Contextualizing the Contextual: A Note on the Revolutionary Exegesis of Gregorio L. Aglipay

The contextuality of all biblical exegesis is often emphasized—and rightly so. However, the history of contextual exegesis still needs to be written, which leads to a situation in which those involved in “contextual exegesis” are often insufficiently aware of the contextuality of earlier approaches and the fact that they are heirs to a long tradition of contextual biblical interpretation. Using the example of the “revolutionary” exegesis of Gregorio L. Aglipay, this research note illustrates how contextual exegesis may have much earlier roots than is frequently assumed.Keywords: Gregorio Aglipay • Iglesia Filipina Independiente • Contextual Theology • Biblica l interpretation • Jesus • Seven La La st Word

Introduction to T&T Clark Handbook to Early Christian Meals in the Greco-Roman World

Meals have long been a topic of key interest in the field of early Christian studies, including the field of New Testament studies. The reasons for this can be found both in early Christian writings themselves, as they are quite preoccupied with meals and the dynamics proper to them, such as inclusion and exclusion and the structuring of a community, and in the role that meals have played and continue to play in the history of Christianity: Christianity is a meal-centered religion, given that the Eucharist (under whichever name) is a central act of worship in all large traditions (even if it is celebrated infrequently, this is often due to awe for the celebration rather than to disinterest in this meal)

Exploring the Eschaton. The Lord’s Supper as a Cultural Technique Enabling Prefigurative Politics

Focusing on 1 Cor. 11, this article argues that the early Christian meal can be understood as a cultural technique that enables new knowledge and insight, specifically about the world to come. The argument takes its vantage point from an understanding of the early Christian meal as a form of social experimentation that engages in prefigurative practices, thereby anticipating the world to come. To explore the latter phenomenon, this article makes use of a body of theory concerning prefigurative politics, a field not commonly associated with the study of religion. However, it is shown that this body of theory is a useful tool for considering that the kind of knowledge regarding the world to come is made possible through the performance of the early Christian meal, understood as a cultural technique. In this manner, the present article aims to make contributions at the levels of both the theory regarding the study of the early Christian meal and insights into it

Das Thema Männlichkeit im hochschuldidaktischen Verwendungszusammenhang – am Beispiel der theologischen Lehre im Fachbereich Neues Testament

Gender ist ein wichtiges Thema in der theologischen Lehre, auch in Hochschulen. Dabei werden die Geschlechterkonstruktionen von „Männlichkeit“ häufig wenig berücksichtigt, obwohl sie großen Einfluss haben. So zeigt dieser Beitrag auf, wie Konstruktionen von „Männlichkeit“ in einem Teilbereich der Theologie, nämlich der neutestamentlichen Wissenschaft, eine bedeutsame Rolle spielen (können) und wie dies, gerade auch in der Auseinandersetzung mit Studierenden, denen diese Thematik eher fremd ist, zu einem produktiven Thema im Seminarraum gemacht werden kann, ohne dabei problematische Machtverhältnisse zu (re)produzieren

Prefiguration of the Nation: The Soteriology and Ecclesiology of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in the Early 20th Century

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente was established in 1902, in the context of the US occupation of the Philippines. The church has become known for its outspoken emancipatory political stance in the course of the 20th century. Yet, in its early days, the church wrestled with the question how to negotiate the restrictions that had been imposed regarding explicit political agitation. This paper argues that the church found a way forward regarding this by developing a prefigurative self-understanding, according to which the church, in its self-organization, theology and liturgy, foreshadowed the future of the nation of the Philippines as a whole. The ecclesiology of the church became its political program. Using insights from the study of prefigurative politics, it is shown how this course of action becomes evident in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente’s publications, such as journals and liturgical books

Reaching for the tree of life : the role of eating, drinking, fasting, and symbolic foodstuffs in 4 Ezra

This paper considers the role of foodstuffs and their (non-)consumption in 4 Ezra. While foodstuffs figure prominently in this work, no systematic research has been done into it. The paper argues that both the narrative progression of the work is expressed through foodstuffs as well as significant parts of the work’s content.http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/15700631hb201