Ewe Christology: The Sonship of Christ in Hebrews 1:1-4 from an Ewe Perspective

Abstract

This paper is a biblical and cultural reflection and application of Hebrews 1:1-4 from the Ewe Bible in the Ewe context using two main approaches, the Mother Tongue Criticism methodology of biblical studies and the Comparative Approach. From the Ewe text, this study concludes that the primal understanding of the word Mawu Vi which is known in local parlance as Sogble, according to the evidence in Hebrews 1:1, is not the same as Jesus of the Bible. In their functions as sons and ambassadors of Mawu, they are similar but have vast differences when it comes to creation, sustaining creation and being selected as heir to all God’s creation. The most important area of dissimilarity is their provision for the forgiveness of sin. In addition, a critical examination of issues from the mother tongue exegesis suggests that it is the son’s role as the domenyila that gives him eminence in the Ewe culture. His role as the lineage domenyila enables him to perform both social and religious functions as well as political. Keywords: christology, Ewe culture, gospel and culture