Belinda Tan | Singapore Bible College (original) (raw)
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Papers by Belinda Tan
A retelling of Esther's story for Kallos https://www.kallos.com.sg/, a magazine for Christian t... more A retelling of Esther's story for Kallos <https://www.kallos.com.sg/>, a magazine for Christian teen girls. Issue 13 (Jan–Feb 2016), 16–17.
Joy A. Schroeder in Deborah’s Daughters: Gender Politics and Biblical Interpretation describes th... more Joy A. Schroeder in Deborah’s Daughters: Gender Politics and Biblical Interpretation describes the figure of Deborah in Judges 4–5 as being utilised throughout Judaeo-Christian history for, against and by women in debates over their roles in church and society, whether as wives, mothers, prophets, leaders or judges. According to Schroeder, who as a female pastor and professor would have inevitably encountered such arguments, the reason for this is that Deborah’s story has “disruptive potential”. This is not only because of Deborah’s position in the narrative as a powerful woman, but also because gaps in the biblical text raise many questions and even result in varying translations (which are in themselves a form of interpretation). The aim of this paper is to follow Schroeder chapter by chapter, that is, period by period, as she traces and critiques the unfolding understandings of Deborah, and in turn to evaluate the critical history of interpretation produced by the author. With the resulting overview of how interpreters have historically addressed the issues raised by the story of Deborah, as well as the impact and consequences of their conclusions, the paper will propose an approach to interpretation and consider some implications of the findings for biblical interpretation and theology.
This paper examines the use of Jeremiah 31:15 by the gospel writer in Matthew 2:17– 18 by utilisi... more This paper examines the use of Jeremiah 31:15 by the gospel writer in Matthew 2:17– 18 by utilising insights from Philosophical Hermeneutics (PH). This introduction will lay out the PH stance adopted in the paper. It will be followed by the main section of the paper, which will seek to interpret the New Testament text and how the New Testament writer understood his Old Testament source. This will be done with reference to questions of PH. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of how the PH stance used has helped or complicated the hermeneutical endeavour.
This paper focuses on the Hindu-Christian woman in India during the time of the British Raj, whic... more This paper focuses on the Hindu-Christian woman in India during the time of the British Raj, which began when full control over parts of the subcontinent was ceded to the British Crown by the British East India Company in 1858 and ended with the granting of independence that created the modern nation in 1947. Instead of considering Protestant Christianity in India from the viewpoints of invariably male church leaders or Western missionaries, whether male or female, this paper gives its attention to the local woman‘s point of view, especially in light of the inequalities between the sexes in the prevailing Hindu culture of the time. By amplifying the stories of a key individual from an elite caste, the women of a low caste, and widows (who have a low status no matter their caste) who found a new lease of life and purpose through preaching and teaching the Gospel, it is hoped that an alternative history of the spread and indigenisation of Christianity in India may be presented.
This paper is an exposition of Genesis 28:10–22 by way of narrative analysis. By considering the ... more This paper is an exposition of Genesis 28:10–22 by way of narrative analysis. By considering the literary elements of the story therein and how these elements converge to convey the message of the narrator, the following questions may be addressed: (1) What is revealed about the character of God? (2) What is the role of Jacob in the narrative concerning the Abrahamic line? (3) Where Jacob’s failures, frustrations and hopes for the future are relevant today, what message does this passage hold for the modern reader? This passage, which centres on a nocturnal theophany in which Jacob encounters the God of his fathers for the first time at the start of his exile from the land he is meant to possess, as well as Jacob’s response to the divine encounter, should yield some fruitful answers.
Thesis Chapters by Belinda Tan
How does Judah undergo a change in Gen 38, and why is Tamar elevated despite her unorthodox actio... more How does Judah undergo a change in Gen 38, and why is Tamar elevated despite her unorthodox actions? These questions arise from ambiguities in the text and have animated much debate, including Second Temple interpretations that show us the answers should be found in the narrative itself. We address these issues through a question of our own based on Judah’s declaration in 38:26 — How is Tamar righteous, but Judah is not?
To respond to our thesis question, we propose an approach that blends evangelical and feminist hermeneutics. We find that, when rightly understood, both seek the restoration of the full humanity and thus basic equality of men and women. Thus, the feminist lens can help to uncover this principle in the biblical text, which the evangelical lens may sometimes miss through the domination of masculinist interpretations. At the same time, the evangelical lens can serve as a control on feminist approaches, when they deny the authority of the Bible and all interpretations perceived as masculinist, and flatten, distort, and excise passages in order to meet a feminist agenda. Hence, we seek to uncover the meaning of the text in its historical, cultural, literary, and theological contexts, while being alert to misleading assumptions from both parties. To do so, we read with the grain of the text within its canonical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, analyse its narrative techniques, and refer to other stories where pertinent, while paying attention to gender issues and power differentials between the sexes.
We conclude from our narrative analysis that Tamar is portrayed as righteous because she is faithful to her role as a daughter-in-law in Judah’s household. Conversely, Judah is not righteous, because he is unfaithful to his duties as her father-in-law and the paterfamilias. Yet, by admitting that Tamar has done rightly, but he has not, Judah is redeemed.
