in specific times, forms, and geography. This volume is an important addition to postcolonial and empires studies in biblical scholarship. The contributors are David Tuesday Adamo, Lynn Darden, H. J. M. (Hans) van Deventer, Musa W. Dube, John D. K. Ekem, Ernest M. Ezeogu, Elelwani B. Farisani, Sylvester A. Johnson, Emmanuel Katongole, Malebogo Kgalemang, Temba L. J. Mafico, Madipoane Masenya (ngwan'a Mphahlele), Andrew M. Mbuvi, Sarojini Nadar, Elivered Nasambu-Mulongo, Jeremy Punt, Gerrie Snyman, Lovemore Togarasei, Sam Tshehla, Robert Wafawanaka, Robert Wafula, Gerald West, Alice Y. Yafeh-Deigh, and Gosnell L. Yorke.

AbstractBiblical Representations of Moab: A Kenyan Postcolonial Reading employs critical theories on colonial, anticolonial, and postcolonial ethnicity and African cultural hermeneutics to examine the overlap of politics, ethnicity, nationality, economics, and religion in contemporary Kenya and to utilize those critical tools to illuminate the Hebrew Bible narratives concerning the Moabites. This book can be used by teachers and students of contemporary methods in Hebrew Bible studies, postcolonial studies, Africana studies, African biblical hermeneutics, political science, gender studies, history, philosophy, international studies, religion and peace studies, African affairs, and ethnic/racial conflict and resolution studies. It would also be of immense value to clergy and lay leaders engaged in interfaith or interethnic/racial dialogue.

AbstractThe aim of this study is, first of all, to present a rhetorically oriented analysis of the central pericope of 3:1-14, with special reference to its pertinent oral-aural qualities. This forms the basis, in turn, for a comparative analysis of how this passage has been translated into Chewa in an old missionary-produced version (1922) in contrast to a more recent meaning-centered rendering (1998) as well as a special oral-poetic translation that was prepared as part of this study. Further attention is devoted to some of the conceptual challenges that this text, as an example of the Galatian epistle as a whole, poses for mother-tongue speakers due to their lack of an adequate biblical and hermeneutical frame of reference. Suggestions are offered as to how this significant cognitive disparity might be overcome through the use of a judicious selection of paratextual features, in particular, the incorporation of contextually relevant explanatory footnotes.

AbstractThis article uses the occasion of the 70th anniversary of HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies to reflect on a particular form of liberation hermeneutics that emerged in the 1980s in South Africa. ‘Contextual Bible Study’ is briefly defined, but its precise contours are explored by locating this form of liberation hermeneutics within liberation hermeneutics more generally and then intercultural biblical hermeneutics more specifically. The article sets up a dialogue amongst these practices, examining both their family resemblances and their distinctive features.

AbstractThe Stolen Bible tells the story of how Southern Africans have interacted with the Bible from its arrival in Dutch imperial ships in the mid-1600s through to contemporary post-apartheid South Africa. The Stolen Bible emphasises African agency and distinguishes between African receptions of the Bible and African receptions of missionary-colonial Christianity. Through a series of detailed historical, geographical, and hermeneutical case-studies the book analyses Southern African receptions of the Bible, including the earliest African encounters with the Bible, the translation of the Bible into an African language, the appropriation of the Bible by African Independent Churches, the use of the Bible in the Black liberation struggle, and the ways in which the Bible is embodied in the lives of ordinary Africans. (Publisher).