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A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614089000255488 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Matsapa, Caroline |
| author2 | Nagel, Peter, 1975- |
| author_browse | Matsapa, Caroline Nagel, Peter, 1975- |
| author_facet | Nagel, Peter, 1975- Matsapa, Caroline |
| author_sort | Matsapa, Caroline |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132244 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:29.473Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132244 A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology Matsapa, Caroline Nagel, Peter, 1975- Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old & New Testament. People with disabilities -- Religious life Disabilities -- Religious aspects Church work with people with disabilities Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Matsapa, C. 2025. A Reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'Disabled' Theology. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d80638e1-5f1c-4aeb-a197-fcc94bc0fece ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study employs a reception-critical exegetical approach to examine how disability, healing, and miracles are interpreted within Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. By re-examining Mark 2:1-12 against the first-century Roman Palestinian perceptions of disability the study critically engages with the dominant miracle-healing theologies within these churches, questioning the extent to which they align with the inclusive ethos of Jesus’ ministry. Through qualitative methods, the study engaged with church members, pastors, leaders, and individuals with disabilities aged nine to sixty years across five of the ten provinces of the Republic of Zimbabwe (Harare, Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland, and Matebeleland). It explores both historical contexts and contemporary reception of Disabled Theology based on Mark 2:1-12, revealing a complex theological and socio-cultural landscape. The findings highlight that systemic and doctrinal challenges continue to marginalise individuals with disabilities, despite an intention toward inclusivity. A key concern is the disconnection between the Gospel’s inclusive message and the actual practices within the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe, where healing is often framed as a precondition for full participation rather than an affirmation of faith and belonging. By placing Mark 2:1-12 within its broader literary framework (Mark 1:14-3:35), the study underscores Jesus’ pre-healing inclusivity, communal faith, and emphasis on agency, challenging contemporary Pentecostal assumptions that equate healing with divine favour. The dissonance between the Markan theological framework and AFM in Zimbabwe’s approach highlights a substantial gap in both theological interpretation and practical application. Consequently, this study advocates for a paradigm shift in Pentecostal theological perspectives and practices, particularly in how disability, healing, and miracles are understood and engaged within the AFM in Zimbabwe. It recommends structural, theological, and practical changes, better physical accessibility for affected church members, disability awareness training for church leadership, and integrated and inclusive practices in worship and community activities in Pentecostal churches. Additionally, the dissertation presents an alternative interpretation of Mark 2:1-12, while also conducting preliminary exegesis on additional verses arising from interviews to highlight areas for future research. Overall, this research contributes to the broader dialogue on Disability Theology by emphasising that the full participation and recognition of individuals with disabilities should not be contingent upon healing but should reflect the radical inclusivity of Jesus’ teachings. Using the AFM in Zimbabwe as a case study, this dissertation calls for a more compassionate, holistic, and inclusive engagement with disability in Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie gebruik 'n resepsie-kritiese eksegetiese benadering om te ondersoek hoe gestremdheid, genesing en wonderwerke geinterpreteer word in Pinksterkerke in Zimbabwe. Deur Markus 2:1-12 te herondersoek teen die agtergrond van Eerste-eeuse Romeinse Palestynse persepsies van gestremdheid, spreek die studie die dominante wonder-genesende teologiee in hierdie kerke krities aan, en bevraagteken dit die mate waarin dit ooreenstem met die inklusiewe etos van Jesus se bediening. Die studie het kwalitatiewe metodes gebruik en kerklidmate, pastore, leiers en individue met gestremdhede van nege tot 60 jaar in vyf van die tien provinsies van die Republiek van Zimbabwe (Harare, Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland en Matabeleland) betrek. Dit ondersoek beide historiese kontekste en kontemporere resepsie van “Gestremde Teologie” gebaseer op Markus 2:1-12, wat 'n komplekse teologiese en sosio-kulturele landskap openbaar, waar sistemiese en leerstellige uitdagings lei tot die marginalisering van individue met gestremdhede, ten spyte van 'n voorneme tot inklusiwiteit. 'n Belangrike rede tot besorgheid is die skeiding tussen die Evangelie se inklusiewe boodskap en die werklike praktyke binne die Apostoliese Geloofsending (AGS) in Zimbabwe, waar genesing dikwels as 'n voorvereiste vir volle deelname eerder as 'n bevestiging van geloof en behoort, geraam word. Deur Markus 2:1-12 binne sy breer literere raamwerk te plaas (Markus 1:14-3:35), onderstreep die studie Jesus se inklusiwiteit voor genesing, gemeenskaplike geloof en klem op agentskap, wat hedendaagse Pinkster-aannames uitdaag wat genesing met goddelike guns gelykstel. Die dissonansie tussen die Markaanse teologiese raamwerk en die AGS se benadering beklemtoon 'n wesenlike leemte in beide teologiese interpretasie en praktiese toepassing in die kerk. Gevolglik bepleit hierdie studie 'n paradigmaskuif in Pinksterteologiese perspektiewe en die aanvaarding van praktyke binne Pinksterkerke, veral in terme van hoe gestremdheid, genesing en wonderwerke verstaan word in die AGS in Zimbabwe. Doctoral 2025-05-30T12:36:36Z 2025-05-30T12:36:36Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132244 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 296 pages ; includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | People with disabilities -- Religious life Disabilities -- Religious aspects Church work with people with disabilities Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD Matsapa, Caroline A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title | A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title_full | A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title_fullStr | A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title_full_unstemmed | A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title_short | A reception-critical reading of Mark 2:1-12 in the context of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s 'disabled' theology |
| title_sort | reception critical reading of mark 2 1 12 in the context of the apostolic faith mission in zimbabwe s disabled theology |
| topic | People with disabilities -- Religious life Disabilities -- Religious aspects Church work with people with disabilities Disabilities -- Religious aspects -- Christianity UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132244 |
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