Una biblia expropiada, cautiva y alienada: Aportes teológicos desde lectura popular de biblia en misión María Madre de Jesús

Abstract

The paper offers a theological reflection on the processes of expropriation, captivity, and alienation of the Bible in the Latin American context, based on a concrete experience of popular reading in the Anglican Mission María Madre de Dios in Neiva, Colombia. It argues that Sacred Scripture has historically been appropriated by ecclesial and political elites to legitimize structures of domination, stripping it of its prophetic and liberating power. Through a contextual and liberating hermeneutic approach, the theological praxis that links faith, social justice, and ethical commitment from the margins is reclaimed. The popular reading of the Bible, understood as a communal, situated, and transformative exercise, seeks to return the sacred text to its rightful recipients: the poor and the oppressed. The experience of Anglican Bible circles demonstrates how this practice empowers vulnerable communities—especially women victims of violence—to reframe their stories in light of the Gospel. The article concludes that this embodied reading not only decolonizes theology but also builds Church from a spirituality of resistance, hope, and justice.