ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Anders lees, sien, praat en glo - 'n antwoord op ander se lees van 'Om die Bybel anders te lees: 'n Etiek van Bybellees'

 

To read, see, talk and believe differently - a response to other readers' reading of 'Om die Bybel anders te lees: 'n Etiek van Bybellees'

 

 

Gerrie Snyman

Departement Ou Testament en Ou-Nabye Oosterse Studie, Universiteit van Suid-Afrika, Suid-Afrika

Correspondence

 

 

---

ABSTRACT

As any exegesis is necessarily preceded by certain theological convictions, the author of the book Om die Bybel anders te lees: 'n Etiek van Bybellees (2007) responds to criticism on the book flowing from a seminar - especially the remarks made by Hans van Deventer and Jurie le Roux. Firstly, the ideas on a changed view of the deity are discussed. This conversation is augmented by a discussion of the criticism levelled at the idea that reading the Bible has consequences for other people, and that a different reading would lead to a different concept of God. Van Deventer's comments regarding the difficulty of debating theological issues are strengthened by a critical discussion of a debate in Die Kerkblad regarding the grammatical-historical method. His critical remarks regarding the value of a historical consciousness are discussed by way of a question on the relationship between a liberal theology and a conservative political point of view. Le Roux's struggle with Snyman's utilisation of apartheid as a rhetorical strategy leads the discussion to a recent example of overcoming racism while using unreflectingly racist imagery. This example indicates how theology effects cosmetic changes, without taking on the real issue. For this reason, the author concludes that a critical reading of the own Western tradition in Africa has become necessary.

Keywords: gesag van die Bybel; Bybeluitleg; historiese bewussyn; Gereformeerde teologie; etiek van lees

---

 

 

Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

Literatuurverwysings

American Humanist Association, 2003, Humanist Manifesto III, bekom op 5 Oktober 2009, van http://www.americanhumanist.org/who_we_are/about_humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_III.         [ Links ]

Barr, J., 1986, 'Exegesis as a theological discipline reconsidered and the shadow of the Jesus of history', in G.M. Donald (red),The Hermeneutical Quest. Essays in honor of James Luther Mays on his Sixty-Fifth Birthday, pp 11-46, Pickwick Publications, Allison Park.         [ Links ]

Blouwildebees, 2009, Die hemelse Gourmet ..., bekom op 5 Oktober 2009, van http://www.kletskerk.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8428&st=0&sk=t&sd= a&hilit=hemelse+gourmet&start=15.         [ Links ]

Buitendag, J., 2009, Apartheid in Kerk en in Politiek, bekom op 24 Maart 2009, van www.teo.co.za.         [ Links ]

Buys, P.J. (Flip), 2009, 'Let's talk about a way forward: True Calvinism as an antidote to racism and a facilitator of transformation', DVD, Cruma, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Carroll, R.P., 1991, Wold in the Sheepfold. The Bible as a problem for Christianity, SPCK, Londen.         [ Links ]

Carroll, R.P., 1993, 'The Hebrew Bible as literature - a misprision?', Studia Theologica 47, 77-90.         [ Links ]

Craffert, P.F., 2008, The Life of a Galilean Shaman. Jesus of Nazareth in Anthropological-Historical Perspective, Cascade Books, Oregon.         [ Links ]

Enns, P., 2005, Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.         [ Links ]

Enns, P., 2007, A time to tear down. A time to build up, bekom op 23 Maart 2009, van http://peterennsonline.com/ii/is-ii-inconsistent-with-the-reformed-faith/Links ] Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">.

