Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Summaries in Afrikaans, English and German / Text in Afrikaans / 'n Ondersoek na die teologiese inhoud van die Evangeliese ; Gesange is geYnisieer nadat vasgestel is dat sodanige studie nog nie voorheen in Suid-Af rika in Geref ormeerde kringe onderneem is nie. Aangesien die geskiedenis en die f undering van die kerklied deur ander navorsers reeds volledig uitgewerk is, is hoofstuk 1 bloot 'n inleidende oorsig wat die agtergrond van die studie verskaf. In hoofstuk 2 is 'n kategorisering van die Gesange in extenso gedoen en in hoofstuk 3 is die inhoud van die kategoriee kortliks beskryf. Die doel hiermee is om vas te stel oor watter onderwerpe die meeste gesing word en waar die lakunes voorkom. Aan die hand van hierdie kategorisering is daar uiteindelik vyf onderwerpe afgebaken wat ooglopend Bybelsteologiese leemtes of selfs afwykings vertoon wat in die toekoms aangespreek behoort te word. Die onderwerpe is onderskeidelik: die Godsbeskouing, die skepping, die sonde, die doop en die toekomsverwagting. In hoof stuk 4 het hierdie onderwerpe af sonderlik ender die soeklig gekom. Daar is o.a. gevind dat die inhoud van die Gesange 'n duidelike reflektering is van die tradisionele kerkleer en dus nie volkome daartoe in staat is om die moderne mens (die jeug veral!) aan te spreek nie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe die navorser geraak het, is dat liedere wat die eietyds geloofsproblematiek aanspreek 'n sine qua non geword het. Die navorsing oor die inhoud van die Gesange het voorts ook vreemde teologiese aksente uitgewys. So bv. is daar 'n duidelike invloed van die Grieks platonistiese dualisme te bespeur waar die Jenseitige teenoor die Diesseitige af gespeel word. Di t het veral aan die lig gekom met die bespreking oor die skepping. Eodem modo is daar spore van die Pietistiese individualisme in die Gesange aangetref waar die vertikale belewing met God (bekering, heiliging) die horisontale belewing van verantwoordelikheid, oorskadu! Hierdie sending, aanbevelings die godsdiens omgewingsbewaring) is in hoof stuk krities-waarderende opmerkings saamgevat. / Research into the theological content of the Evangelical Hymns was initiated after it was established that such a study had not been attempted in South Africa in Reformed circles. Since the history and grounding of the church hymn have already been discussed in full by other researchers, chapter 1 merely offers an introductory review which provides some background to the study. In chapter 2 a categorisation of the Hymns was done in extenso and chapter 3, in turn, deals with the contents of each specific category. The aim is to determine which subjects are prevalent in Hymns and which ones are not addressed at all. On the basis of this categorisation, five subjects were finally defined which revealed obvious biblical-theological lacunae, if not deviations, all of which need to be addressed in the future. The subjects are: the ways of thinking about God, the creation, sin, baptism and hopes for the future. In chapter 4 these subjects were examined in detail. It was proved, inter alia, that the contents of the Hymns clearly reflect the traditional church doctrine and consequently fail to a large extent to address modern man (especially the young people of our time). The conclusion reached by the researcher is that Hymns addressing the contemporary problematic nature of faith have become a sine qua non. Furthermore, research on the contents of the Hymns also revealed foreign theological accents such as clear influences of the Greek Platonistic dualism where the Jenseitige is compared to the Diesseitige. This became particularly evident in the discussion on the creation. Eodem modo traces of the Pietistic indiviudalism were detected in the Hymns, where the vertical experience of God (conversion, sanctification) completely overshadows the horizontal experience of religion (social responsibility, mission work, nature conservation)! Chapter 5 comprises these recommendations in the form of remarks of a criticalappreciation nature. / Eine Untersuchung in Bezug auf den theologischen Inhalt der Evangelischen Kirchenlieder wurde in die Wege geleitet nachdem festgestellt wurde, daB ein solches Studium noch nie vorhin in Ref ormierten Kreisen in Slidaf rika vorgenommen worden war. Da die Geschichte und die Fundierung des Kirchenliedes von andern Forschern schon in all en Einzelheiten ausgearbeitet worden sind, bietet Kapitel 1 bloB eine einleitende Ubersicht als Hintergrund flir das Studium. In Kapitel 2 wurden die Kirchenlieder in extenso nach Kategorien geordnet und in Kapitel 3 findet sich der Inhalt jeder einzelnen Kategorie vor. Es sollte festgestellt werden, welche Themen sich am meisten in