A retelling of Esther's story for Kallos https://www.kallos.com.sg/, a magazine for Christian t... more A retelling of Esther's story for Kallos <https://www.kallos.com.sg/>, a magazine for Christian teen girls. Issue 13 (Jan–Feb 2016), 16–17.
Joy A. Schroeder in Deborah’s Daughters: Gender Politics and Biblical Interpretation describes th... more Joy A. Schroeder in Deborah’s Daughters: Gender Politics and Biblical Interpretation describes the figure of Deborah in Judges 4–5 as being utilised throughout Judaeo-Christian history for, against and by women in debates over their roles in church and society, whether as wives, mothers, prophets, leaders or judges. According to Schroeder, who as a female pastor and professor would have inevitably encountered such arguments, the reason for this is that Deborah’s story has “disruptive potential”. This is not only because of Deborah’s position in the narrative as a powerful woman, but also because gaps in the biblical text raise many questions and even result in varying translations (which are in themselves a form of interpretation). The aim of this paper is to follow Schroeder chapter by chapter, that is, period by period, as she traces and critiques the unfolding understandings of Deborah, and in turn to evaluate the critical history of interpretation produced by the author. With the resulting overview of how interpreters have historically addressed the issues raised by the story of Deborah, as well as the impact and consequences of their conclusions, the paper will propose an approach to interpretation and consider some implications of the findings for biblical interpretation and theology.
This paper examines the use of Jeremiah 31:15 by the gospel writer in Matthew 2:17– 18 by utilisi... more This paper examines the use of Jeremiah 31:15 by the gospel writer in Matthew 2:17– 18 by utilising insights from Philosophical Hermeneutics (PH). This introduction will lay out the PH stance adopted in the paper. It will be followed by the main section of the paper, which will seek to interpret the New Testament text and how the New Testament writer understood his Old Testament source. This will be done with reference to questions of PH. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of how the PH stance used has helped or complicated the hermeneutical endeavour.
This paper focuses on the Hindu-Christian woman in India during the time of the British Raj, whic... more This paper focuses on the Hindu-Christian woman in India during the time of the British Raj, which began when full control over parts of the subcontinent was ceded to the British Crown by the British East India Company in 1858 and ended with the granting of independence that created the modern nation in 1947. Instead of considering Protestant Christianity in India from the viewpoints of invariably male church leaders or Western missionaries, whether male or female, this paper gives its attention to the local woman‘s point of view, especially in light of the inequalities between the sexes in the prevailing Hindu culture of the time. By amplifying the stories of a key individual from an elite caste, the women of a low caste, and widows (who have a low status no matter their caste) who found a new lease of life and purpose through preaching and teaching the Gospel, it is hoped that an alternative history of the spread and indigenisation of Christianity in India may be presented.
This paper is an exposition of Genesis 28:10–22 by way of narrative analysis. By considering the ... more This paper is an exposition of Genesis 28:10–22 by way of narrative analysis. By considering the literary elements of the story therein and how these elements converge to convey the message of the narrator, the following questions may be addressed: (1) What is revealed about the character of God? (2) What is the role of Jacob in the narrative concerning the Abrahamic line? (3) Where Jacob’s failures, frustrations and hopes for the future are relevant today, what message does this passage hold for the modern reader? This passage, which centres on a nocturnal theophany in which Jacob encounters the God of his fathers for the first time at the start of his exile from the land he is meant to possess, as well as Jacob’s response to the divine encounter, should yield some fruitful answers.
How does Judah undergo a change in Gen 38, and why is Tamar elevated despite her unorthodox actio... more How does Judah undergo a change in Gen 38, and why is Tamar elevated despite her unorthodox actions? These questions arise from ambiguities in the text and have animated much debate, including Second Temple interpretations that show us the answers should be found in the narrative itself. We address these issues through a question of our own based on Judah’s declaration in 38:26 — How is Tamar righteous, but Judah is not?
To respond to our thesis question, we propose an approach that blends evangelical and feminist hermeneutics. We find that, when rightly understood, both seek the restoration of the full humanity and thus basic equality of men and women. Thus, the feminist lens can help to uncover this principle in the biblical text, which the evangelical lens may sometimes miss through the domination of masculinist interpretations. At the same time, the evangelical lens can serve as a control on feminist approaches, when they deny the authority of the Bible and all interpretations perceived as masculinist, and flatten, distort, and excise passages in order to meet a feminist agenda. Hence, we seek to uncover the meaning of the text in its historical, cultural, literary, and theological contexts, while being alert to misleading assumptions from both parties. To do so, we read with the grain of the text within its canonical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, analyse its narrative techniques, and refer to other stories where pertinent, while paying attention to gender issues and power differentials between the sexes.
We conclude from our narrative analysis that Tamar is portrayed as righteous because she is faithful to her role as a daughter-in-law in Judah’s household. Conversely, Judah is not righteous, because he is unfaithful to his duties as her father-in-law and the paterfamilias. Yet, by admitting that Tamar has done rightly, but he has not, Judah is redeemed.