"He Dwelt Among His People" John 1:14. Inculturation And Incarnation
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Date
2004
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
In this paper I wish to discuss the concepts Inculturation and Incarnation as
the medium through which the Gospel message reaches people within a given
context. The main emphasis on the part of Inculturation will be on the Son of God
becoming man and living among people. On this, the prologue of St. John will much
in focus; "He dwelt among his people" (Jn. 1: 14). Understanding the thought of
this text will be a great help to the Church and her Pastoral agents to apply the
Gospel message in a given cultural context. In this way, the people will live
authentic Christian life in their own culture setting.
Inculturation being the issue at hand in the Church, I will begin with the first
chapter reflecting on the historical background of inculturation. Special attention
will be focused on the various descriptive definitions of inculturation in order to
arrive at the basic thought of the word. In order to have a successful trend of
incarnation, I will analyse the Old Testament's attempt of God to come among his
chosen people, the Israelites.
"He dwelt among his people" (Jn. 1:14). This is what the paper will consider
as the core of Inculturation. The mystery of the second person of the Trinity
becoming man and live among people. Here the concern is the understanding of what it means for the Son of God to live among people. This is the heart of the
second chapter.
The last chapter looks at the pastoral implication of inculturation as way
forward for the Church's Inculturation. On this part incarnation will not be limited to
the unique sense it takes when it is applied to the Word and fresh. Incarnation will
be used in a broader sense as God's encounter with people in the world and into
human lives as it was revealed to the Jews at that time. The emphasis will be the
need for people to meet God in their own cultural settings as Jesus himself lived and
proclaimed the Gospel message in his Jewish cultural setting.
I intend to limit myself to the Biblical text, in which I believe when it is
understood can be applied to any area of the Church's inculturation. I shall conclude
this reflection with few recommendations, which can be of help pastoral agents to
communicate God to humanity in their own cultural settings.
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Keywords
John 1:14, Inculturation, Incarnation, Among His People