den Kirchenliedern erkennen lassen und welche liberhaupt nicht berlihrt werden. An Hand dieser Anordnung in Kategorien wurden zum Schluss flinf Themen definiert, die augenfiillig biblisch-theologische Lucken, wenn nicht sogar Abweichungen, offenbaren; es sind Themen, denen in der Zukunft zweifellos einem gerechten Platz Gottesauffassung, die zukommen sollen. Die themen sind: Schopfung, Siinde, die Taufe und Zukunftserwartungen. In Kapitel 4 wurden diese Themen in allen Einzelheiten untersucht. Es stellte sich unter anderern heraus, das der Inhalt der Kirchenlieder eine klare Widerspiegelung der traditionellen Kirchenlehre ist und deshalb den Ansprilchen des modernen Menschen (vor allern der Jugend) nicht vollig gerecht werden konnen. Die schluflfolgerung des Forschers ist deshalb, das Lieder, welche den zeitgenossischen Glaubensproblernatik berilhren, eine sine qua non geworden sind. Die Forschung in Bezug auf den Inhalt der Kirchenlieder offenbarte weiterhin auch fremde theologische Akzente. Es laflt sich zurn Beispiel einen deutlichen Einfluss des griechisch-platonistischen Dualismus aufweisen wo das Jenseitige dern Diesseitigen gegenilbergestellt wird. Es wurde besonders deutlich in der Diskussion Uber die Schopfung. Eodem modo offenbarte sich Spuren eines pietistischen Individualismus in den Liedern wo das vertikale Gotteserlebnis (Bekehrung, Heiligung) das horizontale Erlebnis der Religion (soziale Verantwortung, Missionsarbeit, Naturbewahrung) vollig in den Schatten stelltl Diese Ernpfehlungen wurden in Kapitel 5 in der Form kritisch-bewertenden Anrnerkungen zusanunengefasst. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-03-26T12:27:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Reuberson Rodrigues Ferreira.pdf: 1536708 bytes, checksum: 347378dc1131b128e106f867d0bf1486 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-26T12:27:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Reuberson Rodrigues Ferreira.pdf: 1536708 bytes, checksum: 347378dc1131b128e106f867d0bf1486 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-22 / Aliança de Misericordia - ADVENIAT / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research draws a parallel line between the Conferences of Medellín and Puebla regarding the pastoral usage of the Bible. In order to reach this goal, the text presents an overview of the socio-political-economic-ecclesial elements encountered in the two Conferences of the Latin American Episcopate. At the same time, the research focuses on the content of the final documents of these Conferences. Aware of the context and content of the documents of the two conferences it is reported what appears to them as guidelines for the use of the Bible. It also presents how these orientations reverberate ideas that, ultimately, go back to Vatican II. Finally, a parallel between the two is sought to give evidence of the continuity and discontinuity regarding guidelines for the use of the Holy Bible. The perspective of this research approach is of literature review. The text is written trying to contribute historical and theological elements implicit presents in the conclusions of Medellin and Puebla conferences with the purpose of consummating the proposed parallel / A presente pesquisa faz um paralelo entre as Conferências de Medellín e Puebla no que diz respeito ao uso pastoral da Bíblia. Para atingir esse objetivo o texto apresenta uma panorâmica dos elementos sócio-político-econômico-eclesial que secundavam as duas Conferências do Episcopado Latino Americano. Ao mesmo tempo a pesquisa detém-se em apontar o conteúdo dos documentos conclusivos das Conferências. Cientes do contexto e do conteúdo dos documentos das duas conferências é relatado o que delas depreende-se como orientações para o uso da Bíblia. Apresenta-se, ainda, como essas orientações fazem reverberar ideias que, em última análise, remontam ao Vaticano II. Faz-se por fim, um paralelo entre ambas buscando evidenciar continuidade e descontinuidade no que diz respeito as orientações para o uso da bíblia. A perspectiva de abordagem desta pesquisa é a de revisão de literatura. O texto é escrito tentando aportar elementos históricos e teológicos implícitos nas conclusões de Medellín e Puebla com a finalidade de consumar o paralelo proposto

