The reconciliation of lepers in Luke 5:12-15 and its implications for human dignity : an African perspective

Date
2020
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
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.