THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT: IN DIALOGUE WITH CHRIS MANUS

  • Bernard Combrink Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
  • Bethel Müller Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
Keywords: Gospel of Matthew, Chris Manus, African Context, Dialogue, African Kings,

Abstract

This article is a reaction to the contribution by Chris Manus elsewhere in this issue. It departs from his remark that the elevation and status of African kings helps us to understand Mt 28:16-20. This is then placed in the context of contextualisation as a metaphoric activity, especially with a view to the public or cultural context of the text-reading process. An adequate hermeneutic will have to be a critical hermeneutic, recognizing that the theme of kingship is presented in an ironic mode in Matthew, because Jesus embodies the pattern of a king who is rejected, as ruler who is truly a servant. Although one has to acknowledge that any text is determined to a large degree by the discourse which selects and organizes features of the text, one also has to agree that the text, similarly, determines the discourse.

Author Biographies

Bernard Combrink, Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
Bethel Müller, Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
Published
2020-03-06
Section
Articles