Mr. Axolile N. M. Qina

Thesis title: The Dilemma of Jesus’ Sacrifice: Towards a Xhosa Christian Hermeneutic for Animal Sacrifice

Biography

Background

Mr. Axolile Ntsika Mandaba Qina is a Xhosa male from South Africa. Axolile grew up in Johannesburg but originates from the Transkei, Eastern Cape. He has three degrees in Theology: Bachelor of Theology (Hons) and Master of Theology (New Testament) from Stellenbosch University in South Africa; and, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas, United States of America (USA).

Currently, his PhD research investigates the problem of animal sacrifice among Xhosa Christian, and attempts to find a solution through an exegetical interpretation of Jesus' sacrifice in the Gospel of John. Xhosa Christians in Axolile's context still perform animal sacrifices towards the ancestors. Since the intersection between Christianity and Xhosa sacrifice has historicity in the form on the Cattle Killing (1856-7), he reconsiders the dilemma Jesus' sacrifice has for these Xhosa Christians, who either chose to continue or abandon this rite, which is a fundamental part of their ethnic identity. Animal sacrificial practice in ancient Judaism, Greco-Roman world, and early Christianity, is also considered in order to elucidate the potential contextual background of earlier positions regarding Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, and its relationship to animal sacrifice in first century CE. This historical background is then applied to the contemporary context of Xhosa Christians using an African Hermeneutic approach.

Mr. Qina is funded by the Leverhulme Trust under the Doctoral Scholarship called, Shaun Johnson Memorial Scholarship (Previously known as: Leverhulme Mandela Rhodes Doctoral Scholarship). This is a partnership with the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and Leverhulme Trust, where two Mandela Rhodes Scholars are chosen to complete their PhD in a University in the United Kingdom (UK). Axolile was a Mandela Rhodes Scholar in 2016 during his Master's in Stellenbosch University, and was later selected  for this prestigious scholarship in 2019.

Prior to this, Axolile was elected as the first Black African Male Student Representative (SRC) President at Stellenbosch University in 2015. He was awarded the Rectors Award for Leadership in 2015, and in 2014, received both the 'Recognition of Achievement for Best Achievement' in New Testament 414 and Practical Theology 414, respectively. More recently, as a tutor for the undergraduate course 'Moses and Torah', Axolile was nominated for the 'Student-Led Teaching Awards 2022' for the category  'Teacher of the Year' through the Edinburgh University Students' Association.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Theology (BTh) (Hons) - Stellenbosch University (2014)

Master of Theology (MTh) in New Testament - Stellenbosch University (2019)

Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (2019)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Member of the Review Board for the Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary (https://journals.co.za/journal/conspec)

Student Membership:

European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS) 2022 - p. 

British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) 2021 - p. 

Affiliated:

British New Testament Society (BNTS) 2020 - p.

Undergraduate teaching

Moses and Torah (Semester 1) - 2021/22

Global Indigenous Religions (Semester 2) - 2021/22

Research summary

I am interested in the intersectionality of Christianity and indigenous religious practices. Since I situate this research interest in the field of Biblical Studies and World Christianity, I approach scripture from the social location under investigation, and pay attention to how these indigenous groups negotiate the Bible and Christian faith within their cultural context. This forms part of African Hermeneutics of the Bible, where scholars from the continent utilise contemporary approaches to the sacred texts of scripture, and apply them to their African Traditional religions or social situations prevalent in their locations today.

Current research interests

Xhosa Animal Sacrifice, Jesus' Sacrifice in the Gospel of John, Xhosa Christian Hermeneutics & Animal Sacrifice in the ancient world (eg. Early Christians, ancient Judaism & Greco-Roman world).

Past research interests

Social-political context of the Greco-Roman World, Gospel of John, Christian Identify formation & Anti-Judaism in John 8:12-59.

Knowledge exchange

Invited lecture for the Honours-level class, Jesus in Film, by Dr. Philippa Townsend. My lecture was titled: 'Son of Man: A Xhosa South African Reflection', on 12th March 2020.  https://media.ed.ac.uk/media/1_1cnqebdy

‘The Ubuntu we need: After COVID-19 and Beyond.’ Young African Magazine. 22 January 2021. https://www.mandelarhodes.org/news-impact/yam/the-ubuntu-we-need-post-covid-19-and-beyond/  

Project activity

Minority and Postcolonial Criticism: Exegetical Explorations and Decolonial Approaches to Biblical Interpretation Workshop.  European Association for the Study of Biblical Studies (EABS) Conference 2023. Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. 10-13 July.  https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Research-Units/Research_Units/Workshops/Minority_and_Postcolonial_Criticism.aspx 

Co-founder & Co-Director of the: Decolonising Biblical Studies Postgraduate Reading Group (2021 - p.). School of Divinity, New College, Edinburgh University, EH1 2LX.

Current project grants

Edinburgh Student Experience Grant 2023 (https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-experience-grants)

Conference details

British New Testament Society Conference, [In-person] at St. Andrews University, on the 18th  - 20th August 2022.

Soga Studies Conference at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies, [Hybrid] Hosted by the University of Johannesburg,  on 24th - 26th March 2022.

