A Procedure for Analysis of Contemporary Reception of Biblical Texts in Ghana: A Methodological Consideration

Abstract

This essay hypothesizes that the contemporary reception of biblical concepts by Ghanaian charismatic preachers is influenced by beliefs  and practices of traditional, religious, and cultural conceptions. This hypothesis is investigated by the analysis of the socio-historical  context of the preacher’s community obtained through qualitative analysis of existing data and interviews. A procedure is then outlined  to demonstrate and determine the varying degrees of emphasis of traditional conceptual influences of these interpretations. This is done  to highlight areas of positive influence and mitigate areas of negative influence to draw interpretation as close as possible to the  biblical meaning in the original manuscripts. This essay employs the methodological tools of reception analysis to design this procedure.  Reception theory places the focus unswervingly on the reader as the origin of interpretation, whose experiences and thought patterns  play an important role in creating meaning. In the procedure outlined for reception analysis, various responses and other forms of data  are analyzed qualitatively to identify the influences of traditional conceptions on a text in the Bible by the reader or interpreter. This is  compared with the socio-cultural context and exegesis of the biblical texts to outline the similarities and differences. The implications are examined to bring interpretation as close to biblical concepts as possible.