1949 - 2006
Professor at the University of Zululand
Author of theological publications
J A (Bobby) Loubser was born in 1949 at the university town of Stellenbosch,
South Africa. He was the great-great-grandchild of one of the founders of the
University. He completed both his M.A. in Hellenistic Greek and his doctorate
in Theology in New Testament Studies at Stellenbosch University, the latter
after having spent a year as a DAAD bursary holder in Tübingen, Germany (where
he studied under the renowned Peter Stuhlmacher).
On his return to South Africa he served in two congregations of the Dutch
Reformed Church and became well known for his Reformed criticism of the use of
scripture to support apartheid policies. Seminal in this regard was the
publication in 1983 of his book, The Apartheid Bible.
Loubser lectured at the University of Zululand from 1990. During this time he
presented papers on the subject of this book at some 36 international
conferences and symposia.
Oral & Manuscript Culture in the Bible is the fruit of his confrontation with how scripture is read, understood and
used in third world situations, which are closer than modern European societies
to the social dynamics of the original milieu in which the texts were produced.
He is also the author of numerous scientific papers in the field of New
Testament theology and popular religious essays.
The Apartheid Bible, 1983
Oral & Manuscript Culture in the Bible
Books