Upholding Biblical Theology in the Emerging Context of Contextual Theologies

Abstract

In recent decades, the rise of contextual theologies—particularly African Christian Theology—has been viewed as a means of making Christianity relevant to local cultures. Advocates argue that theology must speak in the idioms, symbols, and categories of its host cultures to achieve authenticity and resonance. While cultural engagement is vital, this article contends that defining theology primarily by geographical or cultural labels risks fragmenting the unity of the Christian faith. Biblical Theology, grounded in the inspired and authoritative Scriptures, provides the unifying framework for integrating cultural insights without compromising theological coherence. This study critiques the tendency to treat African Christian Theology as a distinct theological discipline, either on par with or separate from biblical theology. Such an approach can open the door to multiple culturally specific “theologies” that prioritize localized concerns over the universal truth of God’s revelation. While African experiences and contexts are valuable in illuminating biblical truths, they must remain subordinate to the hermeneutical authority of Scripture. Drawing on biblical, historical, and systematic perspectives, this article argues that the task of the theologian is not to create theology from culture but faithfully expound God’s Word into culture. It warns that the proliferation of regionally branded theologies could lead to theological relativism, in which truth is fragmented into competing narratives. In conclusion, this paper advocates for a renewed commitment to biblical theology as the universal standard, engaging cultural contexts without reducing theology to them, thereby preserving both the catholicity and unity of the Christian faith.