Prescriptive Theology for the Local Church: Tite Tiénou's Hermeneutical Contributions to African Evangelical Theology

This article analyses the hermeneutical contributions of Tite Tiénou, a leading figure in African evangelicalism. In the academic literature, African evangelical theology has often been characterised as a ‘biblicist’ form of theologising that does not account for the hermeneutical questions that ari...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: van Veelen, Wouter (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2024
In: Transformation
Year: 2024, Volume: 41, Issue: 4, Pages: 333-349
IxTheo Classification:CF Christianity and Science
FA Theology
HA Bible
KBN Sub-Saharan Africa
KDG Free church
VB Hermeneutics; Philosophy
Further subjects:B Inculturation
B contextualisation debate
B Hermeneutics
B African evangelical theology
B African Theology
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This article analyses the hermeneutical contributions of Tite Tiénou, a leading figure in African evangelicalism. In the academic literature, African evangelical theology has often been characterised as a ‘biblicist’ form of theologising that does not account for the hermeneutical questions that arise from the encounter between the Christian message and African contexts. This negative perception seems to be based on the radical line of Byang Kato, the first African General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. This article argues that Tiénou, in his hermeneutical works, endeavours to develop what he calls a “third way” between academic and popular theologies. This third way honours Kato's theological legacy, yet moves beyond it to seriously addresses the challenges raised by African inculturation theologians. Characteristic of Tiénou's contribution is that he foregrounds the local Christian community, as both the source and the addressee of theology.
ISSN:1759-8931
Contains:Enthalten in: Transformation
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/02653788241271801