Abstract
ABSTRACT Explaining and interpreting biblical concepts in different cultures without due regard to the cultures of the biblical world have some challenges. When caution is not taken, one stands a chance of imposing one's cultural worldview on the biblical text. Understanding of the concepts in one's culture could be useful in helping him or her grasp the meanings of the biblical concepts. This paper delves into wisdom in the OT and that of the Akan of Ghana, analysing critically the connotations of the concept, sources and acquisition of wisdom in the OT vis-à-vis those of the Akan ethnic groups of Ghana. Through a comparative analysis, it attempts to describe how the OT concept of wisdom could be understood with the help of its parallels in Akan, regardless of their disconnections. It discovers that the Akan concept of wisdom can be of help in the interpretation of wisdom in the OT, but it cannot fully explain it. The paper pinpoints one of the challenges that interpreters are likely to encounter in the use of reader-centred approaches of biblical hermeneutics. Keywords: Wisdom, Israel, Old Testament, Wisdom Literature, Akan, Culture.
Highlights
Explaining and interpreting biblical concepts in different cultures without due regard to the cultures of the biblical world have some challenges
One cannot transfer the connotations of concepts in one’s culture onto those of ancient Israel presented in the sacred scriptures
Wisdom is not restricted to any one particular society, group or culture; it is found in the cultures of the ancient Near East as well as of the Ghanaian peoples
Summary
Different cultures have diverse interpretations of symbols and concepts. Interpreting symbols and concepts from one culture to the other should be done in such a way. Et al, “Understanding Wisdom,” OTE 33/3 (2020): 408-427 409 that their meanings are not lost in the context of their respective cultures. The Bible can be brought home to the present reader through contextualisation.[3] one cannot transfer the connotations of concepts in one’s culture onto those of ancient Israel presented in the sacred scriptures. One cannot do away entirely with meanings of the concepts in one’s culture when it comes to the interpretation of concepts in the Judeo-Christian scriptures. How does one interpret OT wisdom using similar concepts from one’s culture? 410 Antwi, et al, “Understanding Wisdom,” OTE 33/3 (2020): 408-427 demonstrate how wisdom in the OT could be understood through its Akan parallels, while respecting their disconnections and differences
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