Summaries in Afrikaans, English and German / Text in Afrikaans / 'n Ondersoek na die teologiese inhoud van die Evangeliese ; Gesange is geYnisieer nadat vasgestel is dat sodanige studie nog nie voorheen in Suid-Af rika in Geref ormeerde kringe onderneem is nie. Aangesien die geskiedenis en die f undering van die kerklied deur ander navorsers reeds volledig uitgewerk is, is hoofstuk 1 bloot 'n inleidende oorsig wat die agtergrond van die studie verskaf. In hoofstuk 2 is 'n kategorisering van die Gesange in extenso gedoen en in hoofstuk 3 is die inhoud van die kategoriee kortliks beskryf. Die doel hiermee is om vas te stel oor watter onderwerpe die meeste gesing word en waar die lakunes voorkom. Aan die hand van hierdie kategorisering is daar uiteindelik vyf onderwerpe afgebaken wat ooglopend Bybelsteologiese leemtes of selfs afwykings vertoon wat in die toekoms aangespreek behoort te word. Die onderwerpe is onderskeidelik: die Godsbeskouing, die skepping, die sonde, die doop en die toekomsverwagting. In hoof stuk 4 het hierdie onderwerpe af sonderlik ender die soeklig gekom. Daar is o.a. gevind dat die inhoud van die Gesange 'n duidelike reflektering is van die tradisionele kerkleer en dus nie volkome daartoe in staat is om die moderne mens (die jeug veral!) aan te spreek nie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe die navorser geraak het, is dat liedere wat die eietyds geloofsproblematiek aanspreek 'n sine qua non geword het. Die navorsing oor die inhoud van die Gesange het voorts ook vreemde teologiese aksente uitgewys. So bv. is daar 'n duidelike invloed van die Grieks platonistiese dualisme te bespeur waar die Jenseitige teenoor die Diesseitige af gespeel word. Di t het veral aan die lig gekom met die bespreking oor die skepping. Eodem modo is daar spore van die Pietistiese individualisme in die Gesange aangetref waar die vertikale belewing met God (bekering, heiliging) die horisontale belewing van verantwoordelikheid, oorskadu! Hierdie sending, aanbevelings die godsdiens omgewingsbewaring) is in hoof stuk krities-waarderende opmerkings saamgevat. / Research into the theological content of the Evangelical Hymns was initiated after it was established that such a study had not been attempted in South Africa in Reformed circles. Since the history and grounding of the church hymn have already been discussed in full by other researchers, chapter 1 merely offers an introductory review which provides some background to the study. In chapter 2 a categorisation of the Hymns was done in extenso and chapter 3, in turn, deals with the contents of each specific category. The aim is to determine which subjects are prevalent in Hymns and which ones are not addressed at all. On the basis of this categorisation, five subjects were finally defined which revealed obvious biblical-theological lacunae, if not deviations, all of which need to be addressed in the future. The subjects are: the ways of thinking about God, the creation, sin, baptism and hopes for the future. In chapter 4 these subjects were examined in detail. It was proved, inter alia, that the contents of the Hymns clearly reflect the traditional church doctrine and consequently fail to a large extent to address modern man (especially the young people of our time). The conclusion reached by the researcher is that Hymns addressing the contemporary problematic nature of faith have become a sine qua non. Furthermore, research on the contents of the Hymns also revealed foreign theological accents such as clear influences of the Greek Platonistic dualism where the Jenseitige is compared to the Diesseitige. This became particularly evident in the discussion on the creation. Eodem modo traces of the Pietistic indiviudalism were detected in the Hymns, where the vertical experience of God (conversion, sanctification) completely overshadows the horizontal experience of religion (social responsibility, mission work, nature conservation)! Chapter 5 comprises these recommendations in the form of remarks of a criticalappreciation nature. / Eine Untersuchung in Bezug auf den theologischen Inhalt der Evangelischen Kirchenlieder wurde in die Wege geleitet nachdem festgestellt wurde, daB ein solches Studium noch nie vorhin in Ref ormierten Kreisen in Slidaf rika vorgenommen worden war. Da die Geschichte und die Fundierung des Kirchenliedes von andern Forschern schon in all en Einzelheiten ausgearbeitet worden sind, bietet Kapitel 1 bloB eine einleitende Ubersicht als Hintergrund flir das Studium. In Kapitel 2 wurden die Kirchenlieder in extenso nach Kategorien geordnet und in Kapitel 3 findet sich der Inhalt jeder einzelnen Kategorie vor. Es sollte festgestellt werden, welche Themen sich am meisten in den Kirchenliedern erkennen lassen und welche liberhaupt nicht berlihrt werden. An Hand dieser Anordnung in Kategorien wurden zum Schluss flinf Themen definiert, die augenfiillig biblisch-theologische Lucken, wenn nicht sogar Abweichungen, offenbaren; es sind Themen, denen in der Zukunft zweifellos einem gerechten Platz Gottesauffassung, die zukommen sollen. Die themen sind: Schopfung, Siinde, die Taufe und Zukunftserwartungen. In Kapitel 4 wurden diese Themen in allen Einzelheiten untersucht. Es stellte sich unter anderern heraus, das