Reception Theory and African Charismatic Hermeneutics

The general Christian tradition in Africa has historically attracted local and cultural views to itself that have enriched its universal nature and strengthened it to address different doctrines in different cultural and religious contexts. This has, however, led to misconceptions in the interpretation of some Christian doctrines such as the doctrine of sin in 1 John. This study discovers that both for better and for worse, Akan Traditional Religious concepts of sin influence the reception of the hamartiology of 1 John by a selection of charismatic preachers in Ghana. This finding is in itself not surprising. However, the precise manner and extent to which the influences flow have immense implications for the communication of the Gospel in Ghana. The reception analytical method I developed from the philosophical framework of reception theory enabled me to establish that Akan Traditional Religion (ATR) concepts create a horizon of expectation for Akan charismatic preachers in Ghana that influences their reception of the doctrine of sin in 1 John.