Biblical Foundation for Developing Contextual Theology
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPING CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY
Introduction
Christianity which we follow today may not exist if there were no contextual theology. We would all have to learn Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and culture of Israel by compulsion and then try to fit into the religious practices like circumcision, Sabbath and Jerusalem. It would be a problem for people other than the Jews to really understand and accept. Contextual theology helps people to know God better as it makes the Gospel relevant to the people of a particular time and context. This paper attempts to draw out the Biblical foundations for formulating contextual theologies by briefly discussing the nature of Christian theology in general in relation to ‘context,’ the nature of contextual theology and some of the prominent contextual theologies today.
1. What is Christian Theology?
The traditional definition of the term theology refers to the meaning derived from the two Greek words “Theos” and “Logia” and perceived as the study of the word of God or understanding the knowledge of God. Identifying the limitation of this definition, in his book, Introducing Theological Ethics, Shimreingam gives three scholars’ opinons of theology:
According to Sebastian Kappen, theology may be defined as the analytic, critical, articulate, dialogical and committed reflection on our primordial encounter with God. Kurien Kunnupuram said, theology should be experienced based, praxis oriented, dialogical and inter-disciplinary.” Gustavo Gutierezz opines that theology will be a critical reflection on historical praxis, following out that praxis and a confrontation with the world of the Lord that is accepted and lived by faith.
We can also say that, Christian theology is developed from a particular culture of Jewish, and Greek- Roman cultures. The Bible was written and edited in Hebrew and Greek language and concluded under the Roman Empire setting. It means the main substances of long-established Christian theology
Introduction
Christianity which we follow today may not exist if there were no contextual theology. We would all have to learn Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and culture of Israel by compulsion and then try to fit into the religious practices like circumcision, Sabbath and Jerusalem. It would be a problem for people other than the Jews to really understand and accept. Contextual theology helps people to know God better as it makes the Gospel relevant to the people of a particular time and context. This paper attempts to draw out the Biblical foundations for formulating contextual theologies by briefly discussing the nature of Christian theology in general in relation to ‘context,’ the nature of contextual theology and some of the prominent contextual theologies today.
1. What is Christian Theology?
The traditional definition of the term theology refers to the meaning derived from the two Greek words “Theos” and “Logia” and perceived as the study of the word of God or understanding the knowledge of God. Identifying the limitation of this definition, in his book, Introducing Theological Ethics, Shimreingam gives three scholars’ opinons of theology:
According to Sebastian Kappen, theology may be defined as the analytic, critical, articulate, dialogical and committed reflection on our primordial encounter with God. Kurien Kunnupuram said, theology should be experienced based, praxis oriented, dialogical and inter-disciplinary.” Gustavo Gutierezz opines that theology will be a critical reflection on historical praxis, following out that praxis and a confrontation with the world of the Lord that is accepted and lived by faith.
We can also say that, Christian theology is developed from a particular culture of Jewish, and Greek- Roman cultures. The Bible was written and edited in Hebrew and Greek language and concluded under the Roman Empire setting. It means the main substances of long-established Christian theology