Decolonising Biblical Theology: Towards Postcolonial Biblical Theology in the Public Sphere of Indonesia

Abstract This article presents the main argument that in the Indonesian context, biblical theology should be able to play a crucial role not only in the church and academic spheres but also, and more importantly, in the wider society by overturning the hegemony of colonialism in biblical theology and developing postcolonial biblical theology in the actual context of Indonesia. In undergirding this argument, the article first puts forward the situation of biblical theology in scientific and societal discourse in general and in the Indonesian context in particular. The findings in this analysis are followed by an explanation of the importance of developing a horizon in elaborating biblical theology in the Indonesian context informed by seven distinguishing public issues in Indonesian society. Biblical theology must be encouraged to penetrate the public sphere. In elaborating on biblical theology in the Indonesian context, postcolonial studies are highly significant in connecting biblical theology and the Indonesian context.