Abstract
The Letter to the Romans presents a very interesting case study of atonement. In Rom. 3.25a, Jesus is portrayed as the one whom God `put forward' as ίλαστήριoν διά [τnς] πιστεως έν τω αύτou α~ματι… The exact meaning of ίλαστήρ ιoν in relation to the rest of the text is a subject of controversy among scholars. The article argues that it would be legitimate to interpret ίλαστήρ ιoν as `a revelatory means of atonement' and that Paul makes creative use of his thorough acquaintance with the Jewish scriptures to reinterpret ίλαστήρ ιoν from a Christological perspective. But the article goes beyond a traditional exegetical investigation to discuss the subject in relation to hermeneutical insights derived from selected translations of the Bible into some key European and Ghanaian languages. In this regard, the article employs the method of `dialogical exegesis' which embarks on dialogue between the biblical text, together with its embedded world-views, and these European/Ghanaian translations that reflect the world-views of their authors and target audiences. The article finally suggests ways in which the outcome of this investigation can enhance the preparation of context-sensitive Study Bible Notes and Commentaries in a Ghanaian/African setting.
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