der Inhalt der Kirchenlieder eine klare Widerspiegelung der traditionellen Kirchenlehre ist und deshalb den Ansprilchen des modernen Menschen (vor allern der Jugend) nicht vollig gerecht werden konnen. Die schluflfolgerung des Forschers ist deshalb, das Lieder, welche den zeitgenossischen Glaubensproblernatik berilhren, eine sine qua non geworden sind. Die Forschung in Bezug auf den Inhalt der Kirchenlieder offenbarte weiterhin auch fremde theologische Akzente. Es laflt sich zurn Beispiel einen deutlichen Einfluss des griechisch-platonistischen Dualismus aufweisen wo das Jenseitige dern Diesseitigen gegenilbergestellt wird. Es wurde besonders deutlich in der Diskussion Uber die Schopfung. Eodem modo offenbarte sich Spuren eines pietistischen Individualismus in den Liedern wo das vertikale Gotteserlebnis (Bekehrung, Heiligung) das horizontale Erlebnis der Religion (soziale Verantwortung, Missionsarbeit, Naturbewahrung) vollig in den Schatten stelltl Diese Ernpfehlungen wurden in Kapitel 5 in der Form kritisch-bewertenden Anrnerkungen zusanunengefasst. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

This research pursues the use of the Bible in counseling. The focus is to identify the different theological paradigms in which the Bible is used and the different ways that counsellors make use of the Bible in therapy. It also pursues the experiences that the clients had of such counsellors in the use of the Bible. Therapists and clients from different theological backgrounds partake in this study. An overview is given of the shift that is taking place from a modern to a postmodern approach about reality, truth, and knowledge and the effect there of on the use of the Bible in therapy. The aim of the research is to explore if an evangelical christian in a postmodern context can make use of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The implication of this can be profound for pastoral therapy. A narrative paradigm is adopted to dicuss the discourses that evolved from the research. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

The present research has been aimed at investigating how imperialism and colonialism are located both in the biblical text (cf. Joshua 1-12) and in present day interpretive postcolonial contexts such as that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An investigation was made of the unequal power dynamics at play between the Israelites who are depicted as mercilessly conquering the indigenous peoples of Canaan in the name of the deity, and the Canaanites. How were/ are such power dynamics played out in the Katangese, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s context in the relations between the then colonizers, that is, the Belgians as well as the neo-colonial African rulers and the Congolese peoples? It is argued that the Belgians assumed the role akin to that of the Israelite invaders as they mercilessly invaded the “promised land”, that is, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ending with the brutal extermination of African peoples justified on biblical precedents. A conclusion is made that within the context of postcolonial biblical interpretation, the conquest narrative of Joshua 1-12 is one of the most traumatic stories in which violence is committed by one nation on another in the name of the deity. Postcolonial biblical criticism was found to be an appropriate approach in assisting the researcher to navigate through violent biblical texts with a view to coming up with a transformative reading of the texts in the (Katangese) context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)

This research pursues the use of the Bible in counseling. The focus is to identify the different theological paradigms in which the Bible is used and the different ways that counsellors make use of the Bible in therapy. It also pursues the experiences that the clients had of such counsellors in the use of the Bible. Therapists and clients from different theological backgrounds partake in this study. An overview is given of the shift that is taking place from a modern to a postmodern approach about reality, truth, and knowledge and the effect there of on the use of the Bible in therapy. The aim of the research is to explore if an evangelical christian in a postmodern context can make use of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The implication of this can be profound for pastoral therapy. A narrative paradigm is adopted to dicuss the discourses that evolved from the research. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

