Taiwan Church News

3778 Edition

July 22 ~ 28, 2024

Weekly Topical

Biblical Scholars Rallied at Yu-Shan Seminary onBiblical Hermeneutics in Indigenous Perspectives

Reported by volunteer-reporter Hsu Chia-wei

The 2024 annual meeting of the Society of Asian Biblical Studies (SABS) was held at Yu-Shan Theological College and Seminary (YSTCS) for a five-day assembly from July 10 to 15. Nearly a hundred scholars from more than 17 countries participated, including the Asian countries, the United States, Canada and many other countries.

Due to the impact of the pandemic, SABS has been withheld for six years since the last conference in Malang, Indonesia, in 2018. Finally, the eighth annual conference was held at TSTCS in Taiwan this year in 2024.

Like YSTCS has long-term committed to the theology for the indigenous, many Asian seminaries have also theological concerns for the indigenous ethnic groups existent in Thailand, India, Myanmar and etc. So, to respond the call from the indigenous, the theme of the 2024 SABS conference is entitled as“Biblical Hermeneutics in Indigenous Perspectives“.

During the conference, scholars presented dozens of papers on indigenous biblical interpretations and discussed contemporary issues of land exploitation, women rights, and natural disasters based on the Asian contexts. In addition, three renowned publishers also offered Bible exegesis and related books at site with special discounts.

The genesis of SABS can be traced back to the Biblical Studies Seminar held at Singapore in 2005, and was officially established in 2006. It aims to provide Asian biblical scholars with an academic platform to discuss Asian theological issues without a high traveling cost to Western countries, and to promote academic dialogues to encourage biblical studies and indigenous interpretations from Asian cultures and Aboriginal contexts.

Rev Dr Monica Jyotsna Melanchthon, president of SABS, said in an interview that biblical studies can change people’s thoughts, behaviors and lives. Therefore, she indicated, the importance of understanding the Bible is that it can bring changes and give meaning to life.

“However, the reading of biblical texts needs to start from people’s needs and situations, we hope the association of SABS will make more progress in the future and that there will be more theological researches in Asia. Not based on the thoughts and traditions of Western scholars, but as a unique contribution from Asian theologies!” she remarked.

At the opening service of the SABS, the Bahuan Church of Bunun Presbytrey was invited to bless the audience with the traditional song in millet harvest with the so-called eight-part chorus (a.k.a. Pasibutbut). Rev Walis Ukan, president of YSTCS gave a welcoming speech in Seediq language. The closing ceremony ended with the Amis Malalkit dance, leading all the participants to hold hands in hands to bless each other.

This is the first time that YSTCS hosting such a large-scaled academic conference. The teachers and students of YSTCS are all fully involved to support and serve these esteemed scholars to have an excellent exchange and wonderful fellowship.

Elder Chih Yi-ping, director of YSTCS general affairs and responsible for the SABS planning and reception, said that he received many thanks and blessings from the participating members. Due to the impact of the Hualien earthquake in April, land transportation from Taipei to Hualien was seriously damaged. Heavy rains in the past few days also caused rock-fallings which severely disrupted the traffic.

As the infrastructures at the entrance of the Dah-Chin-Shuei Tunnel collapsed, the Highway Bureau implemented traffic control on the Su-Hua Highway to facilitate the emergent repairs. In order to ensure a safe trip to the SABS venue at YSTCS, railway shifts and greyhound buses were used to transfer the SABS guests alternately.

Though the SABS participants with long-distance flights arrive at YSTCS in the early morning of the opening day, they still exclaimed their excitement and expressed their gratitude with applause. After the meeting, everyone looked forward to meeting again in Taiwan!

Translated by Peter Wolfe