Skip to content
Register Sign in Wishlist
The Bible and the Third World

The Bible and the Third World
Precolonial, Colonial and Postcolonial Encounters

  • Date Published: June 2001
  • availability: Available
  • format: Paperback
  • isbn: 9780521005241

Paperback

Add to wishlist

Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook


Looking for an inspection copy?

This title is not currently available on inspection

Description
Product filter button
Description
Contents
Resources
Courses
About the Authors
  • This innovative study moves briskly but comprehensively through three phases of the Third World's encounter with the Bible - precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial. It recounts the remarkable story of how an inaccessible and marginal book in the ancient churches of India, China and North Africa became an important tool in the hands of both coloniser and colonised; how it has been reclaimed in the postcolonial world; and how it is now being reread by various indigenes, Native Americans, dalits and women. Drawing on substantial exegetical examples, Sugirtharajah examines reading practices ranging from the vernacular to liberation and the newly-emerging postcolonial criticism. His study emphasises the often overlooked biblical reflections of people such as Equiano and Ramabai as well as better-known contemporaries like Gutiérrez and Tamez. Partly historical and partly hermeneutical, the volume will serve as an invaluable introduction to the Bible in the Third World for students and interested general readers.

    • This is the first volume to combine both history and interpretation of the Bible in the Third World
    • It offers a reappraisal of materials from a biblical perspective, which are often consigned to the field of mission history or theology of mission
    • It emphasises colonialism as an important site for investigation
    Read more

    Reviews & endorsements

    'The book under review is an exciting development, comprehensive historically, globally and in contemporary challenge. It brings together fascinating vignettes about how the Bible has been used in the Third World, and a critique of contemporary hermeneutics. It admirably introduces the Western reader to much that is new and challenging. Its breadth of examples will mean that there is much arresting material for a reader anywhere, whatever 'world' they are reading from … The book is recommended to those committed to serious study of the Bible, world church history, and contemporary social and cultural theology. It will also intrigue the general reader with the world it opens up. I am glad it has been published immediately in paperback, so that it can reach such readers.' Theology

    'This book should be read by anyone busy with interpreting the Bible in a Third World situation, as well as anyone interested in understanding the unique contribution that can be made to theological discussion by Third World theologians. … he introduces this theological world in a worthy manner.' Verbum et Ecclesia Jrg

    'This is clearly an important and provocative work of enormous relevance to the ecclesiastical historian and missiologist as well as to the biblical scholar … a book to be welcomed and appreciated.' Biblical Interpretation

    'As indicated in the title, this interesting study moves through three phases of the Third World's encounter with the Bible B precolonial, colonial and postcolonial … This is a timely book on the diversified and diversifying reading and status of the Bible in the third world. Every South African biblical researcher should ascertain how the Bible is being read by fellow-Africans … [the author's] book is a good place to start one's own journey into this fascinating subject. the book is well written and research was done diligently.' Old Testament Essays

    'Sugirtharajah's book is a well-researched piece of work. It brings together, and to the fore, some of the voices that have been heard in isolation in different parts of the third world. It also highlights those readings that were formerly not seen as being sophisticated enough to be included in mainstream Biblical Studies … to this extent his work is unique and very important. The author must also be given credit for the depth in which he has gone into the history of the church in some of the third world countries.' Neotestamentica

    'This is a timely book on the diversified and diversifying reading and status of the Bible in the Third World … the book is well written and research was done diligently.' Old Testament Essays

    'In this latest publication, R. S. Sugirtharajah, award winning author and editor, calls readers once again to a different set of voices, those from the margins. In this intriguing exploration of the role and use of the Bible in the Third World, Sugirtharajah moves deftly through the story of this history from precolonial to colonial to postcolonial times … In the world of academia so often filled with theoretical jargon, Sugirtharajah offers us a voice that must be heard. In a clear and engaging work bringing the voices of real people and real situations, he demonstrates that the relevance of postcolonial readings must be more than intellectual curiosity …'. Perspectives in Religious Studies

    See more reviews

    Customer reviews

    Not yet reviewed

    Be the first to review

    Review was not posted due to profanity

    ×

    , create a review

    (If you're not , sign out)

    Please enter the right captcha value
    Please enter a star rating.
    Your review must be a minimum of 12 words.

    How do you rate this item?

    ×

    Product details

    • Date Published: June 2001
    • format: Paperback
    • isbn: 9780521005241
    • length: 320 pages
    • dimensions: 222 x 143 x 22 mm
    • weight: 0.535kg
    • availability: Available
  • Table of Contents

    Introduction
    Part I. Precolonial Reception:
    1. Before the empire
    Part II. Colonial Embrace:
    2. White men bearing gifts: diffusion of the Bible and scriptural imperialism
    3. Reading back: resistance as a discursive practice
    4. The colonialist as a contentious reader: Colenso and his hermeneutics
    5. Textual pedlars: distributing salvation - colporteurs and their portable Bibles
    Part III. Postcolonial Reclamations:
    6. Desperately looking for the indigene: nativism and vernacular hermeneutics
    7. Engaging liberation: texts as a vehicle of emancipation
    8. Postcolonialising biblical interpretation
    Afterword
    Bibliography
    Index of biblical references
    Index of names and subjects.

  • Author

    R. S. Sugirtharajah, University of Birmingham

Related Books

also by this author

Sorry, this resource is locked

Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]

Register Sign in
Please note that this file is password protected. You will be asked to input your password on the next screen.

» Proceed

You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.

Continue ×

Continue ×

Continue ×
warning icon

Turn stock notifications on?

You must be signed in to your Cambridge account to turn product stock notifications on or off.

Sign in Create a Cambridge account arrow icon
×

Find content that relates to you

Join us online

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more Close

Are you sure you want to delete your account?

This cannot be undone.

Cancel

Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.

If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.

×
Please fill in the required fields in your feedback submission.
×