The Sermon on the Mount and the Ewes of Ghana
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
Using socio-rhetorical interpretation to study Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, the book explores the contextual interpretation of the sermon among the Ghana-Ewe. The book argues that the Sermon on the Mount can be viewed as Jesus' new kingdom gospel and a reinterpretation of the Mosaic law, teaching not only ethics but also kingdom-appropriate righteousness for theological and ethical renewal. Kingdom-appropriate righteousness is nurtured through daily exchanges with God, leading to habitual forgiveness and subsequent divine perfection of love for God and one's enemies. In the contemporary context, kingdom-appropriate righteousness challenges the deficient, "compulsory-wealth" (prosperity gospel) Christianity that is promoted in contemporary Ghana and elsewhere.
Endorsements (5)
Foreword
“This book is a groundbreaking effort to theologize within a non-Western context, taking cognizance of insights from Western scholarship. Frederick Amevenku has made a brilliant contribution to the field of African biblical hermeneutics, and his book eloquently highlights the hydra-headed nature of intercultural exegesis. It is highly recommended for use in both academic and non-academic circles.”
“It is a privilege to have read this book. Frederick Amevenku, with solemn passion and deep-rooted knowledge of the Ewe culture, assumes the position of authority and expertly underscores the need to hermeneutically engage the African indigenous cultures in order to make the gospel relevant in contemporary times. I strongly endorse and recommend this book to anyone wishing to have daily, closer encounters with the Lord.”
“This book is a meticulous work on the Sermon on the Mount and its implications for the Ewe people of Ghana. Frederick Amevenku uses socio-rhetorical interpretation to explore the commonalities between the recipients of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel and the Ewe religious, and his contextualization of Jesus’ reinterpretation of the law to reflect kingdom-righteousness is an outstanding contribution for Ghana Ewe Christians.”
“Incisive, bold, and contrapuntally negotiating conventional scholarship in a contextually grounded study that grasps connections between biblical texts, exegetical labor, and contextual application, this book on liberating biblical interpretation and translation promotes mother tongue theologizing on the African continent and elsewhere and provides fresh perspectives on the Sermon on the Mount.”
“Frederick Amevenku’s work is a careful exegetical and hermeneutical study of the Sermon on the Mount informed by socio-rhetorical interpretation and viewed from the perspective of the West-African Ewe culture. This is a highly relevant study which will be instrumental in correcting some misconceptions about the Sermon on the Mount in much of popular Christianity, and it will help the church to refocus its mission.”
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