Text in German with summaries in German and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-212) / Das Matthäusevangelium ist in seiner literarischen Form eine Erzählung. Jesus und die Bedeutung seines Lebens sowie der göttlichen Sendung bilden dabei die zentrale Rolle. Die narrative Exegese ist somit für die Untersuchung der Lehrmethoden Jesu in der Darstellungsweise von Matthäus besonders dazu geeignet, die Lehrmethoden zu analysieren und literarisch zu charakterisieren. Eine Untersuchung der Lehrmethoden Jesu zeigt, dass Jesus auf besondere Art und Weise die Jünger schult, begleitet und herausfordert. Dazu werden zentrale Texte aus dem Matthäusevangelium, in denen die Lehrmethoden Jesu und der Lernprozess der Jünger deutlich werden, zunächst identifiziert, eingegrenzt und narrativ untersucht. Mit diesen Ergebnissen werden in einem weiteren Schritt die Lehrmethoden Jesu mit erlebnispädagogischen Methoden verglichen. Auf dieser Grundlage werden die Darstellung und Charakteristik der Lehrmethoden Jesu erarbeitet, um so mögliche nicht-offensichtliche Bedeutungen der Darstellung von Jesu Lehrtätigkeit und seinen Methoden zu entdecken. / The Gospel of Matthew is a narrative in its literary form. Jesus, the meaning of his life, and his divine mission constitute the central message of the Gospel of Matthew. The narrative exegesis of Matthew is especially suited to the analysis and literary characterization of the teaching methods of Jesus. Numerous passages show what special methods Christ used to instruct, accompany, and challenge his disciples. Essential passages of the Gospel of Matthew which reveal the teaching methods of Jesus and learning process of the disciple are first identified, then narrowed down, and finally analyzed in their narrative. The results of Jesus’ teaching methods are subsequently compared with contemporary experiential education. The presentation and characteristic of the teaching methods of Jesus are compiled in this manner in order to discover possible non- obvious meanings in the account of the teaching of Jesus and his methods. / New Testament / M. Th. (New Testament)

This thesis addresses the intersection of reception history in biblical studies, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and phenomenology. Three images, from text prompts using different English translations of Mark 1:1–8 (KJV, NRSV and NIV) have been generated by GAI. In addition to the three translations, a more encompassing body of information, based on exegetical analysis, reception history and recent scholarly literature on John the Baptist and Mark 1, was also provided. Mark 1 is analyzed using narrative criticism with special focus on John the Baptist. Current research on the historical John is discussed, alongside interpretations of John from Late Ancient Christian Sources seen from a phenomenological perspective.  Traditionally, interpreting biblical art and text has assumed an artist portraying a narrative reading using methods such as visual exegesis. With GAI, this has changed moving the artist from the canvas to the text prompt. It puts the biblical text in a direct causal connection to the created image. Previously the artist had to decide when the image was finished but with GAI the decision is about which image to keep. The purpose of the image becomes a focal point. Images created with this modern technology can be relevant in at least two regards. First, they do represent a new type of biblical art. Second, the iterative process itself is a novel approach to studying and interacting with the Bible. Challenges exists, such as a bias towards Western/American cultural, sociological, and economical values. Data scientists and mathematicians are determining the probabilistic models without problematizing the content. Ethical questions in this field need to be addressed. GAI learning from AI-produced data – instead of human data – will likely become an issue, thus reinforcing existing biases and prejudices further.

Despite the authority that time holds in the discipline of studying events of the past, not all historians or writers analyzing the past use time to study history—some use space, including writers who write about and interact with an urban topography. The space used by these writers is built space, as well as inhabited and practiced "lived" space. Whereas time provides a transparent overview of history, the urban spaces tend to be opaque. Clarifying history through urban space is additionally troublesome, because built space and its attached memories are visibly forgotten and ignored as time advances. Despite the difficulties of working with and understanding urban space, some intellectuals specifically choose space as a tool of discernment of history. For these individuals, understanding history becomes an investigation of sensing, feeling, and divining human activity out of the mass of artifacts and used spaces. Hermine Cloeter is one such urban forensic historian.

