Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 71 (2017) award
Kenzo Tagawa
たがわ けんぞう
Tagawa Kenzo
Aliases:
田川 健三
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1935-00-00 （Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Religion
- Christian (self-described 'Christian who does not believe in God')
- Residence History
- Tokyo, Japan → Strasbourg, France → Göttingen, Germany → Kinshasa (then Zaire) → Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan
Career
- Occupations
- New Testament scholar, Author, University professor
- Active Years
- 1958-
- Affiliations
- International Christian University, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, National University of Zaire (now in Democratic Republic of the Congo), University of Strasbourg, Osaka Jogakuin University (Professor Emeritus)
- Influenced By
- Étienne Trocmé, Rudolf Bultmann
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tokyo | Department of Religious Studies (History of Religions) | Religious Studies / History of Religions | 学士（宗教学） | 〜1958年 | Japan |
| University of Strasbourg | Faculty of Theology | New Testament Studies | 博士（宗教学） | 博士課程在学（留学を含む）〜1965年 | France |
University of Tokyo
Department of Religious Studies (History of Religions)
/ Religious Studies / History of Religions
Degree:
学士（宗教学）
Period:
〜1958年
Year of Graduation:
1958
Country:
Japan
University of Strasbourg
Faculty of Theology
/ New Testament Studies
Degree:
博士（宗教学）
Period:
博士課程在学（留学を含む）〜1965年
Year of Graduation:
1965
Country:
France
Studied under Étienne Trocmé
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Mainichi Publishing Culture Award | New Testament: Translation and Commentary (7 vols, 8 books) | — | Mainichi Newspapers | 受賞 |
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
2017
Work:
New Testament: Translation and Commentary (7 vols, 8 books)
Organization:
Mainichi Newspapers
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
New Testament: Translation and Commentary (7 vols, 8 books)
2007 Biblical commentary / Religious studiesA complete translation and annotation of the New Testament based on textual criticism. The multi-volume series offers detailed exegesis of the Gospels and epistles, discussing historical background and textual variants.
Biblical interpretationTextual criticismHistorical Jesus researchCritique of religion
Jesus the Man: Life and Death of a Paradoxical Rebel
1980 Scholarly study / CritiqueA re-examination of the historical Jesus as a human figure, avoiding mythologizing and analyzing his life and death from social and textual perspectives.
Historical JesusCritique of religionTextual scholarship
The New Testament as a Book
1997 Scholarly monographAn essay proposing to read the New Testament not merely as a religious text but as a book, examining its literary and compositional aspects.
Textual criticismLiterarinessHistorical analysis
What Is Religion
1984 Introductory / Critical studyAn introductory critical study on the nature and function of religion; later expanded and revised.
Critique of religionIntellectual historyContemporary critique
On the Dangers of Thought: The Trajectory of Takashi Yoshimoto
1987 Critical essay / Literary criticismA critical examination of Takashi Yoshimoto's thought, tracing his trajectory from the perspective of intellectual history.
Critical thoughtIntellectual history
Bibliography
- The Center of Time [Luke]: Studies in Luke's Theology (translator of Hans Conzelmann, 1965)
- Acts and History (translator of Étienne Trocmé, 1969)
- Introduction to New Testament Theology (translator of Hans Conzelmann, 1974)
- An Aspect of Early Christian History: The Formation of Gospel Literature (1968)
- Formation of the Critical Subject: Contemporary Tasks of Critiquing Christianity (1971)
- Standing Thought: Essays (1972)
- Commentary on the Gospel of Mark (1972; revised and expanded 1997)
- Jesus the Man: Life and Death of a Paradoxical Rebel (1980)
- What Is Religion (1984; expanded editions)
- On the Dangers of Thought: The Trajectory of Takashi Yoshimoto (1987)
- The New Testament as a Book (1997)
- Invitation to Christian Thought (2004)
- New Testament: Translation and Commentary (7 vols, 2007–2017)
Translations by Author
- The Center of Time [Luke]: Studies in Luke's Theology (translated from Hans Conzelmann)
- Acts and History (translated from Étienne Trocmé)
- Introduction to New Testament Theology (translated from Hans Conzelmann, co-translator)
- William Tyndale: A Biography (translated from David Daniell)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear academic commentary styleCritical and polemical
- Recurring Motifs
- Critique of religionTextual-critical analysisReconstruction of the historical Jesus
Legacy
Kenzo Tagawa has had a major impact on Japanese New Testament studies through his textual-critical approach and detailed translations and commentaries. Known also for his critiques of religion and contemporary society, he influenced students and readers through teaching and writing. He received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award in 2017.
Quotes
-
I am a 'Christian who does not believe in God.'
Source: Long interview in 'Kangaeruhito' special issue 'Reading the Bible for the First Time' (interviewer: Yutaka Yukawa) (2010) -
The Greek of the Bible hides behind church interpretation; in a sense I have 'destroyed' the Bible.
Source: Statements in various writings and interviews
Trivia
- His name is often misspelled as '田川 健三' (different kanji).
- In 1970 he was expelled from International Christian University after a chapel sermon stating 'God does not exist' (the so-called 'rebel lecturer' incident).
- In 2017 he received the 71st Mainichi Publishing Culture Award for 'New Testament: Translation and Commentary'.