Paulâs letters that are used to enhance the exclusion of women should be read in the context of other writings that acknowledge womenâs contribution in spreading Godâs word, noted Tanzanian theologian Rev. Dr Hoyce Mbowe. Photo: LWF/I. Benesch
Divergent conclusions “will always” be part of biblical interpretation
(LWI) – An international Lutheran conference on Bible interpretation has recognized the importance of reading Scripture with love and respect as well as building a link between the use of hermeneutical concepts of ‘suspicion’ and ‘trust’.
The fourth Lutheran World Federation (LWF) international conference on Bible interpretation, which was held 24-29 at Aarhus, Denmark, in partnership with Aarhus University, discussed the Apostle Paul’s letters.
“The Power of the Gospel: Developing Pauline Hermeneutics”, which gathered 35 biblical scholars from 17 countries, affirmed that Lutheran biblical interpretation and theology should be based on sound scholarship informed by robust historical work, attentive to the Lutheran tradition and contextual concerns.
Divisive issues
Participants noted that despite careful academic work, there will always be divergent conclusions on how to apply certain Scripture passages to contemporary life in different contexts.
LWF Council member Prof. Bernd Oberdorfer, professor of systematic theology at the University of Augsburg, Germany, remarked that he was impressed by how intensively participants from very different backgrounds – Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas – dealt with the interpretation of Paul’s letters.
“The conference provided a safe space where even controversial and sometimes divisive issues, such as sexual orientation could be discussed in an atmosphere of openness, mutual trust and respect,” Oberdorfer said.
Old Testament theologian Prof. Mercedes Garcia Bachmann of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina, concurred, adding, “After learning so much about Paul during these last few days, it has become clear to me that in ethical matters Paul can, at best, give us some partial answers.
“Perhaps the biggest challenge for us is how to be a Greek to the Greeks and a Jew to the Jews without losing that which defines us” as Christians, Bachmann emphasized.
Observing that some of Paul’s letters are used to exclude women from full participation in the church, Rev. Dr Hoyce Mbowe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania suggested reading such texts in the context of those in which Paul acknowledges women’s contribution in spreading God’s word.
Reformation: The Bible at the center
As Lutherans and other Christians commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, in which the interpretation of Scripture played a key role in the renewal of the church, the church should re-appropriate the Bible for its strengthening and as a resource for its mission in the world today.
“The Bible,” said Prof. Anders Runesson, who teaches New Testament at the University of Oslo, “should be placed at the center in the dialogue with history, tradition, individual experience and other religious traditions.”
In their concluding remarks, the co-organizers, Prof. Eve-Marie Becker of Aarhus University and Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, LWF study secretary for Lutheran Theology and Practice, highlighted the cumulative learning that had taken place since the beginning of the hermeneutics project in 2011.
The project included the study of the Fourth Gospel (John), the Psalms, the Gospel of Matthew and Paul’s letters.
Becker and Mtata pointed out that the LWF statement on hermeneutics emerging from this process will be a gift for the churches as they commemorate 500 years of the Reformation at the LWF Assembly to be held in 2017.