Since the advent of the environmental crisis, some writers have raised concerns with the moral influence of Christian scripture and interpretive traditions, such as the medieval book of nature, a hermeneutic in which nature and scripture are "read" in reference to one another. Scripture, they argue, has tended to stifle sacred relationships with nature as a non-human other. This thesis argues that such perspectives are reductive of the sacred quality of scripture. Environmental perspectives should be concerned with the desacralization of religious texts in addition to nature. Chapter one suggests that two questions surrounding the medieval book of nature's history can help us address ways that such perspectives reduce religious interpretation of sacred texts. The first question is the tension between manifestation and proclamation, or the question of how scripture and nature reveal sacred meanings. The second is the problem of evil, or the question of where evil and suffering come from. It also proposes that Shakespeare's As You Like It and religious philosophy, particularly Paul Ricoeur's writings, can help us address these problems and provide a contemporary religious perspective of the "book of nature." Drawing on scenes in the play in which nature is "read" as a book and Ricoeur's essay on "Manifestation and Proclamation," chapter two argues how manifestation often works interdependently with proclamation. Chapter three discusses how anthropocentric worldviews in which natural entities are exploited also distort interpretive relationships with scripture. Overcoming desacralization requires giving up desires to suppress contingencies, particularly suffering, in nature and in interpreting religious texts. Only as the characters in As You Like It accept contingencies are they able to engage hidden sources of hope, which is comparable to the need to let go of mastery in interpretation Ricoeur describes. Chapter four discusses problems with attempts to uncover the origins of the environmental crisis by discussing what Ricoeur writes about the problems with theodicy and Jean-Luc Marion's phenomenology of evil. Assumptions that specific human origins for evil can be blamed confirm deceptively human-centered worldviews and can mask valuable messages about how to morally respond to suffering that are taught in Judeo-Christian narratives.

This essay examines Jesus' conflict counseling in the Gospel of Luke, by conducting a literary analysis of Luke 9:46-48, 12:13-21 and 22:24-30, which are stories of conflicts where Jesus himself is not involved. The texts have been analyzed in their historical context and are illuminated by heuristic use of contemporary conflict theory and moral psychology. Through this reading, a pattern emerges: Jesus' main method of dealing with conflicts is to correct the attitudes of those involved in conflict.

No description available.

[pt] Este trabalho estuda o texto de Jó 14,13 17, considerando sua data de redação, de forma a permitir a compreensão do contexto e consequente significado teológico. Com a datação do texto, as fontes históricas, bíblicas e não bíblicas permitem concluir o contexto histórico, econômico, social e religioso da época, e suas implicações na vida do povo de Israel. Comenta-se o significado dos termos e expressões usados no texto poético. Estabelece-se, então, o que motivou o autor a desejar ser escondido no sheol, por tempo determinado, até YHWH desistir de sua ira e voltar a se recordar dele. Analisa-se, também, como a doutrina da retribuição influenciou o conflito que surgiu no meio da comunidade e como ele foi enfrentado. A poesia de Jó 14,13 17 é parte do esforço desenvolvido para solução dos conflitos sociais causados pela miséria e sofrimento do povo. Enquadra-se no contexto do trabalho pastoral que conclamou a classe social alta a uma atitude de solidariedade, como resposta à convocação de YHWH ao homem. / [en] The present paper studies the text of Job 14 two point 13 17, taking into account the time and the context in which it was written in order to allow the understanding of its theological significance. Given the information on the text dating, historical, biblical and non-biblical sources establish the historical, economic, social and religious context of that time, and its implication on the lives of the People of Israel. The meaning of terms and expressions are analyzed in the poetic text. This study establishes what prompted the author’s wish to be hidden in Sheol for a given time, awaiting for the divine wrath to end, of provided that YHWH could still remember him. This paper also analyses how the doctrine of retribution influenced the conflict that arose in middle of the community and how it was faced. The poetry of Job 14 two point 13 17 is part of the effort to solve social conflicts caused by the misery and suffering of the people. This text falls within the context of the pastoral work developed, which urged the upper class to show an attitude of solidarity as a response to the summons of YHWH to man.

An African Perspective on Poverty Proverbs in the Book of Proverbs: An Analysis for Transformational Possibilities. This thesis contributes to the emerging global scholarly discussion on prioritising the practical relevance of biblical interpretation, particularly in Africa. Taking poverty as a case study, this thesis employs the notion of the popular social origin of proverbs to critically analyse the subject in the Book of Proverbs. A social anthropological approach, historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism and contextual exegesis are used to analyse proverbs regarding the poor in the Book of Proverbs and African proverbial material. On one hand, the investigation reveals that many Western scholars take their cue from the `official' social context of the Book of Proverbs. However, the impact of an unconscious subjectivity owing to the Western secularising influence on their studies into poverty has posited a conservative status quo in the way the Book of Proverbs addresses it. On the other hand, an investigation of similar traditional African proverbial material on the poor reveals a holistic transformative possibility. Its life-centred dynamism is located in an integrative worldview that comprises mutual assistance, collective responsibility, family, community, social, political, religious and economic networks as one whole. Because cultural parallels exist between the society of ancient Israel and traditional African societies, the thesis argues the use of the African proverbial performance context in the interpretation of proverbs concerning the poor in the Book of Proverbs. The result of such cross-cultural application highlights the possible transformative social, economic, political and religious supportive networks essential to a viable and sustainable holistic development of society. Consequently, such a holistic approach to poverty may enable Bible readers to make meaning and empower the will of African Christians to rise practically to the challenge of poverty eradication in all spheres of their lives. A caution also to the universal church is to be found in the fact that the Book of Proverbs made an essential contribution to the transformation of the social, economic, political and religious life of Israel. Approaching the Book of Proverbs in terms of a popular context is a fact that can no longer be simply ignored. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D.Th.

