DIE NUWE TESTAMENT – GESAGSBRON VIR ‘N CHRISTELIKE VEELGODEDOM?: ENKELE GEDAGTES RONDOM DIE VERSTAAN VAN DIE NT VIR VANDAG

  • Jacques Rousseau University of Port Elizabeth
Keywords: Christian polytheism, Bible interpretation, New Testament Hermeneutics

Abstract

THE NEW TESTAMENT: SOURCE FOR A CHRISTIAN POLYTHEISM?Christians interpret the Bible in so many (and very often contradictory) ways with regards to theological and ethical matters, that Christianity could be accused of polytheism.  This results in an authority-crises within Christianity and a powerlessness within the world.  The only way out of this dilemma is to verify and give account of everything that influences our “understanding” of the NT.  This implies that NT Hermeneutics should be expanded to include the theorizing on and the verification of the interpreter’s presuppositions with regard to reality, science, truth, God and the NT.  Furthermore the unfounded atomizing of the understanding of the NT into either a theological or a historical or a linguistic approach should be discarded.  The interrelatedness of these aspects should be acknowledged.  Therefore a “Relational model” for the understanding of the NT is proposed and illustrated.  This approach rejects fundamentalism and biblicism and attempts to understand the NT from the perspective and thrust that explains the origin, form and message of the NT adequately.  Finally, the way in which the gap between the NT message and its application for today is bridged, is accounted for in this hermeneutical model.

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Author Biography

Jacques Rousseau, University of Port Elizabeth
Department of Biblical Studies
Published
2021-10-03
Section
Articles