A Cross-Cultural and Liberative Hermeneutics of Luke 10:25–37 in Asian and Asian-American Perspective: Reading One Text through the Two Lenses

Abstract

The methodological reading of the Lukan parable reveals some contrasts. While Asian liberationists see the victim in the parable as the primary agent who embodies Jesus Christ, Asian theologians who focus on the intercultural hermeneutics treat the Samaritan as the primary agent who embodies Jesus Christ. This paper argues against emphasizing only one agent without embracing the other. In order to apply a fuller contextual meaning of the Lukan parable for our contemporary context, this paper argues that we should use the middle ground as the methodological tool that reads one text through the two lenses of the Samaritan and the victim. The paper first explores the Samaritan-oriented cross-cultural hermeneutics and then the victim-oriented liberative hermeneutics. Finally, the paper examines both Samaritan-oriented and victim-ordinated hermeneutics from the christological perspective and then offers five proposals for reconciling two different models for an Asian cross-cultural and liberative mission.