Issued also as Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 213-218.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Bob Jones University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 293-306) and indexes.

Thesis (M.A.)--Abilene Christian University, 1992. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-161).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Tyndale Seminary, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-167).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-105).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Bob Jones University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 293-306) and indexes.

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theolgical Union, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-113).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Tyndale Seminary, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-167).

In polemical response to the approach represented by Friedrich Schleiermacher, Karl Barth proposes to evaluate religion strictly from the perspective of God's revelation. In spite of this radical departure from Neo-Protestant epistemology, Barth continues to understand religion in Schleiermacher's terms, namely as an essentially anthropological category. The reductionist tendencies inherent in this understanding of religion cause Barth to lapse into his early 'dialectical' concept of revelation with its strong emphasis on the divine transcendence. This, in turn, leads to a radical polarization of revelation and religion which finds expression in Barth's call for and development of a theological criticism of religion. At its core this theological criticism of religion is thus not a new understanding of religion, but rather an assessment of Schleiermacher's view of religion within the framework of Barth's early 'dialectical' theology. The absolute dichotomy between revelation and religion resulting from this approach stands in direct conflict, however, with Barth's affirmation of a positive relationship between these two categories. His attempt, under the term 'true religion', to further develop such a positive correlation between revelation and religion without substantially modifying the meaning of both these terms is consequently flawed with a series of logical contradictions and results in a highly questionable Christian exclusivism. An alternative theological approach to the problem of religion based on christological considerations is found as an undercurrent in Barth's thinking. This christocentric view of religion, although not yet sufficiently developed by Barth himself, is in better agreement with his mature theology than is his 'dialectical' approach. In addition, this alternative proves to be theologically more promising with respect to its logical consistency, its biblical foundation, as well as its importance for the current debate over a viable Christian 'theology of religions'.

Openbaring is by uitstek die Nuwe-Testamentiese boek met die sterkste eskatologiese aanslag. Dit is uit die boek Openbaring waaruit die meeste spekulasie en wederkomsteorieë voortspruit. Wie is reg en wie is verkeerd? Sal ons ooit versekering hieroor kan vind? Is daar nie ’n eenvoudiger manier waarop ons onsself kan voorberei op die wederkoms van Christus nie? In die plek van spekulatiewe wederkomsteorieë, mag etiese riglyne dalk meer aanvaarbaar wees. Hierdie studie stel hom ten doel om die etiese motief van Openbaring te ondersoek as werkbare, kontemporêre en etiese riglyn ter voorbereiding van die kerk van Christus op die paroesie (wederkoms van Christus). Dié perspektief is belangrik omdat dit aan die Christen ’n etiese riglyn voorsien wat krities geanaliseer is ten opsigte van moontlike faktore wat ’n invloed op die interpretasie daarvan kan hê. Die vraag wat ondersoek word is of etiese riglyne uit die boek Openbaring, ’n meer aanvaarbare riglyn aan die kerk van Christus kan verskaf as die me nigte spekulatiewe wederkomsteorieë. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om universele etiese riglyne uit die boek Openbaring te vind wat kan dien as kontemporêre etiese riglyne vir die kerk van Christus ter voorbereiding op die paroesie. In die lig van die bevindings aangaande die aanvaarbaarheid van etiese riglyne, sal sekere etiese motiewe voorgestel word as primêre etiese riglyne aan die kontemporêre kerk ter voorbereiding op die paroesie.