Esterhuyse, W., 2009, God en die Gode van Egipte, Lux Verbi, Wellington.         [ Links ]

Faye, E., 2006, 'Nazi foundations in Heidegger's work', South Central Review 23(1), 55-66.         [ Links ]

Gay, C.M., 2008, Dialogue, Catalogue & Monologie. Personal, Impersonal & Depersonalizing ways to use words, Regents College Publishing, Vancouver.         [ Links ]

Gericke, J., 2007, 'The quest for a philosophical YHWH (Part 3): Towards a philosophy of Old Testament religion', Old Testament Essays 20(3), 669-688.         [ Links ]

Hexham, I., 1981, The Irony of Apartheid: The Struggle for National Independence of Afrikaner Calvinism against British Imperialism, Edwin Mellen, New York.         [ Links ]

Jackson, N., 2009, 'Swart predikant sê hy't nie Doppers se sinode vertrou nie', Beeld, 18 Januarie, bekom op 24 Maart 2009, van http://www.news24.com/Beeld/ Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2455218,00.html.         [ Links ]

Jordaan, G.J.C., 2008, 'Hoe lees mens die Bybel? Hermeneutiek in die gereformeerde krisis', Woord en Daad 405, 7-11.         [ Links ]

Jordaan, Gert (Jorrie), Van Rensburg, F.J. & Breed D.G. (Douw), 2008, 'Hoe verstaan en interpreteer ons die Bybel? Antwoorde op Diskussie-artikel van Hans van Deventer', Die Kerkblad, November, p 31-32.         [ Links ]

Klopper, F., 2008, 'Book Review', Old Testament Essays 21(1), 246-249.         [ Links ]

Kövecses, Z., 2006, Language, Mind, and Culture. A Practical Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford.         [ Links ]

Kruger, H.A.J., 2008, 'Resensie', Nederduits Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 49(3&4), 417-420.         [ Links ]

Kushner, H., 2000, Who needs God?, Pocket Books, New York.         [ Links ]

Le Roux, J. H. 2010. En verlos ons van die bose, die waarheid en apartheid. Lesing gelewer by seminaar oor 'Om die Bybel "anders" te lees. 'n Etiek van Bybellees.' Maart 2009, Unisa. Sien addendum.         [ Links ]

Liebenberg, P., 2008, 'Professor Gerrie Snyman, jy lees jou Bybel baie reg!', bekom op 16 Februarie 2009, van http://litnetblogs.24.com/ViewComments.aspx?blogid=fad0010b-73a5-403e-92fc-185fca3cc0b4&mid=2d4a5cad-3025-4b83-9b66-a2bf205ffd46.         [ Links ]

Loader, J.A., 1991, 'Ontstaan en eerste periode van die Hervormde Teologiese opleiding', in F.E. Deist (red), Verslag: Wetenskapsteorie en vakmetodologie in Bybelwetenskaplike navorsing in Suid-Afrika. 'n Wetenskapsteoretiese en sosiaal-historiese studie. Volume 3. Deel B. Afdeling 2-4, pp. 2-24, RGN, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Lombaard, C., 2007, Wit; waaghalsig; welwillend. Resensie: Gerrie Snyman se "Om die Bybel anders te lees", bekom op 24 Maart 2009, van http://www.teo.co.za/wmview.php?ArtID=612.         [ Links ]

Malan, G.J., 2008, 'Resensie', Hervormde Teologiese Studies 64(2), 1106-1108.         [ Links ]

Mandela, N.R., 1994, Long walk to freedom. The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Macdonald Purnell, Randburg.         [ Links ]

Nel, R., 2008, Resensie, bekom op 1 Februarie 2008, van http://www.griffel.co.za/Bybellees_artikel_resensies_2.         [ Links ]

Perkinson, J.W., 2004, White Theology. Outing supremacy in modernity. Black Religion/Womanist Thought/Social Justice, Palgrave, New York.         [ Links ]

Schüssler-Fiorenza, E., 1988, 'The ethics of biblical interpretation. Decentering biblical scholarship', Journal of Biblical Literature107, 3-17.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 1992a, 'Kenteoretiese besinning oor teologiebeoefening aan die Teologiese Skool van Potchefstroom die afgelope twintig jaar', In die Skriflig 26(2), 247-266.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 1992b, 'Binnegevegte in die GKSA: verskuiwing van "plausibility structures"?', In die Skriflig 26(3), 351-367.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 1998, 'Twee strome in die GKSA: eerder seën as vloek?', Woord en Daad 38(366), 24-26.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 2007, Om die Bybel anders te lees. in Etiek van Bybellees, Griffel, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 2008a, 'Grammaties-historiese benadering is nie omvattend nie', Die Kerkblad, Desember, p 33.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 2008b, 'Is It not Sufficient to Be a Human Being? Memory, Christianity and White Identity in Africa', Religion & Theology 15(3&4), 1-32.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 2008c, Book review of Richard M. Davidson "Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament", bekom op 5 Oktober 2009, van http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=5913.         [ Links ]

