Reading Luke in impoverished communities : a social-scientific and feminist hermeneutical approach to Luke 1:39-56 and 4:16-30

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is primarily concerned with responsible and considerate interpretations of the Bible as sacred book in faith communities. The question of poverty and its related issues compelled me to ask the question: how can the gospels be good news for Christians in impoverished communities in South Africa?It is the opinion of this study that method of interpretation is the crux of the matter when it comes to extracting good news from the Bible. In chapter one I propose that a social scientific approach in combination with feminist hermeneutics is a good method of interpreting biblical texts in impoverished communities. The social sciences help to place the text in its proper context and give the reader a point of connection between his or her social location and that of the text. Feminist hermeneutics seeks the marginalised and silent voices in the text with the aim of transformation on the contemporary context.In the second chapter of this study I explore the vital social values of the first century AD Mediterranean world as premise of the selected texts for exegesis (Luke 1:39-56 and 4:16-30). The third and fourth chapters form the exegetical corps of the study. In both I look at how the social values identified in chapter two influenced and shaped the texts. The latter part of both these chapters looks at a very specific feminist hermeneutical model which ultimately seeks transformation. Chapter three deals with Luke 1: 39-56 as pericope whilst chapter four deals with Luke 4:16-30.Chapter five focuses on the correlation of the findings in the exegesis of chapter three and chapter four. This chapter also gives some implications with concrete examples of a way forward from the interpretation of the text to the application of the text. I propose a Christian development of communities as a possible consequence of reading and interpreting the Bible through the lenses of a social scientific approach in conjunction with feminist hermeneutics. The last chapter, chapter six, is an overview and conclusion to this study.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University