Models of Contextual Theology

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Average overview of an exciting subject - Rated
The new edition of Bevans' Models of Contextual Theology (first issued in 1992)is to be welcomed: partially because contextual theology is an area that deserves the attention of all conscientious theologians, but also because it smoothes over some of the problems with the first edition. After a couple chapters outlining the task, he gives a detailed account of the six models he sees in the field: translation, anthropological, praxis, synthetic, transcendental, and countercultural. This last did not appear in the first edition, and serves to correct the impression a reader may have received that the author expects the gospel to support the status quo. Nevertheless, this assumption is still present in certain parts of the book, and taints its argument. The other main ax Bevans seems to want to grind is that theology is not primarily propositional. Whereas this is an important direction in which to turn, in response to a naive adherence to doctrinal positions, it also rules out the possibility of dialogue. For whether we like it or not, language is the medium in which we are corrected, challenged, and brought into question. This absence of dialogue is the main problem I have with this otherwise excellent overview, which although displaying a disregard to the problems of the clash of civilisations, is to be recommended as the standard introduction to contextual theology. It just needs something more on how we read theology which is not our own.