Text in German / An drei Stellen im Römerbrief verweist Paulus auf die Vergangenheit Israels: auf Abraham in Röm 4,1–25, auf Abrahams Nachkommen, Mose und Pharao in Röm 9,6–18 und auf Elija in Röm 11,1–10. Gegenstand der Untersuchung ist die Bedeutung dieser Verweise auf die Vergangenheit Israels für die Argumentation des Römerbriefs. Nach der Analyse der rhetorischen Situation und der Einordnung der relevanten Stellen in die rhetorische Makrostruktur des Briefs werden alttestamentlicher Kontext und frühjüdische Rezeption der rezipierten Ereignisse untersucht. Auf diesem Hintergrund werden die drei Passagen detailliert betrachtet, indem der Argumentationsgang untersucht und die mögliche rhetorische Wirkung auf die Adressaten aus sechs unterschiedlichen Perspektiven analysiert wird: mit hoher Schriftkenntnis, mit geringer Schriftkenntnis, aus jüdischer, nichtjüdischer, christlicher und stadtrömischer Perspektive. Auf diese Weise können unterschiedliche Aspekte der leserseitigen Rezeption differenziert wahrgenommen werden, bevor sie zu einem Gesamtbild zusammengeführt werden. / New Testament

Die Untersuchung geht von dem im christlich-jüdischen Dialog erreichten hermeneutischen Konsens aus. In einer theologischen Grundlagenreflexion werden ausgehend von der Erkenntnis, dass die Bibel Israel das gemeinschaftlich geteilte Erbe ist, das Judentum und Christentum verbindet und zugleich der Ausgangspunkt zweier religiöser Überlieferungen ist, die das Erbe auf verschiedene Weise rezipiert haben, vertiefende hermeneutische Kriterien entwickelt. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die Konzeptionen von Brevard S. Childs, Rolf Rendtorff und Erich Zenger, die mit der Fokussierung auf den Kanon und die Christologie, auf die gemeinsame christlich-jüdische Lektüre und die lesetheoretisch begründete Hermeneutik der „kanonischen Dialogizität“ exemplarische Positionen abdecken. Die Untersuchung kommt zu folgenden Ergebnissen: In Anknüpfung an rezeptionstheoretische Überlegungen ist die Hermeneutik des Alten Testaments im christlich-jüdischen Dialog erstens als spezifisch christliche Leseweise zu definieren, die zugleich auf das Gespräch mit der gleichrangigen jüdischen Lesart angewiesen bleibt. Sie ist zweitens als theologische Auslegung zu entwerfen, die auf den Kanon aus Altem und Neuem Testament bezogen ist. Dabei trägt sie der Vielfalt der biblischen Stoffe Rechnung, indem sie von Zengers Konzept der kanonischen Dialogizität ausgeht. Als Beitrag zu einer „Theologie nach Auschwitz“ wird sie drittens keinen neutralen Standort einnehmen können. Viertens wird sie an die christologische Interpretation anschließen und sich dabei von Childs’ Verständnis des christologischen Bezugs als pneumatologisch qualifizierter Ausdehnung leiten lassen. Indem sie schließlich fünftens an das Textdenken Jacques Derridas und dessen Verständnis des Ereignisses anknüpft, das von ihm als messianischer Einbruch verstanden wird, kann sie aus theologischer Perspektive das Verstehen nur als pneumatologisch qualifiziertes Ereignis der Offenbarung Gottes begreifen, das methodisch nicht sicherzustellen ist. / The starting point chosen in this work is the hermeneutic consensus achieved in the Jewish-Christian dialogue. Reflecting upon some of the fundamental aspects of theology, the study develops more in-depth hermeneutic criteria based on the insight that the Bible of Israel is the shared common heritage that both establishes a link between Jews and Christians and is the point of origin of two religious traditions that have interpreted the heritage in different ways. It primarily deals with the conceptions held by Brevard S. Childs, Rolf Rendtorff and Erich Zenger who cover paradigmatic positions, ranging from a focus on the canon and on christology to a common Jewish-Christian reading and to a hermeneutic approach of “canonical dialogism”. The study yields the following results: Firstly, building on considerations embraced by the theory of reception, Old Testament hermeneutics within the Jewish-Christian dialogue have to be defined as a specifically Christian reading that, at the same time, continues to depend on the dialogue with the equal-ranking Jewish reading. Secondly, this hermeneutic approach has to be designed as a theological interpretation that relates to the canon of the Old and New Testament. This involves taking into account the diversity of the biblical material by using Zenger’s concept of canonical dialogism as a starting point. Thirdly, as is makes a contribution to “post-Auschwitz theology”, this reading will not be able to adopt a neutral standpoint. Fourthly, it will expand upon the christological interpretation and, in doing so, it will go by Childs’ concept of the christological relation being an extension conceived in pneumatological terms. Fifthly, by adopting Derrida’s deconstruction and his notion of the “event” as a messianic irruption, this hermeneutic approach can only conceive the act of understanding as an event where God is revealed, an event to be described in pneumatological terms that can not be warranted by any methodological effort.