Snyman, G.F., 2008d, 'African Hermeneutics' 'outing' of whiteness', Neotestamentica 42(1), 93−118.         [ Links ]

Stéfan, 2008, Om die Bybel anders te lees, bekom op 5 Oktober 2009, van http://www.kletskerk.co.za/viewtopic.php?t=8122.         [ Links ]

Van der Walt, B.J., 2008, 'Resensie', Woord en Daad/Word and Action (Herfs) 403, 34-35.         [ Links ]

Van Deventer, H.J.M., 2008a, 'Diskussie', Die Kerkblad, September, p. 33.         [ Links ]

Van Deventer, H.J.M., 2008b, ''n Wonderende weerwoord', Die Kerkblad, Desember, p 32, 40.         [ Links ]

Van Deventer, H.J.M., 2010, Eerder anders as elders: Gerrie Snyman se bydrae in die konteks van die Gereformeerde teologie,Verbum & Ecclesiae 31(1). DOI: 10.4102/ve.v31i1.306        [ Links ]

Van Heerden, S.W., 1991a, 'Die Bybelwetenskappe in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, 1917-1958', in F.E. Deist (red), Verslag: Wetenskapsteorie en vakmetodologie in Bybelwetenskaplike navorsing in Suid-Afrika, 'n Wetenskapsteoretiese en sosiaal-historiese studie, Volume 3, Deel B, Afdeling 2-4, 25-66, RGN, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Van Heerden, S.W., 1991b, 'Die Bybelwetenskappe in die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika sedert 1959', in F.E. Deist (red), Verslag: Wetenskapsteorie en vakmetodologie in Bybelwetenskaplike navorsing in Suid-Afrika. 'n Wetenskapsteoretiese en sosiaal-historiese studie. Volume 3, Deel B, Afdeling 2-4, 67-98, RGN, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Van Wyk, J. H., 2008, 'Oor die Bybel, Bybellees en etiek: in gesprek met Gerrie Snyman', In die Skriflig 42(4), 685-707.         [ Links ]

Vera, H. & Gordon, A.M., 2003, Screen Saviours. Hollywood Fictions of Whiteness, Rowman & Littlefield, Oxford, Engeland.         [ Links ]

Vorster, J.M., 2008, 'Aangepaste teologie, "ivoortoring"-teologie of toegepaste teologie?', Die Kerkblad, Maart, p. 12-13.         [ Links ]

Vorster, J.M., 2009, 'Verklaring i/s artikels in "Die Kerkblad" oor die dialoog tussen teologie en natuurwetenskappe', Die Kerkblad, Maart, p. 41.         [ Links ]

West, G. & Dube, M., 2000, The Bible in Africa. Transactions, Trajectories and Trends, Brill, Leiden.         [ Links ]

White, H., 1985, Tropics of Discourse. Essays in Cultural Criticism, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.         [ Links ]

Wink, W., 1994, Walter Wink on homosexuality and the Bible, bekom op 29 Junie 2005, van http://christianity.about.com/library/weekly/blwink.htm.         [ Links ]

Wynter, S., 2003, 'Unsettling the Coloniality of Being/Power/Truth/Freedom. Towards the Human, After Man, Its Overrepresentation - an Argument', The New Centennial Review 3, 257-337.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Gerrie Snyman
Departement Ou Testament en Ou-Nabye Oosterse Studie
Posbus 392
Unisa
Pretoria 0003
Suid-Afrika
Email: snymagf@unisa.ac.za

Received: 07 Oct. 2009
Accepted: 07 Apr. 2010
Published: 06 July 2010