The present research has been aimed at investigating how imperialism and colonialism are located both in the biblical text (cf. Joshua 1-12) and in present day interpretive postcolonial contexts such as that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An investigation was made of the unequal power dynamics at play between the Israelites who are depicted as mercilessly conquering the indigenous peoples of Canaan in the name of the deity, and the Canaanites. How were/ are such power dynamics played out in the Katangese, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s context in the relations between the then colonizers, that is, the Belgians as well as the neo-colonial African rulers and the Congolese peoples? It is argued that the Belgians assumed the role akin to that of the Israelite invaders as they mercilessly invaded the “promised land”, that is, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ending with the brutal extermination of African peoples justified on biblical precedents. A conclusion is made that within the context of postcolonial biblical interpretation, the conquest narrative of Joshua 1-12 is one of the most traumatic stories in which violence is committed by one nation on another in the name of the deity. Postcolonial biblical criticism was found to be an appropriate approach in assisting the researcher to navigate through violent biblical texts with a view to coming up with a transformative reading of the texts in the (Katangese) context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Biblical Studies)

Text in Afrikaans, with summaries in Afrikaans and English / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 383-403) / Die woordestryd oor goddelike inspirasie van alles wat in die Bybel staan, as gevolg van die uitgesproke stellings van Johannes Du Plessis, het tot ‘n krisis gelei wat as baken in die annale van die Ned. Geref. Kerk beskou word. Die meeste van sy standpunte word vandag as waarheid aanvaar en hy het bygedra tot die intellektuele debat oor die Bybel as Woord van God wat vandag nog aangaan. Du Plessis se herkoms, opleiding en verdienste as predikant en saakgelastigde van die Kerk word kortliks bespreek. Hy was die talentvolle seun en enigste kind van 'n Afrikaanse predikant en 'n Engelse vrou, die dogter van 'n sendeling van die LMS. Hy word professor aan die Kweekskool en met kennis opgedoen tydens verdere studie oorsee, het hy gewys op dele van die Bybel wat nie aan goddelike inspirasie toegeskryf kan word nie. Hy het dit ook duidelik gestel dat hy as teoloog en leermeester nie kon glo sonder om te probeer verstaan nie. Hy het sy bevindinge bekend gemaak in Het Zoeklicht, 'n maandblad wat bedoel was om as soeklig te dien om verskillende vorms van “duisternis” in beide godsdiens en die politiek, betref, aan die lig te bring. Oortuig van die waarde van die Hoër Kritiek, het hy dit as sy plig geag om wat hy deur wye leeswerk en kritiese ondersoek rakende die oorsprong, vorm en inhoud van die Ou Testamentiese boeke bekom het, bekend te maak. Artikels van dié aard, eers in De Kerkbode en daarna in Het Zoeklicht, het gelei tot beroering onder behoudende lesers wat gekant was teen enige veranderinge in die prediking. Hulle was veral ontstoke oor sy siening dat die belydenisskrifte wat spruit uit die dae van die Hervorming 500 jaar tevore, oop was vir herformulering. Klagtes dat Du Plessis op 'n gevaarlike pad was, was die begin van wat gelei het tot 'n krisis in die Kerk, en uiteindelik tot 'n buitengewone sinode in 1930 toe hy van sy pos onthef is. Die behoudende reaksie van die meerderheid was dat die Bybel die onfeilbare Woord van God is. Die gevolg was dat 'n groot aantal van die leiers van die Kerk, aanhangers van die Nasionale Party wat in 1948 aan bewind gekom het, tekste uit die Bybel gebruik het om die beleid van Apartheid Skriftuurlik te begrond. Ná byna veertig jaar van 'n onkritiese benadering tot die Bybel, is die geloof in 'n foutlose Bybel weer bevraagteken. Tussen die eerlike teoloë wat dit gewaag het om te wys op foute en inkonsekwenthede, was Ferdinand Deist en Willem Vorster. Albei het hulle opleiding as predikante voltooi maar het hulle nie beroepbaar gestel nie omdat hulle met verdere studie voortgegaan het en hulle openlik uitgespreek het teen die misbruik van Bybelse gegewens om apartheid te regverdig. Geskool aan die Kweekskool in Stellenbosch, het Deist hom onderskei as geleerde wat sy drang na dieper ondersoek gepaar het met 'n piëtisme waarop hy uiting gegee het in 'n stortvloed van akademiese en populêre geskrifte ― wat nie altyd gestrook het met sy stelling dat die Woord van God nie met 'n gelyk-aan-teken aan mekaar verbind kan word nie. Vorster, wat sy opleiding aan die Universiteit van Pretoria ontvang het, het ewe bekend geraak en het internasionale erkenning geniet vir sy toepassing van die semantiek op studies van die Nuwe Testament. Daarby het hy sy kennis van die Nabye Oosterse tale toepaslik