Original Research

The missionary journey of Mark 6 and the experience of ministry in today’s world: An empirical study in biblical hermeneutics among Anglican clergy

Leslie J. Francis, Greg Smith, Guli Francis-Dehqani
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 73, No 3 | a4560 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4560 | © 2017 Leslie J. Francis, Greg Smith, Guli Francis-Dehqani | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 20 March 2017 | Published: 21 June 2017

About the author(s)

Leslie J. Francis, Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, United Kingdom and Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Greg Smith, Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, United Kingdom; Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Diocese of Peterborough, Church of England, United Kingdom
Guli Francis-Dehqani, Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, University of Warwick, United Kingdom; Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Diocese of Peterborough, Church of England, United Kingdom

Abstract

This study explores the connection between dominant psychological type preferences and reader interpretations of biblical texts. Working in type-alike groups (dominant sensing, dominant intuition, dominant feeling and dominant thinking), a group of 40 Anglican clergy (20 curates and 20 training incumbents) were invited to employ their strongest function to engage conversation between Mark’s account of Jesus sending out the disciples (Mk 6: 6b–16) and the experience of ministry in today’s world. The data supported the hermeneutical theory proposed by the SIFT approach to biblical interpretation and liturgical preaching by demonstrating the four clear and distinctive voices of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking.

Keywords

Reader perspective; SIFT Approach; psychological type theory; Mark; biblical hermeneutics; Anglican

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