Aims, Scopes, and Values

Conspectus is the journal of the South African Theological Seminary. Like the Seminary, the values of the journal are encapsulated in the phrase, “Bible-based, Christ-centred, and Spirit- led.” Launching from an appreciation of interdisciplinary discourse, the journal publishes from across the broad spectrum of theological studies (Biblical Studies, Practical Theology, Systematic Theology, Studies in Church and Society), while establishing links with extra- theological disciplines where appropriate. Like the Seminary, Conspectus invites contributions from the broad spectrum of denominations while showcasing academic research from a broadly evangelical perspective. The journal seeks contributions from authors who subscribe to a high view of Scripture, as is consistent with evangelical tenets.¹ Publishing articles that employ reader-centered methodologies for exegesis does not lie in Conspectus’s purview.² Additionally, as SATS is based on the African continent, the journal foregrounds contributions from the Majority World. To be published in Conspectus an article must go beyond a summary of secondary sources and present the results of sound theological research valuable to the church, including scholars, pastors, students, missionaries, and/or other Christian practitioners. Conspectus is an open-source journal, catalogued under ATLA (American Theological Library Association), Logos Bible Software, Galaxy Software, Sabinet, the Directory of Open Access Journals, African Journals Online (AJOL), and the SATS website.³

Footnote 1: A high view of Scripture implies that the divine inspiration, veracity, and authority of God’s Word are acknowledged. Rather than adopt a hermeneutic of suspicion, in which the biblical texts are regarded as filled with fabrications and contradictions, the interpretive approach to Scripture adopted in Conspectus is affirmatory in disposition, in which the antiquity, coherence, and lucidity of God’s Word are recognized. While the tools of higher criticism are appreciated for their potential usefulness in clarifying the erudition and complexity of Scripture, the main objective is not to ferret out, often in a subjective manner, the presumed sources (whether oral or written) and redactions of biblical texts. Instead, the goal is to exegete the final canonical form of God’s Word.
Footnote 2: Such methodologies include, but are not limited to, reader-response criticisms; a hermeneutic of suspicion; feminist/womanist/queer paradigms.
Footnote 3: All published content is uploaded to Portico for electronic archiving.

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