gevind in sy bydrae tot The New Quest om meer te wete te kom oor die historiese Jesus, 'n Jood en Galileër wat vir 'n kort periode opgetree het as leermeester en eskatologiese profeet. In die studie van bydraes van die drie geleerdes tot ons verstaan van die Bybel, is ook aandag geskenk aan 'n ander aspek van die Bybel as problematiese teks: Die nadruk wat skrywers en redaktors van die Bybelse gebeure, geplaas het op mans as vaders en seuns ten koste van vroue, moeders en dogters. Die gevolg was dat meeste van die sogenaamde Kerkvaders genoeg in die Bybel kon vind om hulle te identifiseer met die neerhalende beeld wat in Die Openbaring (14:3-4) geskep word van vroue, opvallend in stryd met die inhoud van Genesis 1:26-31. / The controversy started by Johannes Du Plessis over the question whether everything in the Bible was inspired by God, caused a crisis in the Dutch Reformed Church, which is listed as a beacon in its history. Most of the points he raised are accepted as truth today, and started an intellectual debate that is still going on. Information relating to Du Plessis’ origins, training, and achievements as a minister and church official is briefly noted. He was the talented son, and only child of an Afrikaner father and minister of religion, and an English mother, the daughter of an LMS missionary. He became a professor at the Seminary in Stellenbosch, after his studies overseas had caused him to question parts of the Old Testament text that could not be regarded as divinely inspired. He also made it quite clear that believing without trying to understand was not possible for him as a theologian and teacher. He proclaimed his findings in Het Zoeklicht, a monthly magazine intended to serve as a searchlight and an organ to reveal the “darkness” that was still prevalent in both religion and politics. Aware of the value of Higher Criticism of the Old Testament, he regarded it his duty to make known what he had found in reading widely and in critical research on the origins, form and content of the books of the Bible. Articles to this effect published first in De Kerkbode and then in Het Zoeklicht, caused an outcry from conservative readers who were opposed to any changes in the teaching of the church. They were especially enraged by his view that the confessions drawn up by Reformers 500 years earlier, were open for review. Complaints that Du Plessis was on a dangerous path, marked the beginning of what was regarded as a crisis in the Church, and in the end led to Du Plessis being relieved of his post by a special Synod convened in 1930. The views of the conservative majority, however, prevailed. As a result, a large number of leading ministers and theologians, who openly supported the Nationalist government that came into power in 1948, provided assurance that the concept of separation of racial groups was in accordance with Scripture. After nearly forty years of an uncritical approach to the Bible, the belief in in-errancy was again questioned. Among the few theologians who dared to point out errors and inconsistencies in various texts, were Ferdinand Deist and Willem Vorster. Both trained as ministers, they chose to continue their studies and openly expressed themselves against the abuse of Biblical texts to support the ideology of apartheid. Trained at the Seminary in Stellenbosch, Deist turned out to be a noted scholar who combined his urge for honest critical study with a pietism expressed in a flood of academic and popular publications ― which were not always consistent with his own statement that The Word of God could not be connected to Scripture with an is-equal-to symbol. Vorster, who received his education at the University of Pretoria, became equally well known as a scholar and gained international recognition for his application of semantics in the study of the Gospels. He also applied his knowledge of languages in what came to be known as The New Quest for the historical Jesus who, as a Jew and a Galilean, distinguished himself during a brief period as a teacher and eschatological prophet. In the study of the contributions of these three outstanding men to our understanding of the Bible, another major aspect of the Bible as problematic text is addressed: The emphasis the authors and redactors of the Scriptures placed on the roles of men, fathers and sons, patently to the exclusion of women, mothers and daughters. As a result many of the so-called Church Fathers found in the Bible sufficient material to look down upon women ― the verdict expressed in Revelations 14:3-4 being one of numerous texts pointing to women as objects of derision in glaring contradiction to the contents of Genesis 1:26-31. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / D. Phil. (Biblical Studies)