The reconciliation of lepers in Luke 5:12-15 and its implications for human dignity : an African perspective
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Sun Media
Abstract
Reconciliation is an important topic in contemporary political, social, economic and
religious spheres since it has the ability to redefine human relationships therein.
Without the possibility of reconciliation it would be impossible for humanity to live
together in the modern world. The same was true of the ancient world in which the
New Testament was written.
The focus of this chapter2 is on the various ways in which the Gospel according to
Luke describes the reconciliation of those who had become estranged from their
communities with special reference to the case of lepers3 in Luke 5:11-16. Based on
Luke’s account, this estrangement directly deprived the sufferer from having contact
with the community of people and thereby denied him or her, in a violent manner,
the right to liberty and human dignity. By using a socio-historical hermeneutics this
chapter will investigate whether the metaphors used in Luke are similar to those
used in African4 society’s engagement with lepers.
Description
CITATION: Etukumana, G. 2020. The reconciliation of lepers in Luke 5:12-15 and its implications for human dignity : an African perspective, in Nel, M. J., Forster, D. A. & Thesnaar, C. H. (eds.) 2020. Reconciliation, forgiveness and violence in Africa : biblical, pastoral and ethical perspectives. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480532/03.
The original publication is available from AFRICAN SUNMeDIA - www.sun-e-shop.co.za
The original publication is available from AFRICAN SUNMeDIA - www.sun-e-shop.co.za
Keywords
Reconciliation -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Bible Luke, Leprosy
Citation
Etukumana, G. 2020. The reconciliation of lepers in Luke 5:12-15 and its implications for human dignity : an African perspective, in Nel, M. J., Forster, D. A. & Thesnaar, C. H. (eds.) 2020. Reconciliation, forgiveness and violence in Africa : biblical, pastoral and ethical perspectives. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928480532/03.