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Introduction : Contextual Biblical Interpretation as a Challenge and a Chance

Lawrence, Louise J ; Smit, Peter-Ben ; Strømmen, Hannah LU and van der Walt, Charlene (2024) p.1-22
Abstract
This introductory chapter argues that attention to the contemporary contexts in which Bibles abide provides a chance but also a challenge for biblical scholarship. It discusses the broader concerns at play in taking contemporary contexts seriously for any and all biblical interpretation, before turning to Contextual Bible Study as a specific approach to reading the Bible. The chapter foregrounds how this volume takes seriously that biblical interpretations are produced by, with, and amidst political practices, attitudes to sexuality, embodiments of gender, digital culture, class identities, and histories of biblical scholarship. Attending to context cannot leave biblical studies as a discipline untouched as the spaces in which biblical... (More)
This introductory chapter argues that attention to the contemporary contexts in which Bibles abide provides a chance but also a challenge for biblical scholarship. It discusses the broader concerns at play in taking contemporary contexts seriously for any and all biblical interpretation, before turning to Contextual Bible Study as a specific approach to reading the Bible. The chapter foregrounds how this volume takes seriously that biblical interpretations are produced by, with, and amidst political practices, attitudes to sexuality, embodiments of gender, digital culture, class identities, and histories of biblical scholarship. Attending to context cannot leave biblical studies as a discipline untouched as the spaces in which biblical scholarship takes place are also contextual. As this chapter suggests, and as the contributors to the volume as a whole demonstrate, there is enormous potential for work to be done in biblical studies that turns to contemporary contexts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Contextual biblical interpretation, Contemporary biblical interpretation, Power, Privilege, Marginality, Hermeneutics, Gender, Race, Class, Digital culture, Empire
host publication
Challenging Contextually : Bibles and Biblical Scholarship in Context - Bibles and Biblical Scholarship in Context
editor
Lawrence, Louise ; Smit, Peter-Ben ; Strømmen, Hannah and van der Walt, Charlene
pages
22 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780192888792
9780191982415
DOI
10.1093/9780191982415.003.0001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b3a5044e-60d1-40de-babe-e5ea01854e38
date added to LUP
2024-08-27 10:45:55
date last changed
2024-08-30 09:30:36
@inbook{b3a5044e-60d1-40de-babe-e5ea01854e38,
  abstract     = {{This introductory chapter argues that attention to the contemporary contexts in which Bibles abide provides a chance but also a challenge for biblical scholarship. It discusses the broader concerns at play in taking contemporary contexts seriously for any and all biblical interpretation, before turning to Contextual Bible Study as a specific approach to reading the Bible. The chapter foregrounds how this volume takes seriously that biblical interpretations are produced by, with, and amidst political practices, attitudes to sexuality, embodiments of gender, digital culture, class identities, and histories of biblical scholarship. Attending to context cannot leave biblical studies as a discipline untouched as the spaces in which biblical scholarship takes place are also contextual. As this chapter suggests, and as the contributors to the volume as a whole demonstrate, there is enormous potential for work to be done in biblical studies that turns to contemporary contexts.}},
  author       = {{Lawrence, Louise J and Smit, Peter-Ben and Strømmen, Hannah and van der Walt, Charlene}},
  booktitle    = {{Challenging Contextually : Bibles and Biblical Scholarship in Context}},
  editor       = {{Lawrence, Louise and Smit, Peter-Ben and Strømmen, Hannah and van der Walt, Charlene}},
  isbn         = {{9780192888792}},
  keywords     = {{Contextual biblical interpretation; Contemporary biblical interpretation; Power; Privilege; Marginality; Hermeneutics; Gender; Race; Class; Digital culture; Empire}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  pages        = {{1--22}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{Introduction : Contextual Biblical Interpretation as a Challenge and a Chance}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/9780191982415.003.0001}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/9780191982415.003.0001}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}