Original Research

Renewal and reconstruction: Holy Writ in Ezra-Nehemiah – A missional reading

Bob Wielenga
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 47, No 1 | a72 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v47i1.72 | © 2013 Bob Wielenga | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 10 July 2012 | Published: 10 May 2013

About the author(s)

Bob Wielenga, Gereformeerde Sending, Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

In this article we investigate the missional potential of the two-volume book of Ezra-Nehemiah. We contend that the written word of God is a transforming power in society through the mediation of the church. This implies that spiritual renewal precedes social reconstruction. We examine this book historically, canonically and exegetically to lay a foundation for a missiological reflection on the results of this excursion in the field of biblical studies. We close with the formulation of some missional conclusions that serve as guidelines for the development of a relevant theology of mission.

In hierdie artikel ondersoek ons die missionêre moontlikhede van die tweedelige boek Esra-Nehemia. Ons stel dat die geskrewe woord van God ’n hervormende krag in die samelewing is deur die bemiddeling van die kerk. Dit impliseer dat geestelike vernuwing sosiale rekonstruksie voorafgaan. Ons doen historiese, kanoniese en eksegetiese ondersoek na die boek om ’n grondslag te lê vir ’n missiologiese beskouing van die resultate van hierdie ekskursie in die Bybelwetenskapveld. Ons sluit af met die formulering van missionêre gevolgtrekkings om te dien as wegwysers vir die ontwikkeling van ’n toepaslike sendingsteologie.


Keywords

missional hermeneutics; Ezra-Nehemiah; Judah in the Persian period; reconstruction theology; missional ecclesiology

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Crossref Citations

1. The delay of the Day of the Lord in Malachi: A missional reading
Bob Wielenga
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi  vol: 52  issue: 1  year: 2018  
doi: 10.4102/ids.v52i1.2362