British Association for the Study of Religions Conference, titled: "From Religious Studies to the Study of Religion/s: Disciplinary Future for the 21st Century," on 6th - 7th September 2021.

Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CRSP) Conference, titled: "Contributions from the Global South," [Online] hosted by St. Andrews University, on the 3rd - 6th August 2021.

South African Theological Seminary: Jesus and the Fourth Gospel eConference, [Online] on the 17th - 18th March 2021.

Yale-Edinburgh Conference, titled: Oral, Print, and Digital Cultures in World Christianity and the History of Mission, [Online] at Edinburgh University, on the 22nd -24th June 2021.

Society of Black Academics, titled: Developing an Academic Career as a Black Academic in the UK, Hosted by University of Edinburgh Business School,  on the  2-3 June 2021.

Online Christology Conference  titled: Christ Among the Disciples (more info available here: www.ChristAmongTheDisciplines.com) on the 18-23 September 2020.

Invited speaker

Nottingham University Biblical Studies Seminar on the 16th May 2023.

Society of the Study of Theology, Indigenous Theologies: Prospects and Challenges on 28th April 2023.

Edinburgh Theological Seminary Postgraduate Seminar on the 25th October 2022.

South African Theological Seminary Symposium on the 29th April 2022.

Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies: Soga Studies Conference, University of Johannesburg, on 26th March 2022.

Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CRSP) Conference: Contributions from the Global South, [Online] hosted by St. Andrews University, on 4th August 2021.

Organiser

Co-chair for European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS) Conference 2023 Seminar in Syracuse, Italy, titled: Minority and Postcolonial Criticism: Exegetical Explorations and Decolonial Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Research-Units/Research_Units/Workshops/Minority_and_Postcolonial_Criticism.aspx 

Black History Month Lecture, at the School of Divinity in Edinburgh University, on the 8th October 2021. See full lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8f9uScfq9k&t=1s.

Participant

British New Testament Society Conference at St. Andrews University, Scotland, [In-Person] on 18-20th August 2022.

University of Johannesburg, Institute of Advanced Studies and The School of Orientalism and African Studies (SOAS), Soga Studies Conference [Hybrid] on 24-26 March 2022.

British Association for the Study of Religions Conference, [Online] Hosted by School of Divinity at Edinburgh University, on the 6th -7th September 2021.

Yale-Edinburgh Group on World Christianity and the History of Mission, at New College, School of Divinity, Edinburgh University on 22nd - 24th June 2021.

Society of Black Academics, 'Developing an Academic Career as a Black Academic in the UK', [Online] on the 2-3 June 2021.

The South African Theological Seminary. Jesus and the Fourth Gospel eConference on 17-18th March 2021.

Christology Conference. 'Christ Among the Disciples.'[Online]. 18-23 November 2020.

British New Testament Society Conference, [Online] Hosted by Durham University, on the 3rd - 5th September 2020.

Papers delivered

'Jesus' Sacrifice in the Gospel of John: Akedah Tradition or Servant of the Lord'. at Nottingham University Biblical Seminar, 16th May 2023.

‘Xhosa Christian interpretations of Jesus’ sacrificial death in the 19th century: A comparative assessment with a South African Biblical interpretation approach.’ at Edinburgh Theological Seminary Postgraduate Seminar, 25th October 2022.   

‘Jesus’ Death and Resurrection in the Gospel of John: A Creational Interpretation for Xhosa Christians Dilemma of Animal Sacrifice today,’ at the British New Testament Society Conference, on the 20th August 2022. 

'Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross: The Animal Sacrifice Dilemma for Xhosa Christians,’ at the South African Theological Seminary Symposium, on the 29th April 2022.

‘Reverend Tiyo Soga: A “man of two worlds” and Cultural Interpretations of the Bible,’ at the Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies: Soga Studies Conference on the 26th March 2022.

‘The Creational Significance of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection in the Gospel of John: Xhosa Prophets, Colonial Christianity in South Africa and the Cattle-Killing Movement in the mid-19th Century,' at the  European Association of Biblical Studies (EABS) Graduate Symposium in Charles University Prague, Czech Republic on the 31st March 2022.

‘Why is Animal Sacrifice a Dilemma for Xhosa Christians today,’ at the Centre for the Study of  World Christianity (CSWC) Research Seminars, in School of Divinity at Edinburgh University. on the  8th February 2022.

‘Xhosa Negotiation and Agency.’  at Edinburgh University, People and Planet Student Group: Black History Month Discussion on 27th October 2021.

‘The Hermeneutical Agency of Xhosa Christians under Colonialism.’ Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) & Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH): Black History Month Conversations. 26thOctober 2021.

‘The Problem of Animal Sacrifice Among the Xhosa Christians and the Significance of Jesus’ Sacrifice,’ at the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP) Conference: Contributions from the Global South, at St. Andrews University,  on the 4th  August 2021.

'Jesus’ Sacrifice in the Gospel of John: The servant of the Lord who takes away the world’s sin,’ at the South African Theological Seminary: Jesus and the Fourth Gospel eConference, on the 17th March 2021.

'A conversation about decolonizing biblical studies,’ with Prof. Timothy Lim & Dr. Philippa Townsend, at Edinburgh University New College, School of Divinity Biblical Studies Seminar, on the  4th March 2021.

This article was published on