Biblical Scholarship Research Articles

Applicability of the Hebrew Bible to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Growth.

Since the new millennium, biblical scholars have begun to reread certain writings in the Hebrew Bible through the concepts of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic growth. Some scholars believe such a reading is legitimate, whereas others think it problematic, and still, others hold amidwayperspective. This article argues for the midway, the position that accepts the applicability of the Hebrew Bible to today's psychological concepts but calls for caution. Because ancient Israelites reacted to traumatic events and distinguished the human mind from the body like modern people, it is reasonable to approach their thoughts and emotions in the Hebrew Bible through today's psychological concepts. However, the cultural differences between today's society and ancient Israelites in understanding and reacting to traumatic events should be considered.

The Historical Approach to New Testament Rhetorical Criticism: A Rhetorical Analysis of 1 Corinthians 15

The historical approach to New Testament rhetorical criticism uses ancient Greco-Roman rhetorical theory and practice to better understand the rhetoric and rhetorical context of the New Testament. Since most Bible scholars and students are unfamiliar with ancient Greco-Roman rhetoric, this article summarizes and explains Greco-Roman rhetoric in an accessible way so that non-experts can understand and apply the historical method of New Testament rhetorical criticism. It provides a rigorous step-by-step process for doing rhetorical analysis followed by a rhetorical analysis of 1 Corinthians 15 as an example of the method. This analysis displays Paul’s rhetorical prowess in 1 Corinthians 15 and demonstrates that Paul had more than a passing familiarity with Greco-Roman rhetoric. Overall, this article shows that rhetorical criticism is an indispensable and essential tool needed in the arsenal of biblical exegetes for understanding the New Testament in its original contexts.

Outside the City Walls: Remarks on 2 Kgs 23,4-20

ABSTRACT The account of Josiah’s reform has raised the interest of biblical scholars over the years. This paper focuses on the pericope of 2 Kgs 23,4-20 and, based on spatial categories, provides a further argument to date the section in the Persian period. After outlining why 2 Kgs 23,4-20 can be considered separately from the rest of the narrative, this paper will focus on the pericope’s passages that, through Josiah’s actions, highlight a tension between the city’s inner and outer. Such a logic of space, absent in the Chronicler’s report and emphasised in the Antiochian revision of the Greek text, functions as a narrative means to promote a theological idea based on the sharp distinction between pure and impure, sacred and polluted, and charges the king with priestly traits. As a result, 2 Kgs 23,4-20 will be argued to be part of a text revision dated to the Persian period, when the ruling priestly class could be interested in loading the character of Josiah with religious prerogatives.

An Egyptian View of the Monotheism of Second Isaiah

Abstract: This article reexamines the contested issue of the nature of the monotheism of Second Isaiah. I approach this subject with an interdisciplinary method that compares the declarations of monotheism in Second Isaiah with those in ancient Egyptian religious texts (primarily hymns). I argue that the Egyptian material may illuminate the monotheistic declarations of Second Isaiah by setting those declarations in a cross-cultural ancient Near Eastern rhetorical context. This comparative approach reinforces the reading of the text that sees Second Isaiah's monotheism as a monotheism of perspective that exalts Yhwh above the gods of the nations, rather than as a strict ontological monotheism that altogether denies the existence of deities other than Yhwh. This article, accordingly, makes the additional case for the utility of Egyptian evidence in topics related to critical biblical scholarship.

A Historical Survey of the Book of Ezekiel

The book of Ezekiel is replete with a lot of messages that make its story very interesting. In spite of the uniqueness of the book, past biblical scholarship only selected and studied certain themes. Much have therefore not been written on the historical analysis of the whole book. The thrust of this study is to make an historical survey of the whole book; historical method is also used in its analysis. The findings of the work reveal that the book was written for a specific people living in a particular tragic time in their history. The study concludes that there are still different aspects of the book that are yet to be explored.

Catholic Preaching on Jews and Judaism: The Challenge from Surveyed Good Friday Homilies

Abstract: To assess the reception in the American Catholic Church of the significant shift in Catholic doctrine on Jews and Judaism since the promulgation of Nostra Aetate at Vatican II, a study was conducted of a dataset of thirty-two Catholic Good Friday homilies from a sermons database that the Pew Research Center collected from the Internet in 2019. Relying on conciliar and post-conciliar Catholic teaching documents and using deductive qualitative content analysis, the survey analyzed the texts based on their treatment of six issues: (1) the Jewish identity of Jesus and his disciples, (2) respect for the Jewish people and their religious heritage, (3) the role Jews had in Jesus’ passion and death, (4) the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament, (5) the Pharisees, and (6) the gospel reading. The survey found that none of the homilies directly addressed the ahistorical, negative treatment of “the Jews” in John’s Gospel. None of the homilies commented on the Jewish identity of Jesus and his disciples. Only two homilies mentioned the Pharisees, one in a positive way and another in a negative way. As to respect for the Jewish people and their religious heritage, most homilists were silent on this matter, although some still trafficked in Jewish stereotypes, claiming, for example, that Jewish pride was evident at the crucifixion. As to Jewish responsibility for Jesus’ death, most homilists said that the sins of humanity brought Jesus to the cross, but some homilists still claimed that Jews were responsible for the crucifixion in direct contradiction to modern Church teaching. Of the homilists who referred to the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament, most read them in a typological way, not showing any concern for the texts in their historical context. As to the treatment of the Gospel of John, most homilists who commented on it showed little awareness of contemporary biblical scholarship, reading the text in a literalist way.

