New Testament Interpretation and African Culture

The relationship between Bible interpretation and culture has always been complex. African culture, like any culture, should respond to all critical hermeneutic questions. In this case, the uprooting of African people into Christianity without any culture as was the case when Western Missionaries brought Christianity to Africa only succeeded in making ¿christians¿ with a small letter. This must be regretted as an error that in the spirit of reconciliation with the past, must be corrected. Only when this error is corrected and culture is not demonised, but appreciated will Africans or indeed any people really become Christians. On the one hand, consideration of both the worlds/cultures in the text and in the hermeneut, and the conscious rightful positioning of culture can contribute to a better understanding of the biblical text - specifically the First Letter to the Corinthians and can lead to a vibrant and realistic spirituality that can revitalise the Church of modern times. On the other hand, however, culture can hinder interpretation and wherever it does, culture must itself be converted.