Jesus Through the Lens of Ewe Culture: A Mother-tongue Exegetical Reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4

Abstract

This dissertation is an exegetical reflection and application of Hebrews 1:1-4 from the Ewe Bible in the Ewe context using two main approaches, the Mother Tongue Criticism methodology of biblical studies and the Comparative Approach. Over the years, many African Christian scholars have painstakingly endeavoured to bring the traditional religions of non-Westerners such as in Africa and Asia from the margins to the centre of focus for Christian engagement. The idea is not revolutionary but an intellectual reconstruction of Christian Theology to make the gospel culturally meaningful. One such reconstruction of theology is observable in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Hence, the present study investigates insights the exegetical study on Hebrews 1:1-4 in the mother tongues brings to bear on the person of Jesus and how this is applicable in the Ewe context.  The second thing the study does is to explore how some Agave religious and cultural practices help us see the full revelation of God in Christ and appreciate His ministry. In addition, the study sets out how Christ meets the aspirations of these practices based on insights from the exegetical study of the text of Hebrews 1:1-4 in both Greek and Ewe.  

From both the Greek and Ewe exegesis, we have concluded that the primal understanding of the word Mawu Vi who is known in local parlance as Sogble, according to the evidence in Hebrews 1:1, is not the same as Jesus of the Bible. In their functions as sons and ambassadors of Mawu, they are similar but have vast differences when it comes to creation, sustaining creation and being selected as heir to all of God’s creation. The most important area of dissimilarity is their provision for the forgiveness of sin.  In addition, a critical examination of issues from the mother tongue exegesis suggests that it is the son’s role as the domenyila that gives him eminence in the Agave Ewe culture. His role as the lineage domenyila enables him perform both social and religious functions as well as political.