HTS Volume 53, Number 4 (1997)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/17397

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Enkele motiewe vir 'n eietydse verstaan van die belydenisskrifte
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Koekemoer, J.H. (Johannes Hendrik), 1935-
The present century has seen an increasing opposition to creeds and doctrinal statements of faith. The question for the church and theology is how to read the creeds in such a way that it will not deprive us from our own responsibility to Scripture. In order to do just that a reinterpretation of the creeds is necessary. In this reinterpretation there should be a recognition of historical and cultural relativity. We do not experience our world in the same way as premodern people did. Any attempt to leave ecclesiastical doctrines in an unchangeable form would result in the increasing loss of the meanings of those doctrines.
Belydenis: objektiewe waarheid of eksistensiële uitdrukking van geloof?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Steenkamp, L.J.S.
Confession of belief originates when someone (the believer or the church) is so touched existentially by the Person, Jesus Christ, that he or she cannot help declaring that Jesus is the living Lord. This confession, therefore, becomes a lifestyle which has to be relived again and again. For this reason we never testify to our own insights or rational ideas about God, but to this meeting with God in Jesus Christ. Thus, it becomes clear that confession is different to religious lyrics or the knowledge of abstract truths which are only communicated rationally; it implies a decision which carries a risk, but at the same time it simply has to be repeated again and again in an existential way by the believer.
Kan daar iets oor God gesê word? 'n perspektief vanuit die kritiese wysheid
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Bezuidenhout, L.C. (Louis Christiaan)
In the critical wisdom, traditional dogmata are scrutinised and proved to be unreliable. Yet, a new concept of 'theology' is proposed. The value of logic is appreciated, but its limits are accepted. Instead of conventional systematic thought, existential reflection is proposed.
Inheemswording en inkulturasie : implikasies vir teologie en kerk
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Van der Merwe, P.J.
Although the intimate bond between Church and culture was realised quite early on, it only became a theological issue after missionaries like Xavier, Ricci and DeNobili experimented with accommodation and adaptation in the East. In the 20th century their ideas surfaced again in the concepts of indigenisation and inculturation, that is, of Church and theology amongst peoples and cultures of the Third World. This development led Western theology to realise how historically and culturally contextualised Western ecclesiastical, doctrinal and theological traditions actually were. This in tum led to a fundamental rethinking on Church and culture, and again, on contextualisation; indigenisation and inculturation as missionary principles.
Moet die Afrikaanse Kerke skuld bely oor apartheid? : wat leer ons uit die Duitsers se worsteling met skuld?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Van Wyk, I.W.C. (Ignatius William Charles)
This article asks the question whether the Afrikaans-speaking churches should confess guilt publicly for their support of the apartheid-state. A short summary is given to different opinions in South Africa. The main focus of the article is on the German discussion. From this discussion we learn that people, some in a more horrible way than others, do make themselves guilty in history. For believers it is a matter of course to confess their guilt in a church service. Guilty people, unfortunately, always try to justify themselves and to point to the guilt of others. Some people are always more guilty than others, but people become guilty collectively. To prevent evil, the church has the responsibility of preaching the doctrine of original guilt. This would also enable believers to handle guilt from the perspective of the doctrine of justification.
Verhouding verkondiging en belydenis by Paulus
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Pelser, G.M.M. (Gerhardus Marthinus Maritz)
It is a well-known fact that in his letters Paul for different purposes made use of traditional materials, among others confessional formulae and hymns. In this study the question is asked as to how these materials were evaluated by Paul, that is, whether he regarded them as fixed dogmas to be handed down in their original form, and in the event of proclaiming the gospel, to be strictly adhered to as kerygmatic guidelines. The conclusion arrived at is that, although Paul definitely regarded these materials as existential expressions of faith of some importance and as forms of proclamation in their own right, he never saw them as unchangeable dogmas to be strictly adhered to as prescriptive for his understanding and proclamation of the gospel. He, on the contrary, made free use of them in such a manner that he modified them in different ways in order to bring them in line with his theology and to serve the purpose of his theological argument. In so doing, he clearly demonstrated that, in his view, the confessional formulae should be of service to the kerygma, and not the other way around.
Meesternarratiewe, kontranarratiewe en kanonisering - perspektief op sommige profetiese geskrifte
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Breytenbach, A.P.B. (Andries Petrus Bernardus), 1944-
The raison d'etre of this study is the problem of normative theological dicta in parts of the Old Testament, which are contradicted in another or even the same book of the Old Testament. In this article canonisation as an ongoing process is investigated from a postmodem perspective which takes contextuality, intertextuality and grand and little narratives into account. The so-called Zion Theology is identified as a grand narrative during the time before and after the Babylonian exile. Books like Jeremiah, Micha, Samuel and Kings, as well as Jonah and Chronicles are referred to in this regard. The research, inter alia, leads to the following result: the normative material of a religious society is interpreted in the light of the prevailing grand narrative. These interpretations are usually added to the normative material. Little narratives, being contradictory to and resisting incorporation into grand narratives, are usually added to the normative material after the grand narrative has been stripped of its hegemony by historic events. This accounts for contradictory theological dicta in the Old Testament. From this follows that the very nature of the canonised material brought together in the Old Testament opposes a fundamentalistic or orthodox theological approach.