Spinoza și Uriel da Costa. Schița unei filiații analitice

The paper circumscribes, through a specific history of ideas approach, the influence on Spinozaʼs philosophy and his radical biblical analysis of the unique intelectual and religios model of marranos ‒ Sephardic “secret Jews” forcibly converted to Christianity in Spain and Portugal, later converted to Judaism in their exile in the Netherlands in particular. From the “radical cases” of heterodox marranos, the paper presents the historical and linguistic coordinates of Uriel da Costa’s biblical criticism, followed by Spinoza as well, and also the similarities of thought and existential parcours between the two thinkers.

Alone and Naked: Reading the Torture of Jesus alongside the Torture of Miriam Leitão

Abstract Recent biblical scholarship has called for more careful and detailed attention to the experiences of torture victims to better understand the crucifixion of Jesus (Menéndez- Antuña 2022). To this end, this article examines the torture of Miriam Leitão, one of Brazil’s most prominent journalists. Leitão’s torture in 1972 is attested in the report Brasil: Nunca Mais (1985), compiled by the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo, which records that she was left in a dark room with a boa constrictor. In 2014 Leitão disclosed in an interview that during her time with the snake she was naked. I argue Leitão’s account of being ‘alone and naked’ offers insights into the repeated stripping of Jesus in the praetorium in Matthew 27:26–31, and his forced nudity on the cross. Recognising crucifixion as torture helps towards understanding and naming the mocking of Jesus as sexual abuse.

“They Feasted Their Eyes”: Nadab, Abihu, and the Original Sin

Abstract In this article, I argue that the classic rabbinic interpretation of the sin of Nadab and Abihu—that they “feasted their eyes upon the Shekinah”—has strong textual support in the biblical account itself (Lev 10:1–2), which contemporary biblical scholarship helps us to see. While some recent interpreters have argued that it is impossible to know what the brothers did wrong and that the story is intentionally ambiguous, I will argue that a solid theological interpretation is possible and that the rabbis were right when they claimed that the brothers were guilty of arrogance and greed. Furthermore, recent scholarship has made it clear that the closest theological parallel to the Nadab and Abihu event is the story of Adam and Eve. Putting these stories side-by-side, one discovers fascinating echoes between them, which helps us to better understand the sin of the priestly brothers, as well as the sin of Adam and Eve, all of whom are fallen priests in garden sanctuaries. Given that both events occur at the beginning of creation (the first, the macrocosm, and the second, the microcosm), these sins have cosmic significance. By contemplating this reoccurring “original sin,” we also confront the mystery of humanity’s fallen condition and the need for redemption.

African biblical studies and the question of methodology: A focus on New Testament scholarship in Nigeria

African biblical studies (ABS) focus on biblical interpretation in Africa. Although new, it has gained massive recognition among African biblical scholars as the biblical interpretation focus that best suits the peculiar challenges that face African Christians. Its emergence, of course, was reactionary to the Western approach to the interpretation of the Bible in Africa and the practice of Christianity as well, which failed to take into cognisance the peculiar needs of African Christians. In New Testament scholarship in Nigeria, ABS has come to dominate biblical interpretation, being the most preferred by New Testament scholars. However, this article notices a persistent problem with regard to methodological rigour in ABS in Nigeria. This article aims to call the attention of New Testament scholars in Nigeria to methodological rigour while engaging in ABS as this is also part of the reasons breaking into mainstream New Testament scholarship has become a problem for many of these scholars. This equally leads to poor global visibility and competitiveness on the part of many Nigerian New Testament scholars. The approach to the discussion in the work is analytical and descriptive with a touch of personal observation.Contribution: This article calls attention to the need for ABS scholars in Nigeria to emphasise methodological rigour in their research. While this will lead to recognition of the works of ABS practitioners in Nigeria and beyond, this article makes a case for academic excellence which is the hallmark of good biblical scholarship.

