Research Profile
Prof. Bosman’s research interest focuses on theological and ethical issues relevant in African contexts. Themes that have recently triggered his interest are: the theological interpretation of the book of Exodus as narratives concerning origin and migration that influence the ongoing negotiation of identity by religious communities; the redefinition of “prophet” and “prophetism” in view of social anthropological research conducted in Africa; the role of the “fear of the Lord” as an integrating theological concept in the priestly and wisdom reflection on the presence of God in the post-exilic Jewish society; the impact of fundamentalism in the interpretation of canonical texts in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities of faith.
Teaching Profile
Postgraduate supervision is focused on topics related to the book of Exodus; prophetic and wisdom literature in the Old Testament; and the theological and ethical interpretation of the Old Testament in view of its reception by reading communities in Africa. Students who are interested in Old Testament research are free to suggest their own preferences and these suggestions are further developed in view of the capacity within our department. Our current contingent of masters and doctoral students hail from different African countries, India, Korea and the USA.
Selected Publications
“Origin and Identity: Rereading Exodus as a Polemical Narrative Then (Palestine) and Now (Africa),” in Scriptura 90 (2005): 869-877.
“Vorsehung: III. AT,” in: H. D. Betz et al., eds. Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart 8. 4th ed. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005: 1214–1215.
“Monotheism and Trinity beyond Arithmetic,” in: M. Welker et al., eds. Biblische Theologie: Altes Testment und Moderne. Münster: LIT, 2005: 135-138.
“Adultery, Prophetic tradition and the Decalogue,” in: W. Brown, ed. The Ten Commandments: The Reciprocity of Faithfulness. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2004: 267-274.
“Poor or not Poor? Pragmatic and Idealistic Perspectives on the Poor in Deuteronomy 15:1-11,” in Neerduitse gereformeerde teologiese tydskrik 45 (2004): 238-243.
Contact
Theology Faculty
Stellenbosch University
171 Dorp Street
7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Fax: +27 21 808 325
Email: hlb1@sun.ac.za
Homepage: http://academic.sun.ac.za/theology/Profiles/bosman_profile.htm
