The Many Faces of the Gentile Woman: a Postcolonial Feminist Hermeneutics of Mark 7:24-30

This research is about reading a Syrophoenician woman’s story in Mark 7:24-30 from a postcolonial feminist perspective. This research looks at earlier hermeneutics including classical missiological model and earlier feminist hermeneutics. Then, this introduces postcolonial feminist hermeneutics. A postcolonial reading of this Gentile woman tells that a postcolonial interpretation must expose and investigate the intersection of sexism, cultural and religious imperialism in the history of the text’s interpretation. By introducing postcolonial interpretation, the Gentile woman’s story becomes much richer and multi-dimensional. The main emphasis and contribution of this research is to provide multi-faceted interpretations on Gentile woman’s story. By inviting more hermeneutics and perspectives, the story of the Syrophoenician woman may offer special insights to various people in the multifaceted society. I propose that current readers may expose themselves to the Gentile woman depending on their contexts. We encounter the text as individuals who interact with our situation and via this existential interaction, the text can be truly alive and understood. Whatever the readers find in this story, the “good news” in the story can be reaching even contemporary Korean readers living in extremely competitive society. From the practical theological perspective, genuine dialogue with an empathy can be a big relief of emotional distress. I see Jesus’s words to the woman can be a greater comfort to people in Korea as well. Exploring many faces of gentile woman may lead one to the next step, from seeking one’s healing to cooperation with others living in the margin for justice and peace.