Public theology and the translation imperative: A Ricoeurian perspective

Jaco S Dreyer

doi:10.4102/hts.v67i3.1157

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute to the academic discussion on the inter-linguistic translation of the Christian message in the public sphere. There seems to be consensus amongst academic public theologians and social philosophers such as Habermas about the importance of translating religious language in the public sphere. Views differ, however, on the manner of translation. Five key aspects of Ricoeur’s paradigm of translation are discussed and offered as a framework for the academic discussion in public theology on the translation of the Christian message in the public sphere. It is argued that notions such as the tension between faithfulness and betrayal, the illusion of the perfect translation, striving for equivalence of meaning, the importance of the desire to translate, the work of translation and linguistic hospitality offer insight in the complexity of the translation task as well as its ethical nature.

Highlights

It is today widely accepted, perhaps with the exception in some fundamentalist circles, that the use of old texts or traditions in a new or different context requires a contextual hermeneutics
Dreyer, who this article is dedicated to, has made an important contribution regarding a contextual hermeneutics in the South African context
A good example of the centrality of a contextual hermeneutics is found in an article “Preaching and culture” (Dreyer 2005)

Summary

Introduction

It is today widely accepted, perhaps with the exception in some fundamentalist circles, that the use of old texts or traditions in a new or different context requires a contextual hermeneutics. The ‘reader’ or interpreter of the texts and traditions has to try to understand the text in relation to the context of origin, and has the duty to understand the text or tradition in relation to the new or different context This hermeneutic task is central in any theological discourse, whether acknowledged or not. Dreyer, who this article is dedicated to, has made an important contribution regarding a contextual hermeneutics in the South African context He has, for example, reflected on the changing South African context and the challenges that this presents for preaching, pastoral care and a practical theological ecclesiology. A good example of the centrality of a contextual hermeneutics is found in an article “Preaching and culture” (Dreyer 2005) In this article he reflects on the changes in the South African context and the challenges that these present to the church. He writes that the aim of this article is to: attempt to define the relation between culture and preaching from different hermeneutic perspectives, namely the cultural embedding of the biblical kerygma; the interwovenness of language and culture; and the necessity for contextuality in preaching

Objectives

Conclusion