Biblical interpretation during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from Africa

HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Biblical interpretation during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from Africa
 
Creator Aryeh, Daniel N.A. Molobi, Victor V.S.
 
Subject Education; Cultural Studies Africa; biblical interpretation and/or hermeneutics; COVID-19; epideictic rhetoric; forgiveness; miracles; pandemic; sin.
Description Biblical interpretation and/or hermeneutics is largely influenced by context and prevailing events and/or issues. This is attested by many scholars in the field. Previous pandemics have influenced the way biblical hermeneutics is conducted during the period. The situation is not too different from the emergence of COVID-19. The pandemic has been scripturalised to argue that it is the fulfilment of scriptural signs for the second coming of Jesus. Others assert that it is the result of human sins and 5G technology. Amid these propositions, biblical narratives concerning miracles/healing, eschatology, and hope were handled uniquely. This study employs narrative research criticism to analyse various propositions concerning COVID-19 and how biblical texts were engaged to propound an epideictic rhetorical theory of biblical interpretation during the emergence of COVID-19. The main finding is that although there are many assigned eschatological interpretations to the pandemic, there is an epideictic interpretation of miracle narratives of Jesus to minister healing to persons affected and infected by COVID-19.Contribution: This study emphasises the problem-solving approach to biblical interpretation in the African context. It proposes the application of this approach in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor RITR
Date 2023-07-19
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/hts.v79i3.8096
 
Source HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 79, No 3 (2023); 8 pages 2072-8050 0259-9422
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8096/25442 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8096/25443 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8096/25444 https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8096/25445
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Daniel N.A. Aryeh, Victor V.S. Molobi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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