Verhouding prediking-belydenis in 'n post-moderne konteks: huwelik of saamwoon?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Dreyer, T.F.J. (Theunis Frederik Jacobus), 1946-
This article attempts, within the tradition of the Reformation, to investigate the relationship between preaching and the confession of the church. Through the ages, this relationship altered from a spontaneous interaction to a formal, judicial contract. This role prescribed to the confession, of being a formal and dominating instrument with judicial authority, is no longer acceptable in a postmodem society. The study aims to establish the specific nature of the relationship and to seek means to organize it in a way that will accommodate the demands of our time, but in an orderly manner that will also benefit the proclamation of the gospel.
Eindigheid, eie opstanding en die politiek van différance
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Beukes, C. Johann
Employing Derrida' s notion of différance, the author approaches the conviction of life after death (own resurrection ) as a conviction which has been typically marginalized and even disallowed by modernity. The politics of differance, which could be regarded as a postmodern strategy for rehabilitating those aspects of reality which were marginalized by modernity, is shown to have critical consequences for the linear (modern) understanding of finiteness and death. Rather than understand finiteness and own resurrection as being in linear relation, the author appeals to the postmodern persuasion of the siclical nature of reality: death is own resurrection. Death is a life giving gift: The Self dies so that Others may live - and the Self is resurrected when it lives on in the lives of Others. Thus parting company with the empirical understanding of history, death and resurrection, the author leaves us with the tadt question: is this not the way the resurrection of Christ is to be understood? He lives on in us, as we will live on in Others.
Plek en funksie van belydenisskrifte in die kategese van die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Beukes, M.J. du P. (Mattheus Johannes du Plessis)
Since the publication of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika's most recent catechism text books (1982-1989), there has been concern that the articles of faith of the church, and particularly the Heidelberg Catechism, have not been taught sufficiently. In this study it is shown that the Heidelberg Catechism was only for a short period of time the exclusive text book used in teaching the dogma of the church to catechism pupils. Since 1985 it has become a general tendency in almost all reformed churches not to use one of the articles of faith or an abbreviated form thereof as basis in catechism anymore, but rather to use the Bible itself. This study attempts to point out that the Council for Catechism of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk has chosen correctly on sound theological, pedagogical, and didactic historical grounds to teach the Biblical content within the accompanying framework of the faith and not according to one or other article of faith of the church. Many factors, as indicated in this study, require that the witness of the church again be conveyed, based on the existing articles of faith, and that this then should serve as the accompanying framework for the catechism.
Oor die bestaan van God en oor niksheid
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Labuschagne, Kobus
The views of Karl Barth and the 'Heilsgeschichte'-tradition on the one hand, and those of Rudolf Bultmann and the 'Formkritik'-tradition on the other hand, do not differ so much on the method of objective historical research. The real differences start to appear on the hermeneutical front, where facts and events referred to in the Scriptures are evaluated and explained. The 'Heilsgeschichte' -tradition is consistent in maintaining an objective point of departure, whilst Bultmann and the 'Formkritik'- tradition, influenced by existentialist philosophy, reveals a subjective approach. For Bultmann the kerygma cannot be verified historically but only subjectively or existentially. For Barth the kerygma cannot be separated from its true basis of historical events, in and through the person of Jesus Christ. These two different approaches have enormous consequences for the question of the existence of God.
Belydenis in kerkregtelike verband met besondere verwysing na die konsep Kerkorde 1997, Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Botha, S.J. (Schalk Jacobus), 1936-
In essence the question under discussion is about the functioning of the confession in church polity and how it is phrased in the concept Church Ordinance (1997) of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. This logically brings the very difficult question of doctrinal discipline up for discussion. The paper starts with a few remarks on the relation between scripture, confession and church polity. The tradition, forming the background of the concept, is traced from the time of the Reformation. After a short discussion on how doctrinal discipline was seen and put into practice in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, final remarks are made on how this matter is handled in the concept.
