Abstract:
This work is concerned with developing an alter-native way of reading the Bible from a Tongan perspective; hence, the title: “Reading the Bible Tu’a-wise: Tongan Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation.” Its key objectives are to theorize some Tongan categories of analysis, to chart some culturally shaped methods of analysis, and to read a selected text using the analytical categories and methods. These objectives do not proceed from abstract to concrete, nor do they shift merely from theory to practice. The theoretical framework to be developed and methods charted constitute a practice-based approach to biblical interpretation. The work is divided into three parts. Part 1 is guided by the Tongan concept of tu’unga (variant: tu’u’anga), which generally means ‘location, status or position.’ Tu’unga indicates, on the one hand, my social location, status and position as a tu’a reader; it provides, on the other hand, the location of tu’a reading as an alternative approach to biblical interpretation. Part 2 focuses on developing tu’a reading proper by outlining its key elements. Like Part 1, it is informed by another Tongan concept, founga (variant: fou’anga). The term designates ‘points of entry’ or ‘transitory spaces.’ With regard to biblical interpretation, founga encompasses both the theoretical and methodological dimensions of a particular reading or approach. The founga offers several points where a reader can enter a text in the event of reading; it also provides the necessary methods and tools for the analysis of texts. Part 3 offers a tu’a reading of Ezra 9-10, showcasing its categories and methods. As with the first two parts, this final part dwells on the Tongan concept of angafai (anga way; fai doing = way of doing or practice). Angafai shows how to go about doing a particular task; in this case, angafai demonstrates the way to go about reading biblical texts tu’a-wise. The three parts of the work affirm that a Tongan reading of biblical texts is definitely a tenable alter-native to biblical interpretation.