George Soares-Prabhu


George Soares-Prabhu was an Indian Jesuit priest, exegete and biblical scholar, particularly known for his work in Indian Hermeneutics of the Christian Scriptures.

Biography

Soares-Prabhu completed his Senior Cambridge at Jabalpur in 1944 and then B. Sc. at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay in 1949. Afterwards he joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained a priest on 24 March 1961 at De Nobili College, Pune.
He joined the Faculty of Theology at Pontifical Athenaeum, Pune. He went to the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, to secure a licentiate in Scriptures and completed a PhD in Biblical theology in Lyon, France. He wrote his thesis An Enquiry into the Tradition History of Matthew 1-2 under the guidance of Xavier Léon-Dufour.
Soares-Prabhu returned to Pune in June 1969 and began teaching in 1970. Among various courses he taught, 'The Historical Jesus', 'Resurrection of Jesus and Dharma of Jesus' were most appreciated. Along with his colleagues, Francis X D'sa, Rui de Menezes and Kurien Kunnumpuram, he tried to articulate an Indian Christian theology. He was an ardent advocate of a Liberation Theology adapted to the Indian ethos and socio-religious context. He visualised a Church that is unprejudiced, all-embracing and all-inclusive.
He died in a road accident in Pune on 22 July 1995.
A collection of his works have been published in four volumes by Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, in Pune, India.
A festschrift was prepared in his honour, entitled The Dharma of Jesus.

Writings

  • The Formula Quotations in the Infancy Narrative of Matthew: An Enquiry into the Tradition History of Matthew 1-2, Rome: Biblical Institute, 1976.
  • Biblical Themes for a Contextual Theology Today, Pune: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 1999.
  • A Biblical Theology for India, Pune: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 1999.
  • Biblical Spirituality of Liberative Action, Pune: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 2003.
  • Theology of Liberation: An Indian Biblical Perspective, Pune: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, 2001.
The four Collected Works are as follows:
  • CWG 1: Soares-Prabhu, George M.. Biblical Themes for a Contextual Theology Today, Collected Writings of George M. Soares-Prabhu, S.J., Vol.1.Padinjarekuttu, Isaac Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth Theology Series.
  • CWG 2: Soares-Prabhu, George M.. Biblical Theology for India, Collected Writings of George M. Soares-Prabhu, S.J., Vol.2,Kuthirakkattel, Scaria, Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth Theology Series.
  • CWG 3: Soares-Prabhu, George M.. Biblical Spirituality of Liberative Action, Collected Writings of George M. Soares-Prabhu, S.J., Vol.3. Kuthirakkattel, Scaria., Pune: Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth Theology Series.
  • CWG 4: Soares-Prabhu, George M.. Theology of Liberation: An Indian Biblical Perspective, Collected Writings of George M. Soares-Prabhu, S.J., *Vol.4. D’Sa, Francis X.. Pune. Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth Theology Series.