Images of Christ's saving work in Ps.-Epiphanius' homilies
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Stander, Hennie (Hendrik Frederik), 1953-
One cannot really speak of a systematic theology on the subject of atonement in the patristic writers. Frances Young once said that 'it is in fact impossible to categorize neatly the thought of the major patristic writers on the subject of atonement'. She adds that one cannot do justice to the range of motifs and images that are found in describing the saving and atoning work of Christ if we merely dismember 'systematic theologies' to illustrate common soteriological themes. One can only appreciate patristic views of atonement if one begins by recognizing the multifaceted unity of imagery that pervades the literature. This then is the goal of this article: to discuss the rich images which Ps:-Epiphanius uses to describe the atoning work of Christ.
Egskeiding in die antieke Semitiese wêreld
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Schutte, P.J.W. (Philippus Jacobus Wilhelmus)
Although divorces did occur in the ancient Semitic world, divorce never became a casual or even an accepted phenomenon in especially the Jewish community. Marriage was the normal state of affairs for Jews, and they worked hard at maintaining it. This article investigates the issue.
Konsep 'Seun van God' in Grieks-Romeinse en Hellenisties-Semitiese literatuur
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Van Aarde, A.G. (Andries G.)
Christians among the Greek-speaking Israelites referred to Jesus as, inter alia, 'Son of God'. The connotation of this honorific title differs from the usage of that by Israelites prior to Hellenistic influence, who in the First Testament referred to their messianic king as 'Son of God'. The new connotation was, to a Hellenistic audience, a commonality. According to Rudolf Bultmann it was 'gemeingriechische Denke '. The article aims at identifying three different types of the notion 'Son of God' in Graeco-Roman and Hellenistic-Semitic literature: the divine human as miracle worker, the pre-existent God-like figure who is paradoxically associated with human fate, and the cosmological figure who is identified as God's Wisdom. It is shown that all three types occur in the Second Testament as interpretations of the soteriological meaning of Jesus' birth and death.
Montage, von Rad en belydenis
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Venter, P.M. (Pieter Michiel), 1947-
Following Sailhamer's practice of using the term 'montage' as a hermeneutical key for understanding the canon of the Old Testament, this term is investigated and it is shown that Von Rad used it as a technique in his works on the Hexateuch. It is proposed that the same technique can be used in modern theologies and in the use of confessions.
Ontstaan van belydenisskrifte gedurende die sestiende en sewentiende eeu
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Dreyer, Willem Akkerhuys (Wim)
This article examins the background, history and development of Reformed confessions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but especially the Swiss and French confessions which influenced the Belgic Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Articles of Dordt. The premise is that if we really want to understand and interpret confessions, they must be read against their historical, theological and political background. At the same time confessions cannot be properly understood in isolation from their present context, that is, being confessions of the church. Confessions are not only historical documents, but of immense importance to the church which must confess its faith in the present.
Feminist and the Bible : hermeneutical alternatives
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Osiek, Carolyn
Amid the varieties of feminist interpretive methods in biblical scholarship, this article suggests a general typology of approaches: rejection of the claims of biblical authority; acceptance of those claims with critique of oppressive interpretations; revisionism, which holds to the possibility of reconstructing the lost experience of women in the texts; reliance on symbol and image of the feminine to convey meaning; and finally, the liberation critique of oppressive structures. An appreciation and critique is offered for each alternative.
'Who is wise and understanding among you' (James 3: 13)? An analysis of wisdom, eschatology and apocalypticism in the epistle of James
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Hartin, Patrick J.
Three questions form the basis of this analysis of the relationship of the Epistle of James to the traditions of wisdom, eschatology and apocalypticism. What kind of traditions are involved in James? What is the world view of James? What audience or community is presupposed by this writing? Foremost is the connection that James demonstrates to the wisdom tradition evident in the Old Testament and extra-testamental literature. In particular two types of wisdom tradition are noted in James: practical wisdom advice as expressed in short sayings, wisdom instructions and admonitions and reflection on the nature of wisdom (1:5-8; 2:1-7; and 3:13-18) as coming from God. Finally, the question of how much apocalyptic symbolism is evident in the eschatological world view of the epistle is addressed.
Inference and relevance in Paul's allegory of the wild olive tree
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 1997) Maartens, P.J.
Relevance theory accounts for Paul's preference for 'the wild olive' tree in using horticultural practices of grafting to symbolise his mission to the Gentiles. The olive tree facilitates inclusive imagery. The principle of ostensive inferential communication also accounts for the violation of horticultural conventions. Relevance juxtaposes God who calls and Israel that fails. The remnant as cultivated olive is the balance of this process. Relevance 'roots' the symbolism in election and the covenant as origins of Israel. Israel obtains eschatological relevance and significance. Gentile Christians are drawn into eschatological Israel. The church is rooted in continuity with the historical Israel. The juxtaposition of different readings renders all interpretation relative. Yet, changing the cognitive environment of its readers guarantees the relevance of exegetical discourse.

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