Reading Hebrews in the Light of Social Creativity in Akan Society of Ghana

Abstract

The Epistle to the Hebrews has been studied from many interpretive perspectives. In recent times, social-scientific approaches in which theories and models like honour and shame, patron-client relationship, ingroup and intergroup behaviour and social creativity have been used. These theories are based on the social context of the Mediterranean society in which the biblical text was produced. What this article attempts to do is to analyze Hebrews in the light of social creativity in another society (the Akan society of Ghana). As an explorative study borne out of curiosity, the article gives a description of the Akan people of Ghana and the social context of Hebrews. Some strategies in social creativity are then identified within the Akan society in the light of which Hebrews is examined.