Open AccessA prophet of old: Jesus the ‘public theologian’
Author(s) -
Ernest van Eck
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
hts teologiese studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2072-8050
pISSN - 0259-9422
DOI - 10.4102/hts.v66i1.771
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , theology , excellence , philosophy , injustice , new testament , social injustice , sociology , religious studies , epistemology , law , political science , biochemistry , chemistry , politics
In this article the argument is put forward that Jesus’ parables portray him as a social prophet, as many of the issues addressed by Old Testament prophets (such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and Hosea) are common themes in Jesus’ parables. As proof for and further elaboration on the abovementioned argument, two of these themes from Jesus’ parables, religious inclusivity and social injustice, are discussed. It is concluded that if public theology is understood as public theologians doing theology in public, Jesus was a ‘public theologian’ par excellence