Oral Performance and the Veil of Text
It is common opinion in biblical scholarship that the biblical documents functioned in a sociocultural context dominated by the spoken word. Detextification is the result of addressing the complex relation between this formally acknowledged functioning in its original oral delivery and the daily praxis of biblical scholarship in which these documents function as autonomous texts in an ever-expanding universe of texts. The argument in this book is that in addition to acknowledging the difference in media (oral performance there and then versus reading text here and now), it is crucial to differentiate and explicate the mindsets behind these media.
A literate reader in the present structures thought, vis-a-vis text, differently from someone intensively formed by oral-aural communication, in the moment of exposure to a performing orator. The latter perspective was Paul’s in the process of his letter composition. Therefore, this is a leading question in detextification: How can a contemporary biblical scholar relate to the text of Paul’s letters in such a way as to understand how the apostle envisioned his original addressees structuring their thoughts during the event of a letter’s oral-aural delivery? Two test cases are provided from the Letter to the Galatians (Gal 2-3).
Recommendations for the book:
‘It is highly, highly appreciated’
Werner Kelber
‘Ben F. van Veen insightful exploration adeptly bridges the gap between historical context and contemporary interpretation, prompting a serious reevalution of our comprehension of ancient documents’
Arie Zwiep
‘Ben F. van Veen presents a thorough challenge to all textually traint scholars to fully embrace the different mindset of the New Testament authors’
Samuel Byrskog
Hour of Power
Ben van Veen wants to make the love of God tangible in prison, because the message of love and forgiveness also applies there. He tries to build a relationship with the people who are imprisoned between the prison walls. The secret of God lies in establishing relationships, according to the prison pastor. Yet the pastor also pays a certain price for everything he hears within those four walls. ‘You lose a piece of innocence because evil can be very threatening.’ He explains how everything begins and ends with love.
‘Cycle of Evil: Essays by Spiritual Caregivers in the Justice Department.’
Ryan van Eijk et al. (eds.), Spiritual Care and Visions of Humanity in Detention
Ben works as a minister in prison: ‘Those men come to me because they want to come to God’
Interview Ben van Veen (49) works as a prison chaplain in the middle of the country. He talks to the men in prison – individually or in a group – and he takes care of the Sunday church service. ‘I represent Jesus. That means that everyone is welcome.’
How many prisoners are waiting for a preacher?
‘There is a remarkable amount of faith in prison. Most men have learned something about God from their upbringing, even if it is only from their grandmother. They carry that with them in their backpack. Detention is very drastic for most prisoners. They are arrested and then they spend several days alone in a police cell.
Sometimes there is substance abuse or a violent lifestyle. In such a cell a process can start. You can be confronted with yourself harshly: what am I doing, what have I done? And then: necessity teaches prayer. Because of the stress and the conflict with themselves they are receptive to something mental or spiritual.’