Saul’s Israel, the “Hebrews,” and Identity Politics in 1 Samuel 13–14

Abstract This article offers a critical reassessment of the Bible’s עברים (ʿibrîm) and the problems of identification associated with the label with a focus on the two anomalous cases in 1 Sam 13–14 that deviate from an overarching pattern of the gentilic term’s etic usage. Building on the literary-historical and philological analysis of 1 Sam 13:3 and 14:2, I delineate the limits of a previous interpretive spectrum and argue that the identity of the “Hebrews” in these two passages is characterized by their collective capability of choosing and transferring political allegiance. This mobile aspect of negotiating political identity that the label “Hebrew” carries is further compared with the usage of the Akkadian term ʿibrum from Mari and the depiction of David’s loyalty to the Philistines and the designation of Hebrews in 1 Sam 29:3. By offering an alternative translation of the “Hebrew(s),” I challenge a conventional categorical paradigm associated with the interpretation of gentilics in biblical scholarship.

Theological study of “the enemies” in the Psalter and the Yorùbá worldview

The violent prayers in imprecatory Psalms have attracted serious criticism among Christians and Biblical scholars who find it difficult to reconcile the spirit of vengeance in the Psalms with the injunction of Jesus Christ that says, “Pray for your enemies and those who persecute you” (Mt 5:43-48). Biblical scholars have done profound research on imprecatory Psalms, but none of them has given significant attention to the activities of the enemies which motivated this present study. Therefore, this article examines the concept of enemies in the Psalter and the Yorùbá worldview to gain insight into the spiritual implications of dealing with enemies in each context. In addition to a review of the literature on the Psalter, a textual analysis of Psalms 35, 69, and 109 was carried out. Also, Yorùbá proverbs and pithy sayings lend credence to the Yorùbá perspective of the enemies. It was discovered that the enemies in each of the contexts were bent on destroying their perceived foes. Consequently, individuals in each cultural setting tried to be freed from the clutches of these enemies. The essay concludes that the Psalter and the Yorùbá worldview have brought different angles to the concept of enemies, which would help appreciate the complexities of enemies on a global scale. The article recommends that individuals should not give up in the face of challenges emanating from enemies and their activities.

A Critical Analysis of Selected Issues in the Book of Daniel: Implications for Contemporary Christianity

The book of Daniel is one of the frequently-quoted books when it comes to issues regarding resilience in one’s faith. The setting of the book and the events surrounding Daniel’s life in Babylon have many lessons for contemporary Christians. The purpose of this article was to bring out certain features and issues in the book of Daniel to present to readers relevant aspects of the context within which the book was written and to consequently equip them to successfully interpret and apply the message of Prophet Daniel. The paper is a literature-based research that gathered data from books and commentaries on Daniel and analyzed them critically to make meaning of the biblical book. One of the key findings was that God sovereignly guards his people and makes them have victory over evil. This study aimed at arousing interest in biblical scholarship on prophetic literature, especially the Book of Daniel. The paper encouraged contemporary believers to be resilient in their faith as they live in a world full of evil deeds. In times of difficult circumstances, Daniel persisted in not hesitating or giving up his faith to follow the patterns of the evil world; rather, he placed God above all things, and succeeded in his endeavours. Keywords: Daniel, God, Christianity, Old Testament

DICTIONARY OF PAUL AND HIS LETTERS: A COMPENDIUM OF CONTEMPORARY BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP. 2nd edition. Edited by ScotMcKnight, Lynn H.Cohick, and Nijay K.Gupta. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2023. Pp. xxx + 1223. Hardback, $70.00.

DICTIONARY OF PAUL AND HIS LETTERS: A COMPENDIUM OF CONTEMPORARY BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP. 2nd edition. Edited by ScotMcKnight, Lynn H.Cohick, and Nijay K.Gupta. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2023. Pp. xxx + 1223. Hardback, $70.00.

Kohelet’s Escape: The Heart Freely Subordinated to Divine Navigation

It is often claimed that Ecclesiastes constitutes an irremediable enigma which flies in the face of traditional Hebrew cosmology, making the author’s intended meaning not much more than a bewildering speculative task. Biblical scholars disagree on just about every aspect of this ancient Hebraic work: authorship, date, structure, narrative framework, and even its connection to a Creator God. This essay utilizes Ballantine’s strategic rhetorical perspective to introduce and wade through some of the central controversies and debates about the meaning of Ecclesiastes: Is earthly life meaningful or meaningless ? Is there eternal meaning to earthly life or not? Is the earthly life of human beings pointless and futile or not? If the simple pleasures of earthly life are gifts from God, then how can earthly life itself be ‘hevel’? and more. Somewhat surprisingly, it concludes that Ecclesiastes is anything but an enigma when viewed rhetorically, and certainly not in contravention of basic Hebraic and Christian biblical principles about the sovereign importance of believing in God and obeying the Commandments, even despite all the trials and tribulations offered by earthly life.

ProPent and its Implied Conversation Partners’

This contribution is a slightly edited invited presentation at the Society for Biblical Literature annual international conference at the University of Pretoria, 3-7 July 2023, at a panel discussion titled “The role of context in Biblical Studies / exegesis”. A broad overview-interpretation of the past half a century Pentateuch studies in South Africa is offered, indicating implied, though seldom stated, dynamics of Hebrew Bible scholarship, doing so by means of an Aesopian interpretation. These concrete webs of meaning in substantial ways steer also the guild of Pentateuch scholars in South Africa in our time, in how historical exegesis has had to be arranged.

Confronting the cataracts of whiteness to see the invisible: reflections on the transmission and reception of the Bible in post-apartheid South Africa

The goal of this article is to draw on some of the latest insights in biblical studies on the challenges posed to the reflection, transmission, and reception of the Bible with relevance to a post-apartheid South African context. The author engages with prominent figures in the field of Biblical Studies and critical race theory such as David Horrell, in order to address the issue of whiteness and its impact on marginalisation. The aim is to foster a deeper understanding of the ways in which certain voices have been rendered invisible and to continue to question and challenge these dynamics. This paper delves into the interpretation of the Bible in Africa, using the perspectives of scholars such as Thomas Wartenberg in conjunction with the ideas of Charles W. Mills, W. Jennings, R. Ellison, and Steven Biko, as well as other notable figures, to criticallyreflect on the role of biblical scholarship in the process of restoring historically marginalised voices within the contextof past injustices.

“If I forget you Jerusalem” (Ps. 137:4). The Transmission of Sacred Discourse in the Bible and in African Indigenous Sacred Texts

African biblical scholars have long advocated a shift in existing exegetical and hermeneutical approaches. The reasons include not simply the inadequacy of these approaches in dealing with the existential questions of contemporary African societies, but also their lack of effectiveness in transmitting the results of the exegetical process to receptor cultures in Africa, partly to be blamed on their colonialist legacy. One pathway to resolving the above challenge, which remains insufficiently explored, is to engage in a dialogue between the biblical text and African indigenous sacred texts. This paper, using a dialogical approach of African biblical hermeneutics, brings Psalm 137 into dialogue with the Adinkra amammere (tradition), an indigenous text of the Akan of Ghana. It argues that reading these texts together uncovers their complementary views on the preservation and transmission of sacred discourse and could facilitate reception of the biblical message in contemporary Ghanian society.

Evangelization among the Chagga of Rombo: A dialectical Process

The historical encounter between Christian faith and African Traditional Religion has given birth to different attitudes, beginning with that of rejection on the part of the first bearers of Christianity and their allies to the attitude of tolerance and acceptance that led to the need for a thorough and deeper understanding of both African Traditional Religions and Christian faith. When one talks of African culture and religion there is consensus that the two are inseparable. With a broad understanding of culture as a complex whole including the whole way of life including religion, it is possible to see that even the Good News is carried within a cultural matrix, that must uncloak itself in order to enable those who accept it, live it in their culture. In this encounter, through a continuous dialogue, the Gospel message received through a particular Christian tradition is assessed in order to be assimilated to the African religion-culture, and in turn this African religion-culture is exposed to biblical criticism, being challenged in order to render it conform to the Gospel. Conversion was a dialectical process involving the dynamic interaction between potential converts and missionaries with discontinuity and continuity of some elements of their beliefs and practices. If conversion is taken to involve a dialectical process, it is possible that many Chagga would have accepted Christianity after a period of experiencing its requirements and conditions and especially after tasting the spiritual aspects which touched their inner self and their reason of being, no matter their initial motives. This can be the reason for the strength acquired by Christianity in the Chaggaland.

African Biblical Hermeneutics Considering Ifá Hermeneutic Principles

African contextual biblical hermeneutics, practiced mainly among those from the southern hemisphere, is framed by conflicting academic approaches, methods, epistemologies, rationalities, etc. The general challenge put before the Bible scholars in this part of the world mostly concerns methodologies. This paper focuses on the link between a biblical text and the context of its interpretation. To avoid any specific context or interpreter gaining hermeneutical hegemony over the text, in contextual biblical hermeneutics, the coherence should be first and foremost between the text and the context of its interpretation. The interpretation method of Ifá, the sacred orature of Yoruba and some non-Yoruba people in West Africa, helps to achieve that coherence. This paper is a theoretical presentation of what a contextual biblical hermeneutic can learn from this African Sacred literature reading in context. The hermeneutical rationale of Ifá stories is one of “speaking in proverbs”, considering both the stories and their interpretations as proverbs. In line with this rationale, the ideal link between a biblical text and its hermeneutical context is like the one between a “proverb story” and the many stories (contexts) of its harmonious utterances. The epistemological and hermeneutical functions of the context of interpretation are not to interpret the biblical text but to verify the validity of proposed interpretations.