Contemporary African perspectives on Jesus' cross and human suffering : a critical comparison of African christologies

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This research investigates the problem: do contemporary African Christologies reflect theportrayal of the personhood and the significance of the Cross of Christ in the NewTestament? It explores the Christo logical views of African theologians in BlackTheology, African Theology and African Women's Theology, and the fundamentalpresuppositions of these forms of Christologies rather than providing a detailed treatmentof the individual Christo logical views of these theologians.The research argues that the methodological assumptions of African theologians,specifically, their hermeneutical starting point and convictions, deeply influence theirChristological thoughts and constructions. Therefore, this research examinescontemporary African hermeneutical methods, particularly searching for their congruencewith the original and characteristic Protestant hermeneutical conviction of Sola Scriptura.As a comparative study, this research deliberately compares these contemporary andrepresentative African Christologies with Paul's view of Jesus Christ and the significanceof his Cross, thereby inquiring specifically after the role of Christian Soteriology in theseAfrican Christo logical approaches and comparing them with Paul.The research argues that, looking at dominant contemporary African Christologies fromthe perspective of Pauline Protology and Soteriology, they do not always fully reflect theNew Testament portrayal of the personhood and the Cross of Christ in the NewTestament.For future work on African Christologies, the research concludes and suggests thatAfrican Christologies be critically evaluated based on their congruence with theProtestant hermeneutical principle of Sola Scriptura.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University