An Adventist response to Elizabeth Mburu’s African hermeneutical principles

Abstract

This thesis investigated a Seventh-day Adventist perspective on Elizabeth Mburu’s principles of African Hermeneutics, as presented in her model of African Biblical Hermeneutics (ABH). Mburu advocates for grounding biblical interpretation within the African cultural context, employing a four-legged stool analogy that balances the biblical text, the African situation, theological contemplation, and community application. While acknowledging the significance of interpretation that is sensitive to context, this study evaluates Mburu’s methodology through the lens of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, the generally understood approach to Adventist hermeneutics particularly focusing on the role of Scripture as the ultimate authority and the Adventist comprehension of mission. The research performed a comparative theological examination, utilizing both primary and secondary sources to discern areas of agreement, conflict, and possibly a workable approach towards bible interpretation. The findings indicate that, although Mburu’s model provides valuable perspectives for enhancing biblical interpretation in African settings, an Adventist response necessitates a more precise protection of sola scriptura and a historical grammatical viewpoint. The thesis advocates for a hermeneutic that can be practiced by an African yet distinctly Adventist, with the aim of empowering the church in Africa to uphold biblical truth while engaging meaningfully with its cultural circumstances.