GEORGE M SOARES-PRABHU AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO BIBLICAL THEOLOGY IN INDIA
Keywords:
Abba, Biblical Exegesis, Biblical Theology, Christocentric Approach, Dharma of Jesus, Ecclesiocentric Approach, Indianness, Indian Social Reading, Indian Religious Reading, Liberation (Moksha), Pluralism, Poverty, Theocentric ApproachAbstract
George M. Soares Prabhu, born on November 17, 1929 and died on July 22, 1995, was not only a celebrated theologian of his era, but continues to be a challenging theologian with his unique contributions to Biblical Theology in India. The ambience in which he was born and brought up and the context in which he was trained to be a theologian seemed to have influenced him a lot in making him a theologian with a difference. His theology turned to be effective as it was developed as a response to the problems of the society in which he lived; it was a contextualized theology. The Church in India is in urgent need of theologizing in the context in order to be a relevant presence in India, which is characterized by religious pluralism and social oppression. The contributions of Soares-Prabhu in Biblical Theology can enlighten the Indian Church to enrich its theology taking into account seriously the context in which it is planted. Soares-Prabhu establishes that the traditional methods of analysing the biblical texts like Historical Criticism, Rhetorical Criticism, etc. are not just enough for Indian exegetes for theologizing in India, but they should adopt an ‘Indian Religious Reading’ as well as ‘Indian Social Reading’ for interpreting the text meaningfully in India, which will in turn manifest an ‘Indianness’ in their theology.
References
Scaria Kuthirakkattel, “George M. Soares-Prabhu, S.J.: An Exegete and a Theologian. I” Vidyajyothi Journal of Theological Reflection 73 (2009).
Vatican Council II promulgated Dei Verbum, on Divine Revelation, in 1965.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, “The Historical Critical Method: Reflections on Its Relevance for the Study of the Gospels in India Today,” in A Biblical Theology for India (edited with an Introduction by Scaria Kuthirakkattel), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 1999.
Keith D’Souza, “George M. Soares-Prabhu: A Theologian for our Times,” in The Dharma of Jesus, ed. Francis X D’Sa, Gujarat: Gujrat Sahitya Prakash, 1997.
Joseph Lobo, Encountering Jesus Christ in India: An Alternative Way of Doing Christology in a Cry-for-Life Situation Based on the Writings of George M. Soares-Prabhu, Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2004.
Francis X. D’Sa, “Dhvani as Method of Interpretation,” Bible Bhashyam 5 (1979)
Isaac Padinjarekuttu, “George M. Soares-Prabhu S.J. and the Quest for a Contextual Theology,” in Biblical Themes for a Contextual Theology Today (edited with an Introduction by Isaac Padinjarekuttu), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 1999.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, “Following Jesus in Mission: Reflection on Mission in the Gospel of Mathew,” in Biblical Themes for a Contextual Theology Today; George M. Soares-Prabhu, “Two Mission Commands: An Interpretation of Mathew 28:16-20 in the Light of a Buddhist Text,” in Theology of Liberation: An Indian Biblical Perspective, (edited with an Introduction by Francis X. D’Sa), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 2001.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, “The Dharma of Jesus,” in Biblical Spirituality of Liberative Action (edited with an Introduction by Scaria Kuthirakkattel), Pune: JnanaDeepa Vidyapeeth, 2003.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, Biblical Themes for a Contextual Theology Today (edited with an Introduction by Isaac Padinjarekuttu), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 1999.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, A Biblical Theology for India (edited with an Introduction by Scaria Kuthirakkattel), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 1999.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, Biblical Spirituality of Liberative Action (edited with an Introduction by Scaria Kuthirakkattel), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 2003.
George M. Soares-Prabhu, Theology of Liberation: An Indian Biblical Perspective (edited with an Introduction by Francis X. D’Sa), Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, 2001.
