What is it about?
Luke's poverty texts have been investigated thoroughly over the last half century by biblical scholars. This study looks at these familiar texts through the lens of Latin American Pentecostal readers. Pentecostal groups from both poor and rich communities read texts like Rich Man and Lazarus and Zacchaeus the toll collector in focus groups. Their readings were analyzed and compared to see to what extend readers' socio-economic status influences their reading patterns. Finally, Pentecostal groups readings are juxtaposed with scholarly interpretations of the same passages.
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Why is it important?
Though there are many studies on Latin American liberation theology and hermeneutics, there is hardly any research on the hermeneutical processes of Latin American Pentecostals. This study also illuminates how socio-economic status influences interpretative processes.
Perspectives
This study opened my eyes to the need to further investigate ways ordinary believers (Pentecostals and others) use the Bible in their religious and daily practices. As an authoritative religious text, interpretation and use of the Bible has enormous implications for daily life and even socio-political decisions of many faithful.
Esa Autero
South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary
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This page is a summary of: Reading the Bible across Contexts, June 2016, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004323209.
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