A STUDY OF THE ROLE OF EIGHTH CENTURY B.C.E. PROPHETS AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN PRESENT INDIAN CONTEXT
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Date
2019
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THE GOSPEL AND PLOUGH INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY, SAM HIGGINBOTTOM UNIVERSITY OF AGRITUCLTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES, ALLAHABAD
Abstract
This work is a study of the message of eighth century prophets in the Old Testament and bringing its relevance to the present Indian context. The social circumstances in which the eighth century prophets namely Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah lived are similar to the circumstances in which we are living today. The similarities are basically in terms of injustice, corruption, oppression, and exploitation in the society. The eighth century witnessed great prosperity, which generated economic disparity and social and class distinctions. The affluent class were oppressing and exploiting the poor and were enjoying luxuries at the expense of the weak and the marginalized. People of Israel being God’s chosen people broke the covenant and failed to maintain the covenantal relationship with God. In this context, God raised these prophets to address social issues. Prophets denounced the unjust structures of their society and strongly condemned the unethical behaviour of the people of Israel. They exposed human rights violations by the upper class and the corruption that was rampant in the market places, in religious institutions, and in legal proceedings.
The objective of this study is to discuss the background of eighth century B.C. and investigate the message of eighth century prophets focusing on human rights violations. The research also includes the exegetical study of the selected biblical texts and to explore human rights issues in India. The method of research is analytical, theological, hermeneutical and exegetical. In the exegetical analysis, the historical critical method is applied to discover the text’s original meaning in its original historical context. Sociological method is also considered to study the relationships among the people in the Israelite society.
The study undertaken has been divided into seven chapters. First chapter contains the review of literature; second chapter is devoted to study the background of the eighth century B.C. and the third chapter explores the message of the four prophets. The fourth chapter presents an exegetical study of selected texts and the fifth chapter aims to discuss the biblical and theological foundations for human rights. The sixth chapter is an attempt to highlight human rights issues in India and the concluding seventh chapter brings the relevance of the study to the present context.
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