Haggai’s concern for South Africa: A positive transformation to socio-economic justice as a catalyst for reconciliation

Verbum et Ecclesia

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Haggai’s concern for South Africa: A positive transformation to socio-economic justice as a catalyst for reconciliation
 
Creator Pietersen, Doniwen
 
Subject — Haggai; South Africa; socio-economic justice; positive transformation; reconciliation
Description The book of Haggai presents a community where no poverty exists. If העם הזה [his people] obeyed (Ez 6:14), the Lord promised that שלום [prosperity] would follow (Hg 2:19). This command underscores the benefits of living in a covenant relationship with the Hebrew God who bestows provision and blessings on his followers. Such a concept in the ancient Israelite society is a radical one, given the huge disparities that have existed between the rich and the poor for millennia and persist today. This article will explore the theological theme of obedience to God and obligation to others in maintaining an equitable social fabric. Such a discourse is particularly pertinent to South Africa, which suffers from one of the highest levels of inequality in the world. The article employs hermeneutical and socio-historical methods to compare the ancient Israelite society with that of South Africa. This foreground the idea of a catalyst for reconciliation and nation-building.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article brings theological discourse into discussion with transformational and reconciliation studies, hermeneutic studies, ethical studies as well as practical theology. It also explores the intersections between the texts in the book of Haggai and the context of South Africa with regards to poverty and inequality.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Doniwen Pietersen, University of Freestate, Department of Old and New Testament
Date 2021-09-08
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Literary Analysis
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ve.v42i1.2265
 
Source Verbum et Ecclesia; Vol 42, No 1 (2021); 9 pages 2074-7705 1609-9982
 
Language eng
 
Relation
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https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2265/5061 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2265/5062 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2265/5063 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2265/5064
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2021 Doniwen Pietersen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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