Adventists hold various views with regard to their understanding of themselves as a church. They view themselves as the last remnant church of God today. They also believe that they are a part of the general Christendom. Adventists acknowledge the presence of sincere Christians in other churches. In this study, the background to twentieth century Christian ecclesiological self-understanding is examined. The origins and development of the Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiological self-understanding, especially as it relates to the remnant idea is examined. Three different types of the remnant namely historical, faithful and eschatological can be identified. Biblical images/models used in the development of ecclesiology agree with the biblical understanding and application of the remnant idea to God's people. The remnant idea is not limited in its application to organizational entities. Seventh-day Adventists should adopt an open, inclusive and universal view of the remnant concept. / Theology / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / Th. M. (Systematic Theology)

Adventists hold various views with regard to their understanding of themselves as a church. They view themselves as the last remnant church of God today. They also believe that they are a part of the general Christendom. Adventists acknowledge the presence of sincere Christians in other churches. In this study, the background to twentieth century Christian ecclesiological self-understanding is examined. The origins and development of the Seventh-day Adventist ecclesiological self-understanding, especially as it relates to the remnant idea is examined. Three different types of the remnant namely historical, faithful and eschatological can be identified. Biblical images/models used in the development of ecclesiology agree with the biblical understanding and application of the remnant idea to God's people. The remnant idea is not limited in its application to organizational entities. Seventh-day Adventists should adopt an open, inclusive and universal view of the remnant concept. / Theology / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / Th. M. (Systematic Theology)

One of the concerns of the modern Christian church and dissident groups is to ensure that the Church's fundamental doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices conform with the early apostolic church teachings. In this study the writer offers a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the modern church in the light of the early church. The case of the modern Seventhday Adventist (SDA) Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide is examined and compared, basing its survey on numerous published and unpublished documents from a combined use of primary, secondary materials and individual statements. Setting the early history of the SDA Church within the religious context of nineteenth-century America, the writer describes how SDA doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices link with those beliefs and practices in the early apostolic church, showing whether the SDA Church has departed from the early apostolic church’s Biblical, timeless principles or not. Several pertinent issues however have stirred up as much controversy in recent years within the Adventist dissident groups as that of the women’s ministries in the church, the righteousness by faith doctrine, the monarchical leadership, and various religious practices. Nevertheless, in the light of the early apostolic teaching, some enlightenment has been achieved, and several critical accusations from dissident groups were illuminated and confirmed.The accusation regarding the deterioration of Biblical doctrines appears not to have been confirmed by the Biblical evaluation and the lifestyle of the SDA believers. Rather, concerning this issue, it is confirmed that in the DRC and worldwide, the SDA Church has not departed from the fundamental doctrines of the early Apostolic church. / Thesis (D. TH. (Church History))

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-148) / The name Ellen G. White as a founding member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as an author, currently still being read, evokes a great deal of discussion. The various views that are to be found within the discussion cover a wide range of views, either promoting or criticising White’s authority. By comparing the works of Canright, Nichol, Bradford, and Knight, we gain a wide perspective on three critical views in this discussion. This dissertation will consider the issues regarding White’s authority, the historical development of her authority and consideration of her authority in comparison to Scriptural authority. The dissertation seeks to offer the development of White’s authority and the changes that contributed to the various views around her authority, and presents a critical evaluation regarding her authority for today. After the different authors were compared, and having provided my critical evaluation, I came to the conclusion that a moderate view of White as presented by Bradford and Knight presents the view that allows for the following: • Retaining the principle of Sola Scriptura. • Managing White’s authority. • Providing theological freedom. As such, White’s authority can be a positive influence in Seventh-day Adventist theology, promoting theological growth and not impeding it. The critical evaluation makes it evident that there is a lack of a paradigm to evaluate White, especially her authority. The need for a paradigm from which to evaluate White requires further study. / Die naam Ellen G. White, ’n stigterslid van die Sewende Dag Adventiste Kerk en ook ’n outeur wie se boeke tans nog gelees word, ontlok baie bespreking. Hierin vind ons ’n verskeidenheid van geleerdes wat White hetsy voorstaan of kritiseer. ’n Vergelyking van die werke van Canright, Nichol, Bradford en Knight bied ’n wye perspektief oor drie kritiese beskouings in hierdie debat. Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die kwessies rondom White se gesag, die historiese ontwikkeling van haar gesag en ’n beoordeling van haar gesag in vergelyking met die Skrif se gesag. Die verhandeling bespreek die ontwikkeling van White se gesag, die veranderings wat bygedra het tot die verskillende sienings rondom haar gesag, asook ’n kritiese beoordeling van haar gesag vir vandag. Nadat ek die verskillende outeurs vergelyk het en my kritiese beoordeling gegee het, kom ek tot die slotsom dat die gematigde siening van Bradford en Knight oor White die volgende bevorder: • Behoud van die beginsel van Sola Scriptura. • Hantering van White se gesag. • Voorsiening vir teologiese vryheid. As sodanig kan White se gesag as ’n positiewe invloed op die Kerk se teologie dien deur teologiese groei aan te moedig in plaas daarvan om dit te strem. Die kritiese beoordeling dui op die gebrek aan ’n paradigma om White, veral haar gesag, mee te beoordeel. Die behoefte aan so ’n paradigma vereis verdere studie. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

One of the concerns of the modern Christian church and dissident groups is to ensure that the Church's fundamental doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices conform with the early apostolic church teachings. In this study the writer offers a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the modern church in the light of the early church. The case of the modern Seventhday Adventist (SDA) Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide is examined and compared, basing its survey on numerous published and unpublished documents from a combined use of primary, secondary materials and individual statements. Setting the early history of the SDA Church within the religious context of nineteenth-century America, the writer describes how SDA doctrines, leadership, women's ministries and religious practices link with those beliefs and practices in the early apostolic church, showing whether the SDA Church has departed from the early apostolic church’s Biblical, timeless principles or not. Several pertinent issues however have stirred up as much controversy in recent years within the Adventist dissident groups as that of the women’s ministries in the church, the righteousness by faith doctrine, the monarchical leadership, and various religious practices. Nevertheless, in the light of the early apostolic teaching, some enlightenment has been achieved, and several critical accusations from dissident groups were illuminated and confirmed.The accusation regarding the deterioration of Biblical doctrines appears not to have been confirmed by the Biblical evaluation and the lifestyle of the SDA believers. Rather, concerning this issue, it is confirmed that in the DRC and worldwide, the SDA Church has not departed from the fundamental doctrines of the early Apostolic church. / Thesis (D. TH. (Church History))