Contextualization and the Old Testament

Jerry Hwang

Description

Christianity is often viewed in Asia as a Western imposition. Challenging this, Dr. Jerry Hwang examines the Old Testament’s cultural engagement of its ancient Near Eastern context, arguing that Scripture itself provides the ultimate model for contextualizing theology in Asia.
While it is common for missiological studies to ignore the Old Testament in their discussion of contextualization, truly biblical contextualization must include the whole Bible, not simply the New Testament. This study provides insightful discourse between the Old Testament and various Asian contexts, while demonstrating how Asian perspectives can help overcome the Eurocentrism prevalent in Old Testament scholarship.
This is an ideal resource for scholars and practitioners interested in a biblical perspective of contextualization, especially as related to constructing theology that honors the truth of Scripture in the context of Asia.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Biblical Interpretation
• Biblical Criticism
• Philosophie et théologie
• Old Testament

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 26 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839737244
• Langue: English

Extrait

A rich and bold demonstration that Western scholars unwittingly bring interpretive lenses to the biblical texts rooted in Enlightenment presumptions and that the Confucian touchstones of the Far East are an indispensable resource for historical critical scholarship. No one is more qualified to build this bridge where West meets East than Jerry Hwang.
Joshua Berman, PhD
Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible,
Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Doing contextual theology in Asia is profoundly biblical because it does what the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, does: dialogue with the context. This is the argument of Jerry Hwang in this careful, wide-ranging, and learned book, and I could not agree with his argument more. Paraphrasing Tertullian, he asks what does contextualization have to do with the Old Testament and his answer is “nearly everything.”
Stephen Bevans, PhD
Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture, Emeritus,
Catholic Theological Union, Illinois, USA
For most of us, the Bible was written for us but it was not written directly to us, and that raises the issue of contextualization. How do we understand properly what the text actually meant in its original context so we can appropriately interpret and apply it within our contexts? Jerry Hwang’s Contextualization and the Old Testament provides helpful insights as he attempts to help us engage the text more accurately and honestly.
Bryan Beyer, PhD
Bible Professor Emeritus,
Columbia International University, South Carolina, USA
The global church is becoming increasingly aware of the need for high quality research and writing in the field of contextualization. There is an especially acute need for works which address the Old Testament and which consider specific contemporary contexts. This book does both of those things and more, making it an important and precious one. Hwang brings together his expertise in Old Testament studies and missiology, and his profound insights into Asian and Western cultural perspectives, to produce a thought-provoking work that will equip the church to develop theologies that are both deeply biblical and authentically local.
Derek Brotherson, PhD
Principal, Lecturer in Missions and Preaching,
Sydney Missionary & Bible College, Australia
This is an expansive book by a mature scholar. Hwang argues that the Old Testament’s interaction with the ancient world offers models of how Christian faith can engage culture today. On the one hand, these engagements illumine how to theologize better in Asia’s diverse contexts. On the other hand, Asian reflections on Bible translation and other topics can sharpen – even correct – current missiological perspectives and accepted givens in Old Testament scholarship. An important contribution!
M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), PhD
Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy,
Wheaton College, Illinois, USA
Dr. Hwang provides an important contribution to missiology and hermeneutics bringing clarity to the “contextualization debate.” His emphasis upon, in, and with the Old Testament draws the reader into recognizing the ways the Old Testament interacts within its own ancient Near Eastern cultural milieu, by both drawing from it and serving as a polemic within it. While delivering profound insights into Asian and Western contextualizing of Scripture and the gospel, his approach is applicable across all cross-cultural settings.
Ingrid Faro, PhD
Dean of Theology,
Scandinavian School of Theology, Sweden
I have long sensed a need for an in-depth exploration of contextualization from an Old Testament perspective. Jerry Hwang’s book masterfully fills that gap. With exceptional nuance and insight, Hwang explores how Old Testament writers critically engaged their ancient Near Eastern contexts. At the same time, he shows how the Old Testament offers a rich resource for Christians in Asia and elsewhere, as we engage our complex settings today. This book just might change your understanding of both contextualization and the Old Testament!
Dean Flemming, PhD
Professor of New Testament,
MidAmerica Nazarene University, Kansas, USA
In Contextualization and the Old Testament , Hwang helpfully extends the discussions on contextualization and syncretism. Usually, this subject is discussed in missiology, but here, Hwang weaves together biblical exegesis, missiology, and anthropology to show that Israel in the Old Testament was also constantly holding the tension between being in, but not being of, the surrounding culture. A timely and necessary book, especially for Asian Christians in the quest for a maturing, theologizing Christian community.
Kwa Kiem-Kiok, PhD
Lecturer in Missiology and Interdisciplinary Studies,
Biblical Graduate School of Theology, Singapore
This is a major scholarly achievement. Jerry Hwang illuminatingly interprets the Hebrew scriptures in the light of Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Korean, Filipino, Japanese, and other Asian contexts. Anyone studying biblical interpretation, theology, contextualization, missiology, or Asian Christianity will learn from it – and delight in it. Contextualization and the Old Testament deserves to become a classic.
Timothy Larsen, PhD
McManis Professor of Christian Thought, Wheaton College, Illinois, USA
Honorary Fellow, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK
Only a handful of scholars could have written this book and I’m glad Dr Hwang has! He is sensitive to the historical and cultural nuances of both the Old Testament and Asia today and his unique multicultural competence shines through on every page. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to gain a truer and fuller understanding of the Old Testament from an Asian perspective.
Peter H. W. Lau, PhD
Adjunct Lecturer in Old Testament and Biblical Theology,
Seminari Theoloji Malaysia
Contextualization and the Old Testament is a detailed and nuanced work that enlightens readers on the biblical context and also shows how the principles found in the Old Testament address contextualization issues in the twenty-first century, through illuminating examples from the Asian context. The breadth and depth of Hwang’s work raises a host of questions for readers to tackle and wrestle with, in order to provide pathways that will enable churches to faithfully incarnate the gospel to every culture, tribe, and people while remaining true to the Bible. Hwang’s book is destined to be a seminal work that future scholars and practitioners in contextualization must learn from, dialogue with, and build upon.
Samuel K. Law, PhD
Vice Principal for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies,
Singapore Bible College
Contextualization and the Old Testament by Dr. Jerry Hwang is simply a brilliant book written by a brilliant scholar. Dr. Hwang is deeply versed in biblical, particularly Old Testament, studies, as well as missiology and related disciplines. He masters wide-ranging literature in both Western and Asian theology. He rightly believes that the Old Testament is an ideal supplier of source material for building conceptual bridges between the ancient Near East and the modern Far East. I was totally fascinated by every page of this book, which every biblical scholar, missionary, seminary student, and pastor ought to read.
Tremper Longman III, PhD
Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies,
Westmont College, California, USA
This book is a revelation! Finally we have an Old Testament scholar immersed in Western and Asian cultures bringing his insights to the study of Scripture and to ancient and contemporary contextualization. Hwang’s Asian context enables him to challenge numerous commonplaces of classical Old Testament scholarship while illuminating how the biblical authors interacted meaningfully with their ancient Near Eastern context. His insights into the complexity of Asian cultures and the misguided attempts at contextualization, both historical and contemporary, are eye-opening. This is a brilliant book, useful for biblical scholars, theologians, missiologists, and students of Asian cultures.
J. Richard Middleton, PhD
Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis,
Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College, New York, USA
Jerry Hwang has produced an innovative and a comprehensive book on contextualization and the Old Testament between Asian and Western perspectives. Hwang’s book furnishes fresh, original insights into the theme of contextualization; it allows the diversity of interpretative voices to be represented, yet his own position is not blurred by them. This book will become a significant guide to how biblical theology is done in a way that exalts the ontological priority of Scripture and its power of contemporaneity in various cultures. It places readers in and with the biblical texts, and under them, that is, under the grip of the effectual nature of Holy Scripture. Keen-minded readers will reap from it how the gospel can be communicated and lived out in Asia and abroad. Hwang is to be praised for such a worthy undertaking to which readers will be indebted.
Dennis Ngien, PhD
Alister E. McGrath Chair of Christian Thought & Spirituality,
Tyndale University, Canada
At last, a comprehensive, well-researched, and nuanced treatment of contextualization in the Old Testament! Professor Hwang offers a fascinating examination of the complex interface of local culture and religion with the faith of ancient Israel. He then compellingly draws implications for today from a decidedly Asian perspective, yielding insights from which all readers will benefit.
Craig Ott, PhD
Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois, USA
Jerry Hwang in Contextualization and the Old Testament has produced nothing less than a landmark tour de force in scholarship that will shape how contextualization is understood for the next generat