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Aspects of Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe pp 211–222Cite as

Biblical Interpretation in Pentecostal Christianity

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Abstract

Considering the centrality of the Bible in Pentecostal Christianity, this chapter seeks to establish how Pentecostals in Zimbabwe interpret the Bible. It begins with a general discussion of biblical interpretation in Africa. This is then followed by a review of other scholars’ work on biblical interpretation by Pentecostals in other countries. This is followed by a look into biblical interpretation in Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. To do so, the chapter mainly relies on sermons by leading Pentecostal preachers in Zimbabwe today.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Johanne Masowe Apostles (Friday Apostles)‘s view of scripture is discussed by M. Engelke (2007).

  2. 2.

    See Chap. 9 of this volume on the pros and cons of using internet as a source of data.

  3. 3.

    The story of missionaries in Africa has been properly documented and interpreted (see, for example, A. Hastings 1976, Lamin Sanneh 2008).

  4. 4.

    J. H. Hayes and C. R. Holladay (2007) provide a good perspective of what exegesis entails.

  5. 5.

    These are names of geographical regions in Zimbabwe.

  6. 6.

    Although I have discussed literalism, fundamentalism and biblicism as slightly different approaches, it is important to point out that sometimes the three are discussed as one approach (Tate 2006:146, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_fundamentalism, accessed 13/09/12). I have tried to show their differences in the case of Zimbabwean Pentecostal preachers.

  7. 7.

    The view that African Pentecostals call for a ‘break with the past’ has dominated Pentecostal studies in the past few years (Meyer 1998, Maxwell 2006). Personally I believe that although Pentecostals denounce some aspects of African culture and tradition, they uphold many of these in their practices and beliefs (see Togarasei 2008).

  8. 8.

    http://www.munachi.com/t/bibleculture1.htm

  9. 9.

    West (1995:38) talks of interpretive interests and life interests of biblical interpreters. He distinguishes them thus, “Interpretive interests are those dimensions of texts that are of interest to the interpreter, while life interests are those concerns and interests that drive or motivate the interpreter to come to the text.”

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  1. Department of TRS, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

    Lovemore Togarasei

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  1. Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

    Lovemore Togarasei

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Togarasei, L. (2018). Biblical Interpretation in Pentecostal Christianity. In: Togarasei, L. (eds) Aspects of Